Which drug has a long half-life of 20-80 hours?

Prepare for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Oral Boards. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which drug has a long half-life of 20-80 hours?

Diazepam shows a long half-life because of its high lipophilicity and the formation of active metabolites that linger in the body. The parent drug roughly lasts 20–50 hours, while its metabolite desmethyldiazepam can persist for 40–100 hours. Together, these contribute to an overall duration that can fall in the 20–80 hour range. The other drugs listed have much shorter half-lives: meperidine about 3–5 hours, morphine around 2–4 hours, and flumazenil about 1 hour. Thus diazepam best fits the long 20–80 hour half-life.

Diazepam shows a long half-life because of its high lipophilicity and the formation of active metabolites that linger in the body. The parent drug roughly lasts 20–50 hours, while its metabolite desmethyldiazepam can persist for 40–100 hours. Together, these contribute to an overall duration that can fall in the 20–80 hour range. The other drugs listed have much shorter half-lives: meperidine about 3–5 hours, morphine around 2–4 hours, and flumazenil about 1 hour. Thus diazepam best fits the long 20–80 hour half-life.

More practice questions