What term describes the drug concentration range between the minimum effective concentration and the minimum toxic concentration?

• A. Therapeutic window
• B. Therapeutic range
• C. Margin of safety
• D. Pharmacokinetic interval

Answer: (A)

The concentration range between what’s just enough to produce a therapeutic effect and what’s just enough to cause toxicity is the therapeutic window. The lower bound is the minimum effective concentration, and the upper bound is the minimum toxic concentration. Staying within this window means the drug is likely to work without causing unacceptable harm. Drugs with a wide therapeutic window are easier to dose safely, while those with a narrow window require closer monitoring and careful dosing. While some texts use therapeutic range interchangeably, the standard term for this specific safe-and-effective interval is the therapeutic window.