The neuroactive steroid alphaxalone reveals a complex biphasic concentration-effect relationship using the 11.5 to 30 Hz frequency band of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as biomarker. The purpose of the present investigation was to develop a mechanism-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model to describe this observation. The proposed model is based on receptor theory and aims to separate the drug-receptor interaction from the transduction of the initial stimulus into the observed biphasic response. Individual concentration-time courses of alphaxalone were obtained in combination with continuous recording of the EEG parameter. Alphaxalone was administered intravenously in various dosages. The pharmacokinetics were described by a two-compartment model, and parameter estimates for clearance, intercompartmental clearance, volume of distribution 1 and 2 were 158 +/- 29 ml. min(-1). kg(-1), 143 +/- 31 ml. min(-1). kg(-1), 122 +/- 20 ml. kg(-1) and 606 +/- 48 ml. kg(-1), respectively. Concentration-effect relationships exhibited a biphasic pattern and delay in onset of effect. The hysteresis was described on the basis of an effect-compartment model with C(max) as covariate. The pharmacodynamic model consisted of a receptor model, featuring a monophasic saturable receptor activation model in combination with a biphasic stimulus-response model. The in vivo affinity (K(PD)) was estimated at 432 +/- 26 ng. ml(-1). Unique parameter estimates were obtained that were independent of the dose and the duration of the infusion. In conclusion, we have shown that this mechanism-based approach, which separates drug- and system-related properties in vivo, was successfully applied for the characterization of the biphasic effect versus time patterns of alphaxalone. The model should be of use in the characterization of other biphasic responses.