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Fig. 1.12 Plasma concentration of drugs with irregular dosing.

Irregular dosing, such as occurs with the increased nocturnal dosing interval with fixed-dose/fixed-time-interval regimens or due to missed doses (poor patient compliance), results in the plasma drug concentration falling below the desired therapeutic level (pink areas). It then takes several doses to reach the desired therapeutic level once again. Note that the arrows signify when each dose of drug is taken and the question mark (?) represents a missed dose.

Source: 1.8 Pharmacokinetics of Drug Administration in Practice . In: Simmons M, ed. Pharmacology—An Illustrated Review. 1st Edition. Thieme; 2011. doi:10.1055/b-005-148943

Fig. 3.2 Pregnancy: fetal damage due to drugs.

The sequelae of a drug taken during pregnancy depends on the stage of fetal development and the ability of the drug to cross the placenta.

Source: 3.4 The Pregnant Patient . In: Simmons M, ed. Pharmacology—An Illustrated Review. 1st Edition. Thieme; 2011. doi:10.1055/b-005-148943

Fig. 1.1 Mode of administration and time course of plasma drug concentration.

Drugs given intravenously (red) reach their peak plasma drug concentration almost immediately, but this declines rapidly as the drug is distributed and eliminated. Drugs given intramuscularly (green) take longer to reach their peak plasma concentration, followed by drugs given subcutaneously (blue). Drugs taken orally (purple) are the slowest to reach their peak plasma concentration, the value of which is determined by bioavailability following first-pass metabolism.

Source: 1.1 Routes of Drug Administration . In: Simmons M, ed. Pharmacology—An Illustrated Review. 1st Edition. Thieme; 2011. doi:10.1055/b-005-148943

Fig. 34.7 Immune reaction and immunosuppressant drugs.

Humoral immunity (left column) and cell-mediated immunity (middle two columns) are described in the call-out boxes, on p. 383. The far right column lists the actions of immunosuppressant drugs in inhibiting immune responses. (MHC, major histocompatibility complex)

Source: 34.3 Immunosuppressants . In: Simmons M, ed. Pharmacology—An Illustrated Review. 1st Edition. Thieme; 2011. doi:10.1055/b-005-148943