Drug Dosages

Drug Administration Routes

• Safest and Most Convenient Route: The oral route is considered the safest and most convenient for drug administration whenever feasible, as it allows for easy self-administration and typically has fewer risks than other methods.

• Faster Response than Oral Method: The intravenous (IV) route delivers drugs directly into the bloodstream, resulting in a quicker onset of action compared to the oral route, which requires absorption through the gastrointestinal tract.

• Use of Gaseous and Volatile Drugs: Inhalation is a route of drug administration that utilizes gaseous and volatile substances, allowing for rapid absorption through the lungs, making it ideal for anesthetics and some respiratory therapies.

Dosage Terminology

• Minimal Effective Dose: This term defines the smallest quantity of a drug required to produce a therapeutic effect, vital for ensuring efficacy while minimizing potential side effects.

• Lethal Dose: Referred to as the LD50, this is the amount of a drug that is expected to cause death in 50% of a population, serving as a critical indicator of drug toxicity and safety levels.

Test your knowledge of drug dosages with this quiz! Learn about minimal dose, maximal dose, toxic dose, and abusive dose. Challenge yourself to identify the correct dosage for various therapeutic effects and avoid harmful side effects.