Development of a pharmacokinetic model (using propofol as an example) Development of a pharmacokinetic model (using propofol as an example). A. Raw data: Drug levels (red dots) are repeatedly measured over time. B. Analyzed data: A drug disposition curve (black line) is fit to the raw data using an exponential equation based on a computerized nonlinear regression analysis. C. The equation is simply a mathematical representation of curves of the general shape that “fit” the data. The nonlinear regression “curve-fitting” exercise results in a set of parameters (in this example, A, B, α, and β) that, when plugged into the equation, reproduce the curve through the data. Cp(t) represents the plasma propofol concentration as a function of time (t). This is the mathematical basis of the pharmacokinetic model that clinicians need not worry about. Source: Principles of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Applied Clinical Pharmacology for the Practitioner, Anesthesiology, 3e Citation: Longnecker DE, Mackey SC, Newman MF, Sandberg WS, Zapol WM. Anesthesiology, 3e; 2017 Available at: http://accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/DownloadImage.aspx?image=/data/books/2152/longnecker3_ch36_f001c.png&sec=164223169&BookID=2152&ChapterSecID=164223155&imagename= Accessed: November 05, 2017 Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved