Which assessment describes the safe range for drug administration based on effective and lethal doses?

The therapeutic index is a critical pharmacological concept that describes the margin of safety of a drug. It is calculated as the ratio between the effective dose (the dose that produces the desired therapeutic effect) and the lethal dose (the dose that results in death) for a given percentage of the population. This measurement provides important information about a drug's safety—specifically, how much of a drug can be administered before it becomes dangerous.

A high therapeutic index indicates that there is a wide margin of safety between the effective dose and the lethal dose, meaning that the drug can be used safely at a variety of dosages. In contrast, a low therapeutic index suggests a narrow margin of safety, necessitating careful monitoring of drug levels and effects. Understanding the therapeutic index is essential for healthcare providers to ensure safe medication administration and to minimize the risk of adverse effects or overdose.

This understanding is contrasted with other concepts; for instance, the effective dose refers specifically to the amount of drug needed to provide the desired effect for a certain percentage of the population but does not take into account any risk of lethality. The dosage window and drug efficacy also relate to drug administration but do not describe the balance of effective versus lethal doses in the same safety context as the therapeutic index does