Editorial policy
HalfLifeDB explains pharmacokinetic concepts for general education. Each substance page pairs a simplified elimination model with source links.
The project is designed to be transparent about assumptions. We do not present the calculator output as a prediction for any individual person, and we avoid content that would encourage risky behavior.
Who creates the content
Articles and profiles are researched and maintained by the HalfLifeDB Editorial Team, the small independent team responsible for this site. The team reviews source relevance, writes the plain-language interpretation, and maintains the calculator model. HalfLifeDB does not currently employ a physician, pharmacist, or clinical reviewer, so pages say plainly that clinical review has not been provided.
How pages are written
- We focus on explaining what a half-life estimate means and what it does not mean.
- We avoid providing dosing guidance, treatment advice, or instructions that enable harm.
- We describe model assumptions and common reasons real measurements may differ.
- We distinguish educational interpretation from individualized medical, legal, or safety decisions.
- We link to concept pages when a profile relies on terms that need more explanation.
Editorial ownership and review status
Content is maintained by the HalfLifeDB Editorial Team. Editorial review means checking source links, source context, calculator assumptions, and compliance with the site's safety boundaries. It does not mean the page has been reviewed by a physician, pharmacist, toxicologist, or other licensed clinician.
Profile pages display a source-review date when available. That date indicates when the entry was last updated or reviewed for source context. It is not a promise that the literature has not changed since then. The public review log collects those dates and source counts in one place.
How half-life values are selected
Half-life values on HalfLifeDB are used to drive an educational curve. Many substances have multiple published estimates depending on study conditions. When multiple estimates exist, we choose a representative value to illustrate the curve and include source links so readers can review context.
We do not attempt to reconcile every study design difference, and we do not offer individualized guidance. When new high-quality references are identified, we may update the value or add clarifying notes.
The value shown on a profile is best understood as the input to the calculator, not as a claim that every person or study will match that number. When a range is known, the range and note should be displayed near the calculator.
Publication threshold
A profile is published only when the editorial record has a defensible representative value and links to a specific study, official label, or reputable review that gives readers meaningful pharmacokinetic context. A compound identity record alone is not enough. Profiles with only animal, in vitro, postmortem, class-level, or otherwise indirect evidence remain drafts until the page can explain the evidence without implying an established human half-life.
Sources
Source links are provided so readers can verify information and explore primary literature. Where possible, we prefer reputable medical and scientific sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles, textbooks, and official product labeling.
Compound identity records and background reviews may appear beside supporting sources, but they are not presented as proof of a selected value. See the sources page for the source hierarchy.
Tools and automation
Structured data powers the charts, checkpoint tables, category comparisons, and repeated safety boundaries. AI-assisted tools may be used during drafting or editing, but automation is not treated as a source. A page should not be published from generated prose alone: factual claims must be checked against the linked source material, and profiles that cannot meet that threshold stay out of the public catalog.
Review checklist
- Does the page state the model and its limitations?
- Does the page avoid dosing, procurement, evasion, or misuse instructions?
- Does the page link to source material or explain why the evidence is limited?
- Does the page make clear that duration, impairment, and detection windows are separate questions?
- Does the page label indirect, animal, in vitro, or otherwise limited evidence when that context matters?
- Does the page link to the disclaimer and relevant educational explainers?
Corrections
If you believe a page contains an error, email admin@halflifedb.cowith the page URL and what you think is incorrect. If a correction is warranted, we will update the page.
Content scope
- Included: educational explanations of pharmacokinetic terms and simplified decay curves.
- Not included: instructions to evade testing, dosing advice, sourcing, or facilitation of illegal activity.
- Not included: diagnosis, medical decision support, or emergency guidance.
Updates and versioning
Pharmacokinetic estimates can vary by study and context. We may update values or notes as better references are identified. The goal is to keep entries useful as educational summaries, not to provide personalized guidance.
Read the disclaimer for limitations and safety notes.