Cmax (pharmacology)

Cmax is the opposite of Cmin, which is the minimum (or trough) concentration that a drug achieves after dosing.

[2] After an intravenous administration, Cmax and tmax are closely dependent on the experimental protocol, since the concentrations are always decreasing after the dose.

[3] Short term drug side effects are most likely to occur at or near the Cmax, whereas the therapeutic effect of drug with sustained duration of action usually occurs at concentrations slightly above the Cmin.

[citation needed] The Cmax is often measured in an effort to show bioequivalence (BE) between a generic and innovator drug product.

[4] According to the FDA, drug quality bioavailability (BA) and BE rely on pharmacokinetic measurements such as AUC and Cmax that are reflective of systemic exposure.