Effective dose (pharmacology)

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Effective dose (pharmacology)

In pharmacology, the effective dose (ED) is a measure of the drug's efficacy, representing the dose at which a given percentage of the population exhibits the desired therapeutic effect. The effective dose is often denoted as ED followed by a subscript indicating the percentage of the population affected, such as ED50, which is the dose that produces a therapeutic effect in 50% of the population.

Calculation and Significance

The effective dose is determined through clinical trials and dose-response relationship studies. It is a critical parameter in the development and approval of new drugs, as it helps to establish the therapeutic index and safety margin of a drug. The therapeutic index is the ratio between the toxic dose (TD) and the effective dose, providing an indication of the drug's safety.

Types of Effective Dose

• ED50: The dose at which 50% of the population experiences the desired effect.
• ED90: The dose at which 90% of the population experiences the desired effect.
• ED99: The dose at which 99% of the population experiences the desired effect.

Related Concepts

• Lethal dose (LD): The dose at which a given percentage of the population experiences a lethal effect.
• Toxic dose (TD): The dose at which a given percentage of the population experiences a toxic effect.
• Therapeutic window: The range of doses between the minimum effective dose and the minimum toxic dose.

Applications

The concept of effective dose is used in various fields, including medicine, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics. It is essential for determining the appropriate dosing regimen for patients to maximize therapeutic effects while minimizing adverse effects.

See Also

• Pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Dose-response relationship
• Therapeutic index
• Clinical trial