Therapeutic range

Therapeutic range or therapeutic window refers to the range of drug dosages which can treat disease effectively while staying within the safety limits. The lower boundary of the therapeutic range is the minimum effective concentration (MEC), below which a medication is ineffective. The upper boundary is the minimum toxic concentration (MTC), above which the medication becomes toxic.

Definition

The therapeutic range is defined as the range of drug concentrations in the body fluids, usually blood plasma, that achieves the desired effect without causing significant toxicity to the patient. The range is determined by the drug's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Factors Influencing Therapeutic Range

Several factors can influence the therapeutic range of a drug. These include the patient's age, weight, sex, and overall health status. Other factors include the presence of other diseases, the use of other medications, and individual variations in metabolism and drug response.

Importance of Therapeutic Range

The therapeutic range is important in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics because it helps clinicians determine the appropriate dosage of a drug. It also helps in monitoring the effectiveness and safety of drug therapy.

See Also

• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics
• Clinical pharmacology
• Therapeutics

References

Therapeutic range Resources
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