Effective dose (pharmacology)

File:Dose response-efficacy-toxicity-lethality.jpg

Dose response-efficacy-toxicity-lethality

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 (ED), 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 death.
• Toxic dose (TD): The dose at which a given percentage of the population experiences toxic effects.
• 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:

• Drug development: To determine the optimal dosing regimen.
• Clinical pharmacology: To guide prescription practices.
• Regulatory affairs: To establish guidelines for drug approval and labeling.

See Also

• Pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Dose-response relationship
• Therapeutic index
• Toxicology

External Links

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