Research standards
HalfLifeDB is an independent educational reference. Substance pages pair direct source links with either a supported elimination model or a plain-language explanation of why the current evidence does not justify one.
Evidence required for a public profile
A public profile needs a compound-specific evidence note and direct source links. A public calculator has a higher threshold: a defensible representative value and a human study, official label, regulatory document, or focused clinical reference that discusses the selected half-life or a range containing it.
Compound identity records can confirm names and chemistry, but they do not establish a numerical human half-life. Animal, in vitro, postmortem, class-level, or otherwise indirect evidence is labeled as context and is not enough by itself to power a public calculator.
When only indirect evidence is available, the profile can publish without a calculator. These evidence-note pages identify what was studied, explain why the former placeholder or proxy is not defensible, and state what kind of human evidence would be needed before a curve is added.
How representative values are used
Many substances have multiple published estimates because population, route, formulation, analyte, sampling window, and model choice differ. HalfLifeDB uses one representative value to make the curve inspectable and displays a range when the available source supports one clearly.
The displayed value is a model input, not a universal biological constant or a prediction for an individual. Profile notes explain the context that should travel with the number.
What a modeled profile should make clear
- Which parent compound, metabolite, formulation, or pharmacokinetic phase is represented.
- Which half-life value powers the curve and which source supports it.
- Whether a reported range is available and what can make the estimate vary.
- That the chart shows normalized first-order decline rather than a measured body concentration.
- That half-life does not determine effects, impairment, detection, treatment, or personal safety.
An evidence-note profile replaces the numerical fields with an explicit “no curve published” state. It must not expose an animal estimate, class midpoint, forensic case value, or related-compound proxy through the directory, comparison tool, data export, or page metadata.
Content boundaries
HalfLifeDB does not provide dosing, redosing, tapering, treatment, purchasing, manufacturing, misuse, testing-evasion, or personalized medical instructions. The site explains pharmacokinetic concepts and points readers to evidence; it does not replace a licensed clinician, laboratory, or emergency service.
Sources and changes
Source links remain attached to each profile so readers can inspect the underlying material. Values, notes, and ranges may change when stronger evidence becomes available or when an existing source is clarified. The update history lists the latest recorded date for every public profile.
Corrections
Send the page URL, the disputed statement or value, and a supporting source toadmin@halflifedb.co. See the source guidefor how different evidence types are used and the disclaimer for site limits.