accumulation

accumulation

A build-up, assembly; the process of accumulating, collecting together.
 
Medspeak
The progressive increase in the concentration of a chemical, drug, or other agent in an organism or tissue, due to higher doses than can be metabolised, or due to poor metabolism of the agent; the amount of a drug or therapeutic agent in the body, which after the drug has reached a state of equilibrium, is a function of the dose interval and the drug’s T1⁄2.

Equilibrium usually requires a time interval of 4- to 6-times the drug’s half-life, and depends on the rates of absorption and elimination; the drug continues to accumulate until the amount of drug administered in a time period equals that eliminated in the same period.
 
Factors in accumulation
Selective binding of the drug in tissues, concentration of fat soluble drugs in fat, absent or slow metabolism of the drug, slow excretion of the drug, and intercurrent illness; accumulation continues until the amount eliminated per dosage interval is equal to the amount administered during that time.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

accumulation

A build-up, assembly; the process of accumulating, collecting together Therapeutics The amount of drug in the body relative to the amount lost by elimination, which is a function of ratio of the dose interval and the drug's half-life; accumulation continues until the amount eliminated per dosage interval is equal to the amount administered during that time. Cf Absorption.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.