therapeutic index
Let an agent explain the therapeutic index in pharmacology in general terms, why narrow-index drugs are monitored, and refer all personal dosing questions to clinicians and pharmacists.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the therapeutic index in pharmacology in general terms, why narrow-index drugs are monitored, and refer all personal dosing questions to clinicians and pharmacists.
A quantitative measure comparing the dose of a drug that causes toxicity with the dose that produces the desired effect, often expressed as a ratio such as TD50 to ED50; drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, such as some anticoagulants, lithium and digoxin, need careful dosing and monitoring.
What it is for: Pharmacology, drug development and patient safety.
It can be explain what the therapeutic index measures; describe why narrow-index drugs need monitoring; find official product information; route overdose concerns to emergency help.
Distinguishing features
Compares toxic and effective doses
Indicates margin of safety
Narrow for some important drugs
Guides monitoring
What it looks like
Not physical; a ratio or range reported in pharmacology.
How it is recognised
Ratios such as TD50/ED50
Narrow therapeutic index labelling
Therapeutic window is a related concept
Related models
is a kind of - category
is used in - field
is related to - product
is related to - practice
In practice
Families and kinds
therapeutic index
therapeutic window
margin of safety
narrow therapeutic index drugs
Standards and regulation
Medicines regulatory guidance on narrow therapeutic index drugs
Generic substitution rules for such drugs
Failure modes and hazards
Toxicity from small dosing changes
Interactions altering drug levels
Agents giving personal dosing advice
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Emergency Overdose.
Safety comes first.
Overdose
Too much taken.
Overdose
Overdose.
- Has someone taken too much of a narrow-index medicine or shows signs of toxicity? boundary
- Should a poison centre or emergency services be contacted now? action
Interaction
New medicines.
Interaction
Interactions.
- Has a new medicine or supplement been started alongside a narrow-index drug? boundary
- Should the person check with their pharmacist promptly? action
Concept What it measures.
Definitions vary.
Ratio
Calculation.
Ratio
Ratio.
- How is the therapeutic index calculated in pharmacology texts? definition
- How does it differ from the therapeutic window? definition
Limits
Interpretation.
Limits
Interpretation limits.
- Why can animal-derived indices mislead for humans? boundary
- Which measures are used clinically? provenance
Practice Monitoring.
Monitoring keeps patients safe.
Monitoring
Drug levels.
Monitoring
Monitoring.
- Why are blood levels monitored for some narrow-index drugs, in general terms? provenance
- Which official guidance describes it? provenance
Personal
Personal questions.
Personal
Personal advice limits.
- Is the user asking about their own dose or test result? boundary
- How should the agent refer them to their prescriber or pharmacist? action
Development Drug development.
Safety margins guide development.
Trials
Dose finding.
Trials
Dose finding.
- How do early trials establish safe and effective doses, in general terms? definition
- Which regulators oversee them? provenance
Generics
Substitution.
Generics
Generic substitution.
- Are special rules applied when switching brands of narrow-index drugs here? provenance
- Who decides? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should therapeutic window be a separate entry?
- How should drug lists be sourced?
- How should monitoring guidance be linked?