The pharmacological effect of the drug after a single oral dose may be different due to the difference in the drug absorption rate when drug elimination is nonlinear.
ka (hr -1)
Dose = 100 gm
Vd = 40 L
Km = 0.01 gm/L
Vmax = 10 mg/hr
Example: The same amount of alcohol can produce different plasma conc-time profiles when alcohol absorption rate is different. This is because alcohol elimination follows nonlinear kinetics.
Alcohol intake on empty stomach results in faster absorption, higher alcohol blood conc, and more intense effect compared to intake on full stomach. Slower alcohol absorption also leads to larger which can result in lower alcohol blood conc. The pharmacological effects of alcohol are correlated with alcohol blood conc.
