Cmax

Medical abbreviation · Pharmacology

Cmax
Stands forMaximum concentration
CategoriesMedical

Cmax stands for Maximum concentration, a pharmacology abbreviation.

Highest concentration a drug reaches in the blood after a dose, usually reported in pharmacokinetic studies and drug labels. It reflects how fast and how much drug is absorbed and often relates to peak side effects.

Example: The ER tablet reduced Cmax by 40% while keeping AUC unchanged.

Usage notes

Pronounced "C-max". For generic approval, the 90% confidence interval of the generic-to-brand ratio for both Cmax and AUC must fall within 80 to 125 percent. Aminoglycosides are dosed to achieve a high Cmax relative to the bacteria's MIC, since their killing is concentration-dependent.

More pharmacology abbreviations

  • AE – Adverse event
  • ATC – Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification
  • AUC – Area under the curve
  • BAN – British Approved Name
  • BBW – Black box warning
  • BE – Bioequivalence
  • Css – Steady-state concentration
  • CYP – Cytochrome P450
  • DDD – Defined daily dose
  • DDI – Drug-drug interaction
  • DLT – Dose-limiting toxicity
  • ED50 – Median effective dose

See all 36 pharmacology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.