• BME 200
• # Homework 5 - Due Oct 9

You may work in groups, but the homework must be done individually.

1. Estimate the half-life of the drug illustrated in Figure 13.1B in Box 13.1.
2. Plot (in Excel or Matlab) the predicted plasma concentration of a 500 mg aspirin tablet from 0 to 24 h if a patient takes an aspirin at t = 0, 4, and 8 hours. Assume a half-life of 3 hours and a plasma volume of 3 L.
3. Norplant is an implantable drug-delivery system for contraception. The original Norplant system consisted of six reservoirs, each containing 36 mg of levonorgesteral that was released at a constant rate for five years. What is the average release rate of the drug into the body per day?
4. A 5 g IV injection of antibiotic is administered to a human with a plasma volume of 3 L. The antibiotic has a half-life of 2.5 hr in the plasma.

a. Determine the elimination rate constant, $$k$$.
b. Plot (in Excel or Matlab) the concentration of the antibiotic in the plasma from the time of a single injection to 24 hr.
c. If the concentration of the antibiotic is not to fall below 13 of the initial dosage, when should a second injection be administered?

Last updated:
October 3, 2018