dosisintravenous

Dosis intravenous, or dosis intravenosa in Spanish, refers to the amount of a drug that is administered directly into the venous circulation. This route provides rapid and complete bioavailability and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism. The dose is typically expressed as mass (milligrams, mg) or volume (milliliters, mL) and is often indexed to body weight (mg/kg) or body surface area (mg/m²). Dosing regimes may be given as a single bolus, as an intermittent infusion, or as a continuous infusion.

Methods of administration include IV bolus (or IV push), where a concentrated dose is given quickly; IV infusion, where the drug is delivered over time; and continuous or intermittent infusion through a peripheral or central venous catheter. Infusion rates are described as amount per unit time (e.g., mg/h or mL/h).

Dosing concepts: a loading dose may be used to reach therapeutic plasma concentrations rapidly, followed by maintenance dosing to preserve them. Dosing depends on pharmacokinetics such as volume of distribution, clearance, and half-life, as well as patient factors: age, weight, renal and hepatic function, pregnancy status, and interactions with other drugs. Dosing may be adjusted for pediatrics or obesity.

Safety and monitoring: potential risks include vein irritation, phlebitis, infiltration, or extravasation; fluid overload; drug interactions and incompatibilities with other IV fluids or medications; and infection. Proper dilution, rate of administration, aseptic technique, and monitoring of vital signs and laboratory values are essential. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be used for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows.

Applications: IV dosing is common for antibiotics, analgesics, chemotherapy, anesthesia, hydration therapy, and radiologic contrast administration. It provides predictable and rapid onset but requires trained personnel and appropriate equipment. Compared with non-intravenous routes, IV dosing achieves full systemic exposure and allows precise control over administration.