Theorems and implications of a model independent elimination/distribution function decomposition of linear and some nonlinear drug dispositions. I. Derivations and theoretical analysis.

The approach presented enables a model independent representation of the pharmacokinetics of drugs with a liner disposition and some drugs with a nonlinear disposition. The approach is based on a decomposition of the drug disposition into an elimination function q(c) and a distribution function h(t). The q function represents the net effect of all disposition processes which work toward a reduction in the systemic drug level. The h function represents the net effect of all disposition processes which slow down the rate of decline of the systemic drug level by returning drug from the peripheral environment to the systemic circulation. Several theorems relating q and h to the drug disposition are presented which uniquely define these functions mathematically. The disposition decomposition is of particular significance in three main areas of pharmacokinetics: (1) evaluation of drug absorption, (2) drug level predictions including steady state predictions, (3) and elucidation of drug disposition kinetics. The practical significance of the decomposition method in these three areas is discussed, and various procedures for the application of the method are proposed. The decomposition method represents a model independent alternative to pharmacokinetic models such as linear compartmental models, the recirculation model, and some physiologic models. This also includes nonlinear forms of such models, as long as the nonlinearity is due to a central nonlinear elimination. The greatest promise and significance of the disposition decomposition approach appears to be its application to nonlinear pharmacokinetics. In contrast to linear pharmacokinetics the kinetic analysis in such cases has been limited to model dependent methods employing specific pharmacokinetic models, due to the lack of model independent alternatives. The novel development presented offers such alternatives. For some applications these alternatives appear more rational in the sense that the analysis becomes more general and objective and may be based on fewer assumptions.