Clinical pharmacokinetics worksheet with answers

Free printable Clinical pharmacokinetics worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
110100t (h)CC₀t½ = ?C₀/2

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). The elimination rate constant of theophylline in a patient is 0.116 h⁻¹. Find the half-life t½.

k = 0.116 h⁻¹
t½ = h
2.Easy
110t (h)C (mg/L)6 mg/L1 hC = ?

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). Just after an IV dose, the gentamicin level is 6 mg/L. The half-life is 3 h, and the drug is eliminated by first-order kinetics. What is the level C 1 h later?

C₀ = 6 mg/Lt½ = 3 ht = 1 h
C = mg/L
3.Medium
Vd = 0.7 L/kgC = 15 mg/LLD = ? mg56 kg · S = 0.92 · F = 1

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 56 kg patient is to be loaded intravenously with phenytoin sodium to reach a phenytoin level of 15 mg/L. The volume of distribution is 0.7 L/kg and the salt factor is S = 0.92. Find the loading dose LD of phenytoin sodium in mg.

56 kgVd = 0.7 L/kgC = 15 mg/LS = 0.92
LD = mg
4.Medium
VCss​ = 15 mg/LR = ? mg/hCL = 0.035 L/kg/h79 kg

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 79 kg patient receives a theophylline infusion. The clearance is 0.035 L/kg/h. What infusion rate R in mg/h gives a steady-state level of 15 mg/L?

79 kgCL = 0.035 L/kg/hCss = 15 mg/L
R = mg/h
5.Hard
VCss,avg​ = 10 mg/LD = ? mg · q12hCL = 0.04 L/kg/h84 kg · S = 1 · F = 1

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). An 84 kg patient takes oral theophylline (F = 1) every 12 h. The clearance is 0.04 L/kg/h. What dose D in mg gives an average steady-state level of 10 mg/L?

CL = 0.04 L/kg/hτ = 12 hS = 1F = 184 kgCss,avg = 10 mg/L
D = mg
6.Hard
Vd = 0.25 L/kg1 → 7 mg/LD = ? mg78 kg

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 78 kg patient on regular gentamicin doses is at steady state. The target is a peak of 7 mg/L and a trough of 1 mg/L, and the volume of distribution is 0.25 L/kg. Assuming rapid IV doses, what dose D raises the level from the trough to the peak?

78 kgVd = 0.25 L/kgCpeak = 7 mg/LCtrough = 1 mg/L
D = mg

Answer key

  1. 1. t½ = 5.975 h
  2. 2. C = 4.762 mg/L
  3. 3. LD = 639.1 mg
  4. 4. R = 41.48 mg/h
  5. 5. D = 403.2 mg
  6. 6. D = 117 mg

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