Comparative Pharmacokinetics: Principles, Techniques and Applications

Provides an overview of pharmacokinetics for students, researchers, and those generating and using pharmacokinetic data. Explains the scientific data and mathematical models of the discipline within the context of "biological reality," and shows how pharmacokinetic concepts unify many topics in comparative medicine. Overviews the basic processes of drug absorption and disposition, then details how these processes can be quantified using different pharmacokinetic approaches. Explains both mechanistic models and newer empirical models, describing most models in mathematical terms understandable at the level of high school algebra. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Comparative Pharmacokinetics: Principles, Techniques, and Applications presents a unique and highly practical overview of pharmacokinetics. This text explains the scientific data and mathematical models of the discipline within the context of “biological reality.” This offers readers a complete sourcebook for the field – from facts and constructs to clinical applications.

Written for students, researchers, and comparative medicine clinicians, the book thoroughly explains and assesses both mechanistic (compartmental and physiological-based) models as well as newer empirical (noncompartmental and population) models, considering strength and weaknesses of each. Comparative Pharmacokinetics presents approaches to data analysis and experimental design with an eye toward practical applications. At the same time, this easy-to- read book is understandable to the reader with minimal mathematical background.

Author Riviere demonstrates how pharmacokinetic concepts unify many topics in comparative medicine by first overviewing the basic processes of drug absorption and disposition, and then outlining how pharmacokinetic approaches can measure these. Riviere’s experience as a researcher and teacher are put to use explaining models, including establishing suitable parameters, proper collection, and linking of data.

Cross-referenced information provides opportunity for examination from a variety of user perspectives, proving helpful in using pharmacokinetic information to make decisions. Current and timely, Comparative Pharmacokinetics will be an important reference tool for medical, veterinary, and pharmacy researchers and students