Underdose

Underdose refers to the administration of a dosage of a drug or radiation therapy that is less than the amount required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. This can occur due to a variety of reasons, including errors in prescription, patient non-compliance, or individual variations in drug metabolism.

Causes

Underdosing can occur due to several reasons:

• Prescription error: This can occur if the healthcare provider prescribes a dose that is too low to be effective. This can be due to a lack of knowledge about the appropriate dosage, or a miscommunication between the healthcare provider and the pharmacist.

• Patient non-compliance: This refers to situations where the patient does not take the medication as prescribed. This can be due to forgetfulness, misunderstanding of instructions, or intentional non-adherence due to fear of side effects.

• Drug metabolism variations: Individuals can vary greatly in how they metabolize drugs. Some people may metabolize a drug so quickly that a standard dose does not provide a therapeutic effect.

Consequences

The consequences of underdosing can be serious, as it can result in the treatment being ineffective. In the case of antibiotics, underdosing can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. In the case of cancer treatment, underdosing can result in the cancer continuing to grow.

Prevention

Preventing underdosing involves ensuring accurate prescription and administration of drugs, educating patients about the importance of adhering to their medication regimen, and monitoring drug levels in the body to ensure that they are in the therapeutic range.

See also

• Overdose
• Therapeutic index
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics