Continuous Infusion
The slow, steady administration of a drug intravenously over an extended period using a pump. Continuous infusion maintains stable blood drug levels and is used for peptide drugs that require precise, uninterrupted dosing, such as bivalirudin during cardiac procedures or octreotide for acute bleeding.
Technical Context
Continuous infusion maintains steady-state drug concentrations without the peak-trough fluctuations of intermittent dosing. Infusion rate at steady state: Rate = CL × Css (where CL is clearance and Css is target concentration). Time to reach steady state during infusion is ~4-5 half-lives (same as intermittent dosing). Octreotide continuous IV infusion (25-50μg/hour) is used for acute variceal bleeding — the constant somatostatin receptor activation suppresses splanchnic blood flow. Bivalirudin continuous infusion (1.75mg/kg/hour) during PCI maintains consistent anticoagulation. Continuous infusion requires IV access and infusion pump, limiting use to inpatient settings.