How To? Concentration Plotter

[foxgirl]

I think by now I understand the parts of GLP plotting tools enough to plan out doses and keep track of the concentration I’m theoretically maintaining. Maybe I’m over thinking it, but I can’t see though all the concepts to come down to a simplified objective.

I know what the numbers are and how they’re calculated, but is it used to determine when/how much to titrate? Am I looking for my next amount to be in my system before making an increase? For example, starting at 2.5 mg every X days, once my body is peaking 5 mg daily then start dosing at 5 mg. Or am I looking for the amount my body is maintaining to determine my next dose? For example, starting at 2.5 mg every X days, seeing it peak above 3.5 mg daily, so start dosing at 3.5 mg? (Made up numbers)

I’d like to be efficient and mitigate side effects so understanding this and personalized planning does matter to me

 

[lessthanhalf]

The simplest approach is to just use the standard dosing schedule, with increases in dose every 4 weeks. The calculator is just an estimation, your particular half life may be a bit different and you really have to go on effects - are you still hungry or not losing weight or are you getting side effects.
On average worst side effects are a few months after starting, as doses start to increase, then they usually very slowly improve.
Using the blood level calculator is mainly useful to work out dosage adjustments, or if you want to use smaller doses more often, but this really only matters if you are trying to deal with side effects that are unpleasant, and do not want to drop the dose down too much. Guessing at blood levels does not work for glp's as the delay in absorption of 24 h or so plus the half life of 5-7 days is totally different to just about every other medication.
You can use it to try to work out how to increase doses more rapidly than standard, but there is a fairly large risk of getting suddenly hit with bad side effects like nausea or vomiting that will take days to a week to get better.