2. Mexilitine is an antiarrhythmic agent with the following pharmacokinetic properties: Clearance = 5.02 mL/min/kg Volume of Distribution = 3.46 L/kg (a) If mexilitine was given by repeated intravenous bolus doses, of 200mg every 8 hours, to a 60-kg patient calculate the plasma concentration: (i) just after the first dose (Cmax) (ii) at the end of the Arst dose interval (Cmin) (iii) just after a dose at steady state (Cmaxs) (iv) just before a dose at steady state (Cmin,ss) mg/L 100 mg/L mg/L mg/L 6/13 129% (ii) 16 hours + (b) If mexilitine was infused at a constant rate of 25mg per hour, what would be the plasma levels after (i) 8 hours (iii) at steady state 8 mg/L mg/L mg/L (c) If mexilitine was given as a bolus dose of 400mg and then infused continuously at a rate of 20mg per hour, how would the plasma concentration versus time curve appear (provide a sketch and show your calculations below). * 7/13 - 120% + (d) For what reason would a drug be administered as a fast infusion rate for a short time followed by a slower infusion rate thereafter, as in the example given in part (b)