title: Concepts of circadian chronopharmacology.
abstract: Circadian and other rhythmic changes in biological susceptibility and response of organisms to a large variety of physical as well as chemical agents including medications and foods are rather common phenomena. Modern chronopharmacology investigates drug effects (a) as a function of biological timing and (b) upon parameters characterizing the endogenous bioperiodicities. A better understanding of periodic and thus predictable changes in drug effects can be attained through consideration of complementary concepts: (1) the chronokinetics of a drug--dosing time-dependent and predictable (rhythmic) changes in parameters used to characterize the pharmacokinetics (or the bioavailability) of a drug, e.g., maximum concentration (Cmax), span of time to reach Cmax (tmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), half-life (t1/2), etc.; (2) the chronesthesy (rhythmic changes in susceptibility of a target biosystem to this drug); and (3) the chronergy (the drug-integrated overall effects). One of the aims of chronopharmacology is solving problems of drug optimization. Chronotherapy refers to the use of a chronopharmacologic approach to clinical treatment so as to enhance both effectiveness and tolerance of a drug by determining the best biological time for its dosing.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Paris, France.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Reinberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D010600:Pharmacology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations