What is the Origin of Continuous Dosing?

The concept of continuous dosing originates from pharmacokinetics, the branch of pharmacology concerned with the movement of drugs within the body, which mathematically models drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. The principle of achieving a "steady state" concentration is foundational to modern drug development. It contrasts with pulsatile or intermittent administration methods.

What is the Mechanism of Continuous Dosing?

The physiological mechanism relies on balancing the rate of drug input (administration) with the rate of drug elimination (metabolism and excretion) to achieve a constant plasma concentration. For hormonal agents, this steady-state level ensures consistent feedback signaling to the hypothalamic-pituitary unit, maintaining stable suppression or replacement. This constant presence minimizes the opportunity for target tissue adaptation or rebound phenomena that can occur during periods of low drug concentration.

Continuous Dosing ∞ Area

Continuous Dosing

Meaning

Continuous dosing is a pharmacological strategy where a therapeutic agent is administered at regular, uninterrupted intervals to maintain a stable, steady-state concentration of the drug within the systemic circulation. This approach aims to avoid the peak-and-trough fluctuations in drug levels associated with intermittent regimens, thereby ensuring consistent receptor saturation and biological effect. In hormonal therapy, this method is often employed to mimic the natural, non-pulsatile secretion patterns of certain endogenous hormones or to maintain stable suppression of a targeted axis. The goal is to achieve maximum therapeutic efficacy with minimal side effects related to concentration variability.