Therapeutic Window

The range of drug dosages or plasma concentrations between the minimum effective concentration (MEC) and the minimum toxic concentration (MTC) at which the drug produces its therapeutic effect without unacceptable adverse effects. Drugs with narrow therapeutic windows require careful dose titration and often therapeutic drug monitoring. Width of the window varies between patients due to pharmacogenomic and physiological differences.

示例

• Lithium: 0.6-1.2 mEq/L (toxicity >1.5 mEq/L)
• Warfarin INR 2.0-3.0 (bleeding risk above 4.0)
• Vancomycin trough 10-20 mcg/mL (nephrotoxicity above 20)