Calculating The Loading Dose
Four variables are used to calculate the loading dose:
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Cp = desired peak concentration of drug Vd = volume of distribution of drug in body F = bioavailability S = salt fraction
The required loading dose may then be calculated as
For an intravenously administered drug, the bioavailability F will equal 1, since the drug is directly introduced to the bloodstream. If the patient requires an oral dose, bioavailability will be less than 1 (depending upon absorption, first pass metabolism etc.), requiring a larger loading dose.
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