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Reading graphs

The Basic Rise Shape

This shape is the baseline for reading every other shape. It's the simplest form a single dose takes as it passes through.

The graph

Example curve that rises after a dose, holds for a while, and then comes down The horizontal axis runs from 06:00 to 15:00. The vertical axis is how well the body is moving, relative to that person's own range — higher is better movement. Doses are marked at 07:00. The highest point is around 08:15. higher lower 07:00 06 08 10 12 14 Example curve that rises after a dose, holds for a while, and then comes down The horizontal axis runs from 06:00 to 15:00. The vertical axis is how well the body is moving, relative to that person's own range — higher is better movement. Doses are marked at 07:00. The highest point is around 08:15. higher lower 07:00 06 08 10 12 14
  • Response through the day
  • Time a dose was taken
An illustration generated for teaching. It does not represent the response to any particular medication or dose, and real curves differ from person to person.

A single curve holds four pieces of information: when it started to rise, how high it climbed, how long it held, and how it came down.

Being able to look at these four things separately is what makes the graph useful. A statement like “the medication worked well today” bundles all four together, making it hard to tell what was good and what fell short.

Every other shape that comes later is this same shape with just one of these four changed. That’s why getting familiar with this shape first makes all the others much easier to read.

What to look at

  • Where the dose marker and the curve part ways The distance from the time the triangle is marked to the point where the curve starts lifting off the bottom.
  • The height of the highest point How far up it climbed, vertically. Read this by comparing it with other days, not by the number on the axis.
  • The length of the stretch it stays high How wide it is, horizontally. This is the hold time.
  • The slope coming down Whether it drops sharply or comes down gradually.

Worth recording when you see this shape

  • The time you took the dose Every other interval is measured from this time.
  • The time you felt things start to change This becomes the point where the curve starts to rise.
  • The best time, and your output then This becomes the position and height of the peak.
  • The time things started to feel heavy again This becomes the point where it comes down.

The shape of the curve is material for describing your situation. Decisions about the type, dose, or timing of medication belong with the clinicians who look after you.

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