Posology

Posology is the branch of medical science that deals with the amount of drug that must be administered to a patient. It is derived from the Greek words "posos" meaning "how much" and "logos" meaning "science". It is a crucial aspect of pharmacology and pharmacy.

History

The concept of posology has been around since the time of Hippocrates, who is often referred to as the father of medicine. He was the first to suggest that the dose of a drug should be tailored to the individual patient.

Principles

Posology is based on several principles. These include the therapeutic index, which is the ratio of the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose, and the minimum effective dose, which is the smallest dose that will produce a therapeutic effect. Other factors that are taken into account include the patient's age, weight, sex, and overall health status.

Factors affecting posology

Several factors can affect posology. These include the patient's age, weight, sex, and overall health status. Other factors include the severity of the condition being treated, the route of administration, and the presence of other medical conditions.

See also

• Pharmacology
• Pharmacy
• Therapeutic index
• Minimum effective dose

References

Posology Resources
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