drug half-life

Drug half-life is the time it takes for the amount of a drug in your body to decrease by half. It measures how quickly your body processes and eliminates the medication. For example, if you take a drug with a half-life of 4 hours, after 4 hours, only half of the original dose remains in your system. This concept helps determine dosing schedules, ensuring the drug stays effective without accumulating to dangerous levels. It varies between drugs and individuals, influenced by factors like age, liver and kidney function, and interactions with other medications.