Bolus dose

Bolus Dose

A bolus dose is a specific quantity of medication administered all at once to raise the patient's blood concentration to an effective level. The administration can be done via various routes, including intravenous, oral, intramuscular, or subcutaneous. The term "bolus" is derived from the Latin word bolus, which means "a small ball".

Administration

The bolus dose is typically administered in a hospital setting under the supervision of a healthcare professional. The dose and frequency of administration are determined by the patient's condition, the medication's properties, and the desired therapeutic effect.

Applications

Bolus dosing is commonly used in situations where a rapid response to medication is required. This includes conditions such as heart attack, stroke, severe allergic reaction, and seizures. It is also used in chemotherapy to deliver high doses of drugs to cancer cells.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of bolus dosing is the rapid achievement of therapeutic drug levels in the body. However, it also carries a risk of adverse effects due to the high initial concentration of the drug. Careful monitoring is required to ensure patient safety.

See Also

• Drug administration
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics