Objectives

After completing this module you should be able to:

• Define the volume of distribution.

• Describe the relationship between the amount of the drug in the body, the plasma drug concentration, and the volume of distribution of the drug.

• Describe the relationship between the iv dose, the initial plasma drug concentration and the volume of distribution of the drug.

• Determine the drug volume of distribution after a single iv bolus dose.

• Discuss the factors that determine the volume of distribution of a drug.

• Describe the effect of changing the dose and the volume of distribution on the drug concentration-time profile after a single iv bolus dose.