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Biswajit Mukherjee
Pharmacokinetics:
Basics
to Applications
Pharmacokinetics: Basics to Applications
Biswajit Mukherjee
Pharmacokinetics: Basics
to Applications
Biswajit Mukherjee
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology
Jadavpur University
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
# The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore
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My beloved parents, whose love, affection,
and blessings have always taught me to
possess perseverance, dedication, devotion,
and sincerity.
Preface
nourish the inquisitive minds of the readers. A few unpublished photographs have
also been incorporated. It took little more than 8670 h to complete the book. I typed
the entire book materials by myself to avoid mistakes or minimize the number of
mistakes significantly. The information is being shared to clarify my dedication,
devotion, and efforts instilled in the book to inculcate the knowledge of the subject
with an easy presentation in pupils. I wrote the book based on the classical and
pioneering work and some significant current reports to balance and finely tune the
knowledge. Since it is a textbook, priority has been given to the established, well-
accepted knowledge. Necessary fundamental mathematics and statistics for easy and
faster deduction and understanding of the equations have been incorporated in the
book. The single book would guide the students in all necessary learning related to
better assimilating the subject knowledge without additional support.
I sincerely thank all the researchers who have enriched the field, particularly those
whose publications have been considered in writing the book. Of course, without the
support of my family members, it could have been impossible for me to write this
book. Finally, I believe that this explicitly presented knowledge of pharmacokinetics
will help the students acquire the foundation of pharmacokinetics and the growth of
the subject knowledge and its applications in the field.
To my beloved wife, and lovely son and daughter for their endless love, support, and
encouragement, without which it would be hard for me to complete the book
ix
Contents
1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1.1 Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Blood Drug
Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.1.2 Multiple-Dose Regimen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.1.3 Apparent Volume of Distribution or Volume of
Distribution (vd) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.1.4 Steady-State Plasma Concentration of Drug . . . . . . . . 12
1.1.5 Drug Accumulation Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.1.6 Krüger-Thiemer’s “Pharmacokinetic Factor” . . . . . . . 17
1.1.7 Krüger-Thiemer Dose Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1.1.8 Concept of a Loading Dose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1.1.9 Relationship Between Elimination Rate Constant
(KE) and Steady-State Drug Plasma Concentration
(css) from Krüger-Thiemer Dose Ratio Concept . . . . . 18
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2 Drug Absorption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.1 Drug Absorption and Determination of Drug Absorption
Rate Constant “Ka” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.1.1 Dominguez Equation and Its Importance . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.1.2 Wagner–Nelson Equation and Method
of Determination of Drug Absorption Rate
Constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.1.3 Determination of Absorption Rate Constant
(Ka) from Urinary Excretion Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.1.4 Nelson Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.1.5 Wagner and Nelson Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.1.6 Loo–Riegelman Method for Determination
of Drug Absorption Rate (Ka) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
xi
xii Contents
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
About the Author
Biswajit Mukherjee PhD, WBCS, FIC, FICS, is a Professor and former Head
in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata,
India and a former faculty of the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Panjab University, Chandigarh. He was a DAAD (German Academic Exchange
Services) Fellow and Guest Scientist, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ),
Heidelberg. He was a visiting fellow of the School of Pharmacy, University of
London, and an Indo-Hungarian Education Exchange Fellow, of the National
Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, Budapest. He works on
antisense technology, nanomedicine, and targeted drug delivery on pharmacokinetics
and pharmacodynamics.
xvii
List of Figures
Fig. 1.1 The figure shows plasma drug concentration versus time curve
that demonstrates how a drug behaves in the blood after its
absorption upon a single-dose administration by any routes other
than an intravenous route for systemic drug action. Various
pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug in the blood are also
seen. The Cmax is the maximum plasma drug concentration at
Tmax (time taken to reach Cmax). The MEC is the minimum
effective drug concentration to begin therapeutic drug action.
The MTC is the minimum toxic drug concentration, and it is also
known as the maximum safe drug concentration or the MSC. The
plasma drug concentration between the MEC and the MTC is
called the therapeutic window. After a drug administration by
oral route or by any routes other than intravenous route, the time
point at which the drug reaches minimum therapeutically effec-
tive drug concentration implies the onset of drug action . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Fig. 1.2 The figure shows plasma drug concentration versus time curve
that shows how a drug behaves after its single-dose administra-
tion by intravenous route. The MEC is the minimum effective
drug concentration to begin therapeutic drug action. The MTC is
the minimum toxic drug concentration, and it is also known as
the maximum safe drug concentration or the MSC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Fig. 1.3 In a multiple-dose (repeated-dose) regimen for oral/any routes
other than the intravenous route of drug administration for sys-
temic drug action, plasma drug concentration versus time curve
for the first dose and subsequent doses show peak and valley
appearance between the minimum effective drug concentration
(MEC) and the minimum toxic drug concentration (MTC) levels
in the blood. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and
time to achieve Cmax (Tmax) are shown after the first dose in the
drug absorption curve. Every individual peak represents the
Cmax after each dose at the respective Tmax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
xix
xx List of Figures
Fig. 2.2 Plasma drug concentration versus time curve after drug absorp-
tion following a single dose by oral route/any routes other than
the intravenous route of drug administration for systemic drug
action.
R1 The area under the curve, shown by stars and depicted by
0 c p dt, shows the total bioavailability of the drug. MEC
indicates minimum effective drug concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Fig. 2.3 Percentage of drug remaining to be absorbed when plotted
against time on a semi-log paper, keeping “percentage of drug
remaining to be absorbed” on a log scale and time on a linear
K a
scale, gives a straight line. The slope of the line is 2:303 where Ka
provides the value of absorption rate constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Fig. 2.4 Percentage of drug remaining to be absorbed when plotted
against time on a semi-log paper, keeping “percentage of drug
remaining to be absorbed” on a log scale and time on a linear
K a
scale, gives a straight line. The slope of the line is 2:303 where Ka
provides the value of absorption rate constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Fig. 2.5 Percentage of drug remaining to be absorbed when plotted
against time on a semi-log paper, keeping “percentage of drug
remaining to be absorbed” on a log scale and time on a linear
K a
scale, gives a straight line. The slope of the line is 2:303 where Ka
provides the value of absorption rate constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Fig. 2.6 The figure shows the residual plot of the plasma drug absorption
curve following the oral route of a single-dose drug administra-
tion. Plasma drug concentrations on the curve provide the actual
drug absorption data (shown by “actual drug concentration”).
The post absorption terminal linear portion down the curve when
extrapolated to the plasma drug concentration axis (y-axis), the
data on the line provide the extrapolated drug concentrations.
The difference between the extrapolated drug concentration and
the actual drug concentration gives the value of residual drug
concentration (CR). When log CR is plotted against time, the
K a
slope of the line provides the value of 2:303 , where Ka is drug
absorption rate. The “vs.” stands for “versus” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Fig. 2.7 The figure shows that the extrapolated line and the feathered
K a
(residual) line with a slope 2:303 of the plot provide negative lag
time. The meeting point of the extrapolated line and the residual
line gives the value of lag time t0. In the graph, a negative lag
time (which indicates erroneous findings) is shown. Here, loga-
rithm values of residual drug concentration logcR are plotted
against time t . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . 33
Fig. 2.8 Residual plot of extravascular drug administration. Logarithm
plasma concentration, logcp, data plotted against time that shows
the slope of the terminal linear portion of the line provides the
xxii List of Figures
K a
value of 2:303 where Ka is the rate of drug absorption. The slope of
K E
the feathered line gives the value of 2:303 where KE is the rate of
elimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Fig. 2.9 Residual plot of intravascular drug administration. Logarithm
plasma concentration, logcp, data plotted against time that shows
the slope of the terminal linear portion of the line provides the
K a
value of 2:303 where Ka is the rate of drug absorption. The slope of
K E
the feathered line gives the value of 2:303 where KE is the rate of
elimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Fig. 3.1 The figure shows Klotz reciprocal plot for the quantification for
protein–drug binding. The data of 1r (where r is the ratio of
protein-bound drug to total protein) are plotted against ½D1 (where
[D] is the molar concentration of free drug in plasma), and the
1
slope of the line gives the value of νK . The extrapolated line gives
the value of the intercept ν on r -axis (y-axis). Here, “ν” is the
1 1
Fig. 4.12 The figure shows a one-compartment open model where a drug is
administered by infusion at a rate k0. KE is the rate of drug
elimination from the compartment and xB is the amount of drug
present in the compartment at time t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Fig. 4.13 Plot of logarithmic plasma drug concentration versus time of a
patient who received intravenous drug infusion and achieved the
steady-state plasma drug level. Then, the infusion was stopped at
time T. The time t0 elapsed after the stop of the drug infusion in
the patient at time T. The time t is the total time the patient was
supposed to receive the infusion and had steady-state plasma
drug concentration. The dotted line shows the drop of plasma
drug concentration after the stop of the infusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Fig. 4.14 Plot of logarithmic plasma drug concentration versus time of a
patient who receives intravenous drug infusion and should
achieve the steady-state plasma drug level at time t, and any
duration of time t0 before achieving the steady-state plasma drug
concentration, the drug infusion is stopped for the patient at time
T. The dotted line shows the drop of plasma drug concentration
after the stop of the infusion . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. 92
Fig. 4.15 Two-compartment open models. Model I: x0 is the dose
administered by the intravenous route to the central compartment
and xc is the amount of drug present at the central compartment
(compartment “1”) at time t and xp is the amount of drug present
at the peripheral compartment (here designated as compartment
“2”) at time t. Further, the drug is eliminated from the central
compartment. Model II: xc is considered as the amount of drug
present at the central compartment (compartment “1”) at time
t and xp is the amount of drug present at the peripheral com-
partment (here designated as compartment “2”) at time t. x0 is the
dose administered by intravenous injection into the blood (cen-
tral compartment). Further, the drug is eliminated from both the
central compartment and the peripheral compartment. Model III:
x0 is the dose administered by the intravenous route to the central
compartment and xc is the amount of drug present at the central
compartment (compartment “1”) at time t and xp is the amount of
drug present at the peripheral compartment (here designated as
compartment “2”) at time t. Further, the drug is eliminated from
the peripheral compartment. In all the models, K12, K21, K10, and
K20 are the respective rate constants, and each arrowhead shows
the direction of movement of the drug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Fig. 4.16 The figure shows the changes of logarithmic drug amount against
time in the blood compartment (central compartment) and the
tissue compartment (peripheral compartment) following a
two-compartment model when the drug is administered by
List of Figures xxv
Fig. 6.1 A typical nonlinear kinetic plot is shown. The rate of reaction
(v) is plotted against the concentration of substrate (c) (here drug)
in an enzyme reaction. The first part of the curve shows a
concentration-dependent first-order kinetic pattern that is
followed by a zero-order kinetic pattern shown by a straight line
parallel to the x-axis (concentration axis) when the enzymes are
saturated with the substrates. The vmax is the maximum rate of
reaction .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. 126
Fig. 6.2 The figure shows the rate of drug elimination is proportionally
increased with the increase in drug concentration in the blood.
The graph represents a linear plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Fig. 6.3 Nonlinear kinetic “Michaelis–Menten” equation when
rearranged and plotted as 1v against 1c gives a straight line. The
slope of the line shows the value of vKm max
. It is called the
Lineweaver–Burk double reciprocal plot. Here, v is the rate of
reaction, c is the concentration of substrate (here drug) in an
enzyme reaction. The vmax is the maximum rate of reaction . . . . 128
Fig. 6.4 Nonlinear kinetic “Michaelis–Menten” equation when
rearranged and plotted as cv against c gives a straight line. The
1
slope of the line shows the value of vmax . Here, v is the rate of
reaction, and c is the concentration of substrate (here drug) in
an enzyme reaction. The vmax is the maximum rate of reaction.
The Km is the Michaelis–Menten constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Fig. 6.5 Nonlinear kinetic “Michaelis–Menten” equation when
rearranged and plotted as v against vc gives a straight line. The
slope of the line shows the value of km. Here, v is the reaction
rate, and c is the concentration of substrate (here drug) in an
enzyme reaction. The Km is the Michaelis–Menten constant . . . 129
Fig. 6.6 Nonlinear kinetic “Michaelis–Menten” equation when
rearranged and plotted as logc against t gives a straight line.
The slope of the line shows the value of 2:303 vmax
k m . Here, c is the
substrate concentration (here drug) in an enzyme reaction. The
vmax is the maximum rate of reaction. The Km is the Michaelis–
Menten constant .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . 131
xxviii List of Figures
Fig. 6.7 In the sigma-minus method, when log x1 u xu is plotted
against time on a semi-log paper, keeping “ log x1 u xu ” on a
log scale and time on a linear scale, it gives a straight line. The
slope of the line is 2:303 kE
where kE provides the value of
elimination rate constant. When the feathered line is drawn, the
slope of it gives the value of 2:303 Ka
where Ka is the absorption
rate constant. The total unchanged drug to be eliminated through
urine is x1u and the unchanged drug eliminated through urine at
any time t is xu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Fig. 6.8 The figure shows drug (xu) is excreted unchanged through urine
with drug elimination rate (ke) following orally administered
drug in a one-compartment model. Here, xA amount of drug is
absorbed to the central compartment from the orally
administered x0 amount of drug at an absorption rate ka at time
t and xB is the amount of drug present at the central compartment
at time t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Δx
Fig. 6.9 Plot of logarithmic values of rate, logð Δtu Þ, of drug (xu) excreted
unchanged through urine versus time on a semi-logarithmic
paper. The slope of the line gives us 2:303
e k
and the intercept on
k k Fx
the y-axis of the extrapolated line gives us log ðKa K
e 0
Þ where ka a e
is the absorption rate of drug, ke is the elimination rate of drug
excreted unchanged through urine, and F is the dose fraction
drug absorbed upon the administration of x0 amount of drug . . . 143
Fig. 9.1 Blood draw from antecubital fossa (elbow pit of the forearm) . . 177
Fig. 9.2 Urine collection funnel system for laboratory animals . . . . . . . . . . 180
Fig. 10.1 LC-MS/MS system along with its various components . . . . . . . . . 186
Fig. 10.2 A quadrupole assembly . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . 186
Fig. 10.3 Passage of ion through a quadrupole assembly during ion
filtering. Only the selected ions pass through to the mass
analyzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Fig. 10.4 High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with
its various components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Fig. 11.1 An abridged classification of statistical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Fig. 11.2 Statistical decision tree for continuous parametric data with
normal distribution . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Fig. 11.3 Statistical decision tree for continuous parametric heterogeneous
data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 213
Fig. 11.4 Statistical decision tree for nonparametric (not normal
distributed) data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fig. 11.5 Statistical decision tree for categorical or quantal response
data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 215
List of Figures xxix
Fig. 13.1 Equilibrium dialysis method for studying the extent of drug-
protein binding using dialysis tube. The upper figure shows
that both the ends of the tube are clipped. The lower picture
shows that both the ends of the tube are tied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Fig. 13.2 Equilibrium dialysis chamber for studying the extent of drug-
protein binding. The figure shows that a dialysis membrane
separates the plasma compartment and the buffer compartment 239
Fig. 13.3 Laboratory scale ultrafiltration devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Fig. 13.4 An assembly for studying drug distribution and elimination in a
one-compartment open model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Fig. 13.5 A simple assembly for studying drug distribution and elimina-
tion in a one-compartment open model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Fig. 13.6 An assembly for studying drug distribution and drug elimination
of the peripheral compartment in a two-compartment open model
system .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. 254
Fig. 13.7 An assembly for studying drug distribution and elimination in a
three-compartment open model system. The drug is eliminated
from a peripheral compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Fig. 13.8 In vitro drug absorption using everted ileum. A portion of rat or
fowl ileum is used. It is everted (keeping inside out) and clipped
or tied at both the ends eventually after being filled with
deionized water. Then it is dipped into a drug solution (reservoir)
from where the drug is absorbed through the everted ileum into
the water inside . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . .. 259
Fig. 13.9 Cellular internalization of FITC-labeled drug product (green
color) by c6 glioma cells cultured in DMEM (Dulbecco’s
Modified Eagle Medium)—supplemented with 10% fetal calf
serum and treated with 50 nM drug product. The cells were
nuclear-stained with DAPI (blue color). The photograph of the
cells incubated up to 4 h was taken with a confocal microscope 262
Fig. 13.10 A diffusion cell assembly for studying in vitro skin permeation of
drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
List of Tables
xxxi
Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics
1
The word “drug” was originated from the Greek word “pharmacon” or
“pharmakon,” and the meaning of the word “kinetics” is “in motion” or “positional
change concerning time.” Hence, the term “pharmacokinetics” implies that the drug
is in motion in vivo. When the drug is administered to a patient, several phenomena
occur in the body. When a patient takes a tablet as an oral dosage form of medicine,
upon reaching the stomach, sometimes the intestine (e.g., an enteric-coated tablet
intended to disintegrate in the intestine only), it disintegrates, and drug dissolution
takes place in the stomach/intestinal fluid. Eventually, drug molecules are absorbed,
and they reach the systemic circulation (in the blood). The drug molecules then
provide therapeutically effective drug level (i.e., the concentration of drug in the
blood on or above which drug can provide systemic therapeutic action/inhibitory
action for antibiotics), which is also called minimum effective concentration
(MEC) or minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a drug in the blood
(Fig. 1.1). Drug transportation simultaneously begins to deliver drugs with an
effective concentration to the site of drug action. It produces its pharmacological
effect(s) (also called “pharmacodynamic action,” that is, how the body disposes of
an administered drug). While doing all such activities, the drug is also metabolized
and eliminated as metabolite or drug as such or both from the body. The absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) are the fundamental func-
tional and usually common phenomena of the drug while in motion in a living
system. All these processes involve the positional change of drugs in our bodies to
time. Hence, a vivid description of these phenomena (ADME) of a drug in vivo with
mathematical equations is called pharmacokinetics.
However, memorizing the equations and using them for the calculation cannot
help us understand the subject. Instead, only a proper and appropriate conceptualiza-
tion can build up the foundation of knowledge to understand pharmacokinetics.
ADME phenomena always vary for different drugs. ADME mainly depends on
Fig. 1.1 The figure shows plasma drug concentration versus time curve that demonstrates how a
drug behaves in the blood after its absorption upon a single-dose administration by any routes other
than an intravenous route for systemic drug action. Various pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug
in the blood are also seen. The Cmax is the maximum plasma drug concentration at Tmax (time
taken to reach Cmax). The MEC is the minimum effective drug concentration to begin therapeutic
drug action. The MTC is the minimum toxic drug concentration, and it is also known as the
maximum safe drug concentration or the MSC. The plasma drug concentration between the MEC
and the MTC is called the therapeutic window. After a drug administration by oral route or by any
routes other than intravenous route, the time point at which the drug reaches minimum therapeuti-
cally effective drug concentration implies the onset of drug action
(Concept of Cmax, Tmax, bioavailability, area under the curve (AUC), following
intravenous bolus injection and infusion, therapeutic window, minimum effective
concentration, maximum safe drug level/toxic concentration, lag time, onset of
action, duration of action, first- and zero-order kinetics, biological half-life of drug)
The blood level of a drug means the plasma concentration of the drug. While a
conventional drug formulation for systemic drug effects is administered by any
routes (such as intramuscular [i.m.], intraperitoneal [i.p.], oral, buccal, pulmonary,
rectal, vaginal, nasal, etc.) other than the intravenous routes, drug upon administra-
tion is absorbed in the blood. Alteration of the drug amount in the blood varies with
time and the route of administration. However, the trend of drug absorption gener-
ally remains the same. Initially, the amount of drug increases and eventually reaches
the highest level (peak level), and then the drug level drops with the change in time
(Fig. 1.1). When a drug is administered directly into the blood by intravenous (i.v.)
injection or by intravenous infusion, the drug is distributed through the blood
circulation and then from the blood to various tissues and organs, including the
drug action site. Plasma concentration of drug alters differently from maximum to
minimum levels with time (Fig. 1.2) since the drug absorption phenomenon does not
occur here.
Once a drug is absorbed and reaches the MEC, the therapeutic action of the drug
is achieved. On and above the MEC, the drug provides its therapeutic action.
However, there is an upper level of the drug, on and above which the drug
concentration in the blood produces toxic action. It is called minimum toxic
concentration or maximum safe drug concentration (MTC/MSC) of the drug.
It is, therefore, essential to maintain the drug level between MEC and MTC to
provide optimum drug action without any toxic manifestations. The plasma drug
concentration between MEC and MTC of a drug is called its therapeutic window
(Fig. 1.1). There are two essential terms, lag phase and the onset of drug action, in
connection with a drug absorption phenomenon and blood level of the drug.
Interestingly, if we want to define them, it seems similar. It is, therefore, important
to understand the difference between the onset of drug action and the lag phase/lag
time. When a drug is administered by any route other than the intravenous route, the
length of time between the drug administration and achieving the MEC of the drug
4 1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics
Fig. 1.2 The figure shows plasma drug concentration versus time curve that shows how a drug
behaves after its single-dose administration by intravenous route. The MEC is the minimum
effective drug concentration to begin therapeutic drug action. The MTC is the minimum toxic
drug concentration, and it is also known as the maximum safe drug concentration or the MSC
(i.e., beginning of therapeutic action of the drug) is called the lag phase. On the other
hand, onset is the time point at which the drug reaches MEC after the administration
(interestingly, also measured as the length of time after drug administration at which
drug reaches MEC). That is why, it states that the time point after drug administration
to begin therapeutic drug action is called the onset of drug action. Therapeutically
effective drug concentration starts when a drug reaches its MEC and continues up to
when the drug from and above the MEC (after drug absorption) once again gets back
the MEC (Fig. 1.1). It is also called the bioavailability of the drug. The bioavailability
of a drug can be estimated in the most reliable way by determining the area under the
plasma drug concentration–time curve (AUC) from its bioavailable region. The
duration of drug action is the length of time when a drug provides therapeutic action
after its administration in a sequence of reaching the drug level at the MEC,
maintaining the drug level above the MEC, and then once again dropping it to the
MEC. Within a therapeutic window, the time point at which plasma drug concentra-
tion reaches the maximum level after the administration of a drug is called peak time
or Tmax, and the maximum plasma concentration of a drug is called Cmax. Further,
for a single dose, a fraction of the dose absorbed (F) in the blood (bioavailable) at
any time point is represented by multiplying dose by a ratio of drug absorbed in the
blood at any time point to the total amount of drug (in a dose) administered.
As stated earlier, drug administration directly into the blood by i.v. route does not
possess any drug absorption phenomenon to the blood. For a single i.v. injection of a
drug (Fig. 1.2), at the instantaneous moment of injection considering immediate
diffusion, Cmax reaches, and that instantaneous time point is Tmax for a single
i.v. injection of a drug. Again, the length of the period from the time of i.v. injection
of a drug to reaching its MEC is the duration of action of the drug. However, as no
absorption phenomenon is applicable here, the lag phase is equally not applicable for
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics 5
i.v. drug injection. The drug can provide therapeutic action immediately in the blood
(e.g., antibiotics can start immediate action on bacteria present in the blood). But to
reach the tissues to provide drug action, drug distribution from the blood to the
tissues through the blood is necessary, and it needs additional time. The period also
varies depending on the various physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties
of drugs.
Pharmacokinetic ADME phenomena can be well described using various kinetic
equations. The fundamental target of pharmacokinetics is to determine various rates,
such as rate of drug absorption, rate of drug–protein bindings, rate of drug distribu-
tion, rate of drug metabolism, and rate of elimination of drug or its metabolites, or
both, by using or developing rate equations. Besides, many mathematical equations
and models are used to determine other drug-related phenomena such as steady-state
plasma concentration, dose, drug plasma and drug tissue concentrations at various
time points after the drug administration and many more. Different mathematical
kinetic models follow drug behavior in our bodies. They include zero-order kinetics,
first-order kinetics, mixed-order kinetics, and many more. The drug absorption or
drug elimination sometimes undergoes essentially at a constant rate independent of
the drug concentration. It is well represented as zero-order kinetics. In terms of the
zero-order kinetic equation, if the amount of drug to be absorbed or eliminated is x at
time t, then the rate of change of drug is represented by dx dt ¼ k 0 , where k0 is the
proportionality constant (here the rate of drug absorption/elimination, is always
represented by the unit, mass/time). Minus () sign indicates that the amount of
drug decreases from its initial amount in either process (absorption/elimination) with
the increasing time.
Now, if we integrate the equation from an initial time point of drug administra-
tion, i.e., say, “0” time to any time “t,” when at t ¼ 0, and the amount of drug present,
say x0, and at a time “t,” the amount of drug in the blood, say, xt, then, we can write
Z t Z t
dx ¼ k0 dt
0 0
xt
or ½x ¼ k0 ½t t0
x0
or ½xt x0 ¼ k0 ½t 0
or xt x0 ¼ k0 t
or xt ¼ x0 k0 t
The half-life (t1/2) of a drug in zero-order kinetics is the amount of drug that
becomes half of its initial amount, i.e., at half-life, xt becomes x20 ,
x0
or ¼ x0 k0 t 1=2
2
6 1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics
x0
or k 0 t 1=2 ¼ x0
2
x0
or t 1=2 ¼ 2
k0
The unit of it is the unit of time, that is, hour or second.
However, one of the kinetic models plays a significant role as it covers nearly
95% of drug behaviors in terms of rate equation in our body. It is the first-order
kinetics. For most drugs, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
follow the first-order kinetics as the drug concentration remains insufficient to
saturate the kinetic mechanism of such phenomena (absorption, distribution, metab-
olism, and elimination) (Wagner 1970). It implies the amount-/concentration-depen-
dent rate of change of drug in the body.
According to the first-order kinetics, after the administration of drug directly into
the blood (by i.v. route), the rate of change of the amount of drug (dx
dt) at any time (t) is
directly proportional to the amount of drug (x) present in the blood at that time.
dx
Thus, /x
dt
or dx
dt ¼ k:x, where k is the proportionality constant (here the rate of drug elimina-
tion from the blood)
dx
or ¼ kdt
x
Now, if we integrate the equation from an initial time point of injection, i.e., say,
“0” time to any time “t,” when at t ¼ 0 (at the instantaneous moment of drug
administration), the amount of drug present, say x0, and at a time “t,” the amount of
drug in the blood, say, xt, then, we can write
Z t Z t
dx
dt ¼ k dt
0 x 0
xt
or ½ log e x ¼ k½t t0
x0
or ½ log e xt log e x0 ¼ k ½t 0
or xt ¼ x0 ekt
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics 7
During the elimination process, if the rate constant (k) is considered as KE and the
amount of drug at time t is xt, the equation becomes
xt ¼ x0 eK E t
In the case of an initial amount of drug (dose), (x0), is injected into the blood (by i.
v. route) of a patient and after time “t,” the amount of drug in the blood is, say, xt,
then xt ¼ x0 eK E t where KE is the elimination rate constant and “e” is the base of the
natural logarithm.
Hence, xt ¼ x0 eK E t may be considered as a significantly important and predomi-
nantly used equation of pharmacokinetics. This version of the equation is often used
to describe different drug pharmacokinetic behaviors in our bodies.
If the amount of drug in the blood at time t is xB, then
xB ¼ x0 eK E t ð1:2Þ
or kt ¼ log e x0 log e xt
x0
or kt ¼ log e
xt
At the half-life (t1/2), the amount of drug becomes half of its initial amount, i.e., xt
becomes x20 ,
x0
or kt 1=2 ¼ log e x0
2
or kt 1=2 ¼ log e 2
0:693
or t 1=2 ¼
k
The unit of half-life (t1/2) is the unit of time, that is, second (s), minute (min), or
hour (h).
Fig. 1.3 In a multiple-dose (repeated-dose) regimen for oral/any routes other than the intravenous
route of drug administration for systemic drug action, plasma drug concentration versus time curve
for the first dose and subsequent doses show peak and valley appearance between the minimum
effective drug concentration (MEC) and the minimum toxic drug concentration (MTC) levels in the
blood. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and time to achieve Cmax (Tmax) are shown
after the first dose in the drug absorption curve. Every individual peak represents the Cmax after
each dose at the respective Tmax
Fig. 1.4 In a multiple-dose (repeated-dose) regimen of the intravenous route of drug administra-
tion, plasma drug concentration versus time curve for the first dose and subsequent doses shows
peak and valley appearance between the minimum effective drug concentration (MEC) and the
maximum safe drug concentration (MSC) levels in the blood
etc.), the plasma concentration versus time curve commonly shows peak and valley
appearance (Figs. 1.3 and 1.4).
In a multiple-dose regimen, when a drug for systemic action is administered by
any routes other than the i.v. route, while drug absorption takes place, the drug
concentration in the blood eventually goes to a maximum level and then comes down
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics 9
to the MEC. The next administered dose should reach the MEC before the earlier
dose touches at the MEC for maintaining a continuous plasma drug level for better
therapeutic efficacy, and the same is true for subsequent doses and so on. These “up
and down” curves from the doses provide a “peak and valley” appearance (Fig. 1.3).
The length of time between administering the subsequent doses is called dose
interval and denoted by “τ” (tau).
When the drug is directly administered into the blood (i.v. route) in a multiple-
dose regimen, the drug plasma concentration versus time curve also shows a “peak
and valley” appearance (Fig. 1.4).
In a multiple-dose (repeated-dose) regimen, the plasma concentration of a drug
along with its maximum and minimum plasma levels against each dose can be
determined. Let us consider that x0 is the amount of drug administered by
i.v. route (i.v. dose) to a patient. We can then derive the equations for the plasma
concentration of a drug along with its maximum and minimum plasma levels after
each dose, as the maximum and minimum drug plasma levels vary in each case. The
following equations are also applicable for the oral route of drug administration
where rapid absorption is considered and x0 amount of drug available in plasma
instantaneously after its oral administration.
After the first dose, the maximum amount of drug (x1)max in the plasma is x0.
If τ is the dosing interval, after the first dose, the minimum amount of drug in
plasma is (x1)min and
ðx1 Þmin ¼ x0 eK E τ (where t = τ and τ is the time length at the end of which
therapeutically effective minimum drug concentration is available) where KE is the
elimination rate constant and “e” is the base of the natural logarithm.
For the second dose, the maximum amount of drug, (x2)max, in plasma, is
(x1)min + x0.
Therefore, ðx2 Þmax ¼ x0 þ x0 eK E τ ¼ x0 1 þ eK E τ
For the third dose, the maximum amount of drug, (x3)max, in plasma, is
(x2)min + x0.
ðx3 Þmax ¼ ðx2 Þmin þ x0 ¼ x0 eK E τ þ e2K E τ þ x0
¼ x0 1 þ eK E τ þ e2K E τ
ðx3 Þmin ¼ ðx3 Þmax :eK E τ ¼ x0 1 þ eK E τ þ e2K E τ eK E τ
¼ x0 eK E τ þ e2K E τ þ e3K E τ
For the nth dose, the maximum amount of drug, (xn)max, in plasma, is
(xn 1)min + x0.
ðxn Þmax ¼ x0 eK E τ þ e2K E τ . . . . . . : þ eðn2ÞK E τ þ eðn1ÞK E τ þ x0
¼ x0 1 þ eK E τ þ e2K E τ . . . . . . : þ eðn2ÞK E τ þ eðn1ÞK E τ
For the nth dose, the minimum amount of drug, (xn)min, in plasma is
By multiplying both sides of the above Eq. (1.3) by eK E τ , we get Eq. (1.4)
(below):
eK E τ s ¼ eK E τ þ e2K E τ þ e3K E τ þ . . . . . . : þ eðn2ÞK E τ þ eðn1ÞK E τ þ enK E τ
ð1:4Þ
s s:eK E τ ¼ 1 enK E τ
s 1 eK E τ ¼ 1 enK E τ
1 enK E τ
s¼
1 eK E τ
As we know, (xn) max ¼ x0 s, and ðxn Þ min ¼ x0 s:eK E τ
Therefore,
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics 11
1 enK E τ
ðxn Þmax ¼ x0
1 eK E τ
1 enK E τ
ðxn Þmin ¼ x0 :eK E τ
1 eK E τ
Therefore, at any time t, the amount of drug present in the blood may be
K E τ
determined
h nK τ i the equation for (xn)min, where τ of e
using present outside the part
1e E
x0 1eK E τ is replaced by t, as the source of this t is from the variable time factor,
nK τ
t. Further, 1e E
1eK E τ
portion is entirely a constant and obtained from the result of
summation “s;” thus, replacement of any τ to t there leads to an error. Thus, the
equation becomes
1 enK E τ
ð xn Þ t ¼ x0 :eK E t
1 eK E τ
(where (xn)t is the minimum amount of drug present in the plasma at any time t after
the nth dose)
Mostly as pharmacokinetic data, the plasma concentration of a drug is used
instead of the amount of drug present in the blood/plasma (Gibaldi et al. 1969). If
cp is the plasma concentration of drug and vd is the volume of distribution of the
drug, then we can determine the minimum plasma concentration of the drug,
maximum plasma concentration of the drug, and plasma concentration of the drug
at any time t after the administration of “n” number of doses, by using the following
equations:
x 1 enK E τ
cp max ¼ 0 : ,cp :vd ¼ x0
vd 1 e K E τ
x0 1 enK E τ
cp min ¼ :eK E τ
vd 1 eK E τ
x 1 enK E τ
cp n ¼ 0 :eK E t ð1:5Þ
vd 1 eK E τ
x0 1enK E τ K E τ
cp min vd 1eKE τ :e
Therefore, ¼ ¼ eKE τ ð1:6Þ
cp max x0 1enK E τ
vd K τ
1e E
12 1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics
The volume of drug distribution is more popularly known as the apparent volume
of distribution of the drug in the body and is denoted by vd.
The volume of drug distribution is a measure of the extent of drug distribution in
the body. It is estimated by determining the resulting plasma concentration immedi-
ately when the drug is administered by rapid intravenous injection/quick bolus
intravenous injection (Gibaldi and McNamara 1978; Levy and Yacobi 1974).
The volume of drug distribution is represented by
or
We have already seen above that the maximum and minimum plasma drug
concentrations increase in the subsequent doses upon administering each dose in a
multiple-dosage regimen. But if the doses are continued to administer at the correct
dose intervals, the maximum and minimum plasma drug concentrations approach to
constant levels at a particular time point. At this stage, the maximum plasma drug
concentration becomes constant (a definite value), and the minimum plasma drug
concentration also provides a constant value (another definite value) (Fig. 1.5). But
those constant maximum and minimum plasma drug concentration values generally
remain different for different drugs. At this stage, the average drug plasma level thus
maintains a fairly consistent plateau level of the drug (Chiou 1979). This plasma
drug concentration level is called steady-state plasma concentration/steady-state
level of drug. It can be achieved by intravenous drug administration or drug
administration by any route (e.g., oral route) (Figs. 1.5 and 1.6). Steady-state drug
level is achieved as the overall intake of a drug remains fairly in a dynamic
equilibrium with eliminating the drug. In a multiple-dosage regimen, generally, the
time required to reach steady-state drug plasma concentration is equal to 4–5
biological half-lives (t1/2) of a drug. Steady-state plasma concentration/steady-state
level is usually denoted by c or css. However, as stated earlier, it generally varies for
different drugs.
Thus, without any controversies, mathematically steady-state drug level must be
achievable with infinite numbers of dosing, that is, “n” ¼ “ 1 . ”
Therefore, at n ¼ 1, enK E τ approaches to zero (0); then,
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics 13
Fig. 1.5 The plasma drug concentration versus time curve upon drug administration by oral route/
any route other than the intravenous route for systemic drug action shows that in each of the
subsequent doses, the maximum and minimum plasma drug concentration values increase during
drug absorption at the initial phase. After administering several doses, the maximum and minimum
plasma drug concentration values become constant. The average plasma drug concentration at the
zone is called steady-state plasma drug concentration (css). At the steady state, the maximum
constant plasma drug concentration value is called steady-state maximum plasma drug concentra-
tion (css)max. Likewise, the minimum constant plasma drug concentration value is called the steady-
state minimum plasma drug concentration (css)min. MEC indicates minimum effective drug concen-
tration, MTC denotes minimum toxic drug concentration
Fig. 1.6 The plasma drug concentration versus time curve upon drug administration by intrave-
nous route shows that the maximum and minimum drug plasma concentration values increase upon
drug administration at the initial phase in each of the subsequent doses. After administering many
doses, the maximum and minimum plasma drug concentration values become constant. The
average plasma drug concentration at the region is called steady-state plasma concentration (css).
At the steady state, the maximum constant plasma drug concentration value is called steady-state
maximum plasma drug concentration (css)max, and the minimum constant plasma drug concentra-
tion value is called the steady-state minimum plasma drug concentration (css)min. MEC indicates
minimum effective drug concentration, MTC denotes minimum toxic drug concentration
14 1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics
x0 1
ðcp Þ1 ¼ :eK E t ðPlease see the Eq:ð1:5Þ, where t is a variableÞ
vd 1 eK E τ
ð1:7Þ
Similarly, we can obtain the maximum and minimum amounts of the drug in the
blood and the maximum and minimum plasma concentrations of the drug at an
infinite number of dosing (“n” ¼ “ 1 ”), while the drug is repeatedly administered in
a regular dose interval at the steady state (Vaughan and Tucker 1976). Therefore, at
“ ”
n ¼ “ 1 , ” that is, at the steady state,
1
The maximum amount of a drug in the blood is ðx1 Þmax ¼ x0 K τ
1e E
1
The minimum amount of a drug in the blood is ðx1 Þmin ¼ x0 eK E τ
1 eK E τ
x 1
The maximum plasma concentration of a drug is ðc1 Þmax ¼ 0 K τ
vd 1 e E
Z τ K E t τ K E τ
x0 1 e x0 1 e eK E :0
or cp 1 dt ¼ ¼
0 vd 1 eK E τ K E 0 vd 1 eK E τ K E K E
K E τ
x0 1 e 1 x0 1 1 eK E τ
¼ K τ þ ¼ K τ
vd 1 e E KE KE vd 1 e E KE KE
x 1 1 eK E τ
¼ 0
vd 1 eK E τ KE
Z τ
x
or cp 1 dt ¼ 0
0 v d KE
R τ
cp 1 dt
Therefore, c ¼ 0
τ
x0
¼ ðsteady‐state drug plasma concentrationÞ ð1:9Þ
vd K E τ
Then, c or css = vdxK0E τ [Please see Eq. (1.9).]
In the case of intravenous infusion given at a fixed rate xτ0 ¼ k0 ðsayÞ
k0
Then, css ¼ ð1:10Þ
vd K E
k0
or vd ¼
css K E
R τ
cp n dt
cn ¼ 0
τ
Again, plasma
drugconcentration at any time t after the nth dosing is
x0 1enK E τ
cp n ¼ vd 1eK E τ eK E t [Please see Eq. (1.5).]
Integrating the equation from 0 to τ, we get
R τ
cp n dt
cn ¼ 0
τ
Z τ Z τ
x0 1 enK E τ K E t x0 1 enK E τ
¼ :e dt ¼ eK E t dt
0 τvd 1 eK E τ τvd 1 eK E τ 0
x 1 enK E τ
, 0 is entirely a constant value
τvd 1 eK E τ
x0 1 enK E τ eK E t τ
¼
τvd 1 eK E τ K E 0
K τ
x0 1 enK E τ e E eK E :0
¼ :
τvd 1 e E K τ K E K E
K τ
x 1 enK E τ e E 1 x0 1 enK E τ 1 eK E τ
¼ 0 þ ¼
τvd 1 e K E τ KE KE τvd 1 e K E τ KE KE
x 1 enK E τ 1 eK E τ
¼ 0
τvd 1 eK E τ KE
x0
¼ 1 enK E τ
τvd K E
x0
Therefore, cn ¼ 1 enK E τ
vd K E τ
Again, the steady-state average plasma drug concentration css or c ¼ vdxK0E τ [Please
see Eq. (1.9).].
Then, cn ¼ cð1 enK E τ Þ (by replacing the value of vdxK0E τ by c)
cn
or ¼ 1 enK E τ
c
When n is equal to 1, that is, after the first dose, cc1 ¼ ð1 eK E τ Þ.
Again, cc1 ¼ ð1e1K E τ Þ ¼ accumulation factor
Therefore, accumulation factor } R} ¼ ð1e1K E τ Þ; since R is a ratio, it has no unit.
Using this equation, merely using the drug elimination rate and the dosing
interval in a multiple-(repeated) dose regimen, the extent of drug accumulation in
1.1 Fundamentals of Pharmacokinetics 17
or σ ¼ x0
[Please see Eq. (1.8).]
x0
vd : 1
eK E τ
vd
ð
1eK E τ Þ
1 eK E τ
or σ ¼
eK E τ
The pharmacokinetic factor depends on the drug characters such as bactericidal,
bacteriostatic, and degenerative and their antagonists. However, there is no rational
method so far available to determine the factor. The value of the factor may be
obtained by clinical observation and experience related to such drugs only.
In the case of a severe infection or acute or severe health crisis, a high initial
non-toxic dose of a drug is administered to control the progress of the disease
quickly. It is then followed by the administration of maintenance dose (usual dose)
of the drug to control the disease further. A loading dose is the sufficiently high first
dose selected so that the minimum plasma concentration of which is equal to the
minimum steady-state plasma concentration of the drug in its multiple-dose
(repeated-dose) regimen. That is, (c1)min ¼ (c1)min
x0 K E τ
Again, ðc1 Þmin ¼ e ,ðc1 Þmin vd ¼ x0 eK E τ , as for the first dose
vd
and ðc1 Þmin ¼ xv0d ð1e1K E τ Þ eK E τ ; when the first dose is a loading dose, x0 is replaced
by x* in the equation ðc1 Þmin ¼ xv0d eK E τ . Then, for a loading dose, ðc1 Þmin ¼ x vd e
K E τ
K E τ
As per the definition of a loading dose, x vd :e ¼ xv0d ð1e1K E τ Þ eK E τ
1
or x ¼ x0 ¼ x0 R ð1:11Þ
ð1 eK E τ Þ
x 1
or ¼ ¼ R ðdrug accumulation factorÞ
x0 ð1 eK E τ Þ
The loading dose and the maintenance dose are determined using the following
formula:
v c
Loading dose ¼ dF p, where F is the fraction of dose bioavailable, cp is the plasma
concentration of drug, and vd is the volume of distribution
Further, maintenance dose ¼ CL:cFss :τ (where CL is the clearance, css is the steady-
state plasma drug concentration, τ is the dosing interval, and F is the fraction of dose
bioavailable)
x 1
Since, ¼ ¼R
x0 ð1 eK E τ Þ
or x ¼ x0 R
x x0
or ¼ R
vd v d
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of negroes in Puerto Rico, the number being only about 30,000,
for whom some $11,000,000 was paid the owners. That statement
gives a fair idea of the character of the population as
respects numbers and race." Several small adjacent islands are
regarded as belonging to Porto Rico and were included in the
cession to the United States. One of these, named Viequez,
about 15 miles long and 3 or 4 miles wide, is very fertile,
and has about 7,000 inhabitants. On another, called Culebra,
there are some 600 or 700 people. The remaining islands are
smaller and unimportant.
PORTO RICO:
The government as it was under Spanish rule.
{411}
(1) That the political relations of Porto Rico with Spain were
at an end; that provincial and municipal laws were in force in
so far as not incompatible with the changed conditions, and
that they would be enforced substantially as they were before.
(3) Suspending the municipal tax on fresh beef for use of the
Army.
(4) Making Christmas and New Year's holidays.
{413}
"On the morning of the 7th of August, 1899, the United States
Weather Bureau, through its branch establishment here,
announced the approach of a cyclonic disturbance, and the
danger signal was ordered to be hoisted at substations of the
Bureau at Ponce and Mayaguez. At the same time I directed that
the danger be reported to all commanding officers of posts
throughout the island. There had been no serious or
destructive storm in Puerto Rico since 1867, and the
inhabitants had ceased to feel great concern on account of
tropical tempests. Except at seaports, little heed was given
to the caution, and in some cases the telegraph operators
failed to receive or to promptly deliver the warning messages.
The vortex of the cyclone appears to have traversed the island
throughout its whole length, from about Humacao to Mayaguez,
and its path was a scene of very great devastation. … The gale
struck the island at Humacao about midnight of August 7, and
furiously blew all the rest of that night and well into the
next day, while at Mayaguez the violence was not great until 9
o'clock on the morning of the 8th. But as the latter town was
under the lee of high mountains, it suffered much less than it
would have done had it been higher or not thus protected. Most
of the habitations in the track of the center of the cyclone
were entirely smashed and the débris strewn all over the
country. The full reports of the loss of life bring the number
of deaths up to 2,700. The wind worked dreadful havoc with nearly
everything useful to man. Besides the mortality, which was
appalling, the material damage was almost beyond belief. But
the greatest loss of life resulted, not from the wind, but
from the terrible downfall of rain that immediately followed.
… Added to the horror of the situation there came with the
gale on the southern coast a tidal wave, which submerged large
areas with sea water and swept away what the wind and rain had
spared, in some places completing the destruction. Every river
bed or bottom of a land depression was a roaring torrent. The
wind uprooted myriads of trees, and the rain, entering and
permeating the soil, loosened it, and on steep declivities
resulted in avalanches of earth, mud, and water, covering wide
areas and piling up the debris in the ravines and gorges. … The
material loss to the coffee growers can as yet only be
estimated, but the most conservative figures received place
this year's crop at one-third of the normal. … Regard being
had to the fact that five years must elapse before the coffee
trees and their shade can be replanted and reach a normal
bearing condition, the total loss can not be safely placed
below 25,000,000 pesos for Puerto Rico on account of this
hurricane."
{414}
This most reasonable and just view of the duty of the American
people to their new fellow citizens received strong
endorsement from higher official authority in the subsequent
annual report of the Secretary of War, who said: "It is plain
that it is essential to the prosperity of the island that she
should receive substantially the same treatment at our hands
as she received from Spain while a Spanish colony, and that
the markets of the United States should be opened to her as
were the markets of Spain and Cuba before the transfer of
allegiance. Congress has the legal right to regulate the
customs duties between the United States and Porto Rico as it
pleases; but the highest considerations of justice and good
faith demand that we should not disappoint the confident
expectation of sharing in our prosperity with which the people
of Porto Rico so gladly transferred their allegiance to the
United States, and that we should treat the interests of this
people as our own; and I wish most strongly to urge that the
customs duties between Porto Rico and the United States be
removed."
"SECTION 3.
That on and after the passage of this Act all merchandise
coming into the United States from Porto Rico and coming into
Porto Rico from the United States shall be entered at the
several ports of entry upon payment of fifteen per centum of
the duties which are required to be levied, collected, and
paid upon like articles of merchandise imported from foreign
countries; and in addition thereto upon articles of
merchandise of Porto Rican manufacture coming into the United
States and withdrawn for consumption or sale upon payment of a
tax equal to the internal-revenue tax imposed in the United
States upon the like articles of merchandise of domestic
manufacture; such tax to be paid by internal-revenue stamp or
stamps to be purchased and provided by the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue and to be procured from the collector of
internal revenue at or most convenient to the port of entry of
said merchandise in the United States, and to be affixed under
such regulations as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with
the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall
prescribe; and on all articles of merchandise of United States
manufacture coming into Porto Rico in addition to the duty
above provided upon payment of a tax equal in rate and amount
to the internal-revenue tax imposed in Porto Rico upon the