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Knowledge of volume of distribution (V_D) can be used to determine the size of a loading dose if an immediate response to treatment is required. This assumes that therapeutic success is closely related to the plasma concentration and that there are no adverse effects if a relatively large dose is suddenly administered. It is sometimes employed when drug response would take many hours or days to develop if the regular maintenance dose was given from the outset, e.g. digoxin.

In practice, weight is the main determinant to calculating the dose of a drug where there is a narrow therapeutic index.