|
The extent of the body's response to a drug depends on the
amount administered, called the dose. At a low dose, no response
may be apparent. A higher dose, however, may produce the desired
effect. An even higher dose may produce an undesirable or
harmful response. For example, to relieve a headache most
adults require two tablets of aspirin. A half tablet may provide
no relief from pain while ten tablets may cause burning pain
in the stomach or nausea.
The doses prescribed by physicians are those recommended by
each drug's manufacturer to produce the best therapeutic,
or medically beneficial, responses in the majority of patients.
However, doses may need to be adjusted in certain individuals.
For example, a person may be born without the enzyme required
to metabolize a particular drug while other individuals may
suffer from lung disorders that prevent them from absorbing
inhaled drugs. Factors such as alcohol consumption, age, the
method of drug administration, and whether or not the individual
has taken the drug previously can affect an individual's response
to a drug.
|
