If the clearance of a drug is known, the infusion rate required to achieve a given plasma steady state level can be calculated so that the infusion rate equals the elimination rate for the drug.
infusion rate (amount per unit time) =
= ((target drug concentration as amount per volume) * (clearance as volume per unit time))
clearance for the drug =
= (0.693 * (volume of distribution) / (half-life of the drug)
concentration at steady state in mg per liter =
= (infusion rate of the drug in mg per hour) / (clearance of the drug in L per hour)
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