The apparent volume of distribution for phenytoin changes with serum albumin concentration because of changes in the unbound fraction.
For a patient with normal renal function:
volume of distribution in L per kg =
= 2.8 / (serum albumin in g/dL)
For a patient with severe renal impairment:
= 6.5 / ((serum albumin in g/dL) + 1)
The volume of distribution would be altered if the patient is also taking drugs that displace the phenytoin.
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Neurology
ICD-10: ,
