If Dose IV = 400 mg and Vd = 20 L, what is C0?

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Multiple Choice

If Dose IV = 400 mg and Vd = 20 L, what is C0?

Explanation:
For an IV bolus dose, the initial concentration in the body, C0, is simply Dose divided by the volume of distribution (C0 = Dose/Vd). This happens because the entire dose is instantly placed into the apparent distribution space, with no time for absorption or distribution delay. Calculate: 400 mg ÷ 20 L = 20 mg/L. So the initial concentration is 20 mg/L. This also shows why the other numbers don’t fit: they would correspond to different distribution volumes (for example, 400 mg/L would need a Vd of 1 L, 800 mg/L would need 0.5 L, and 40 mg/L would need 10 L). The given values yield 20 mg/L.

For an IV bolus dose, the initial concentration in the body, C0, is simply Dose divided by the volume of distribution (C0 = Dose/Vd). This happens because the entire dose is instantly placed into the apparent distribution space, with no time for absorption or distribution delay.

Calculate: 400 mg ÷ 20 L = 20 mg/L. So the initial concentration is 20 mg/L.

This also shows why the other numbers don’t fit: they would correspond to different distribution volumes (for example, 400 mg/L would need a Vd of 1 L, 800 mg/L would need 0.5 L, and 40 mg/L would need 10 L). The given values yield 20 mg/L.

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