Hydrocodone bitartrate is used as a cough suppressant. After the drug
is fully absorbed, the quantity of drug in the body decreases at a
rate proportional to the amount left in the body, with constant of
proportionality . Suppose that the half-life of hydrocodone
bitartrate in the body is 3.6 hours, and that the oral dose taken
is 10 mg.
(a)
Write a differential equation for the quantity, ,
of hydrocodone bitartrate in the body at time ,
in hours, since the drug was fully absorbed.
(Write your answer in terms of and , e.g.,
.)
(b)
Solve your differential equation, assuming that at the
patient has just absorbed the full 10 mg dose of the drug.
(Your solution may include the constant of proporationality
, but should not include any other unspecified constant.)
(c)
Use the half-life to find the constant of proportionality, .
(d)
How much of the 10 mg dose is still in the body after 12
hours?
Amount =
(include units)
You can earn partial credit on this problem.