therapeutic index: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2technical/specialised
Quick answer
What does “therapeutic index” mean?
The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose of a drug.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose of a drug.
A quantitative measure of a drug's safety, representing the window between an effective dose and a harmful dose. Also called the therapeutic window.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Spelling follows national conventions for other words in a sentence (e.g., 'analyse' vs. 'analyze').
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both medical and pharmacological contexts.
Frequency
Equally frequent in professional healthcare and pharmacology discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “therapeutic index” in a Sentence
The therapeutic index of [DRUG][DRUG] has a high/low therapeutic index.A narrow therapeutic index requires careful monitoring.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “therapeutic index” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form for the noun phrase. 'Index' as a verb is unrelated in this context.]
American English
- [No verb form for the noun phrase. 'Index' as a verb is unrelated in this context.]
adverb
British English
- [No adverbial form.]
American English
- [No adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- The therapeutic-index calculation is crucial for regulatory approval.
- It's a narrow therapeutic-index medication.
American English
- The therapeutic-index calculation is critical for regulatory approval.
- It's a narrow therapeutic-index drug.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in pharmaceutical R&D reports and investor presentations to describe a drug candidate's safety profile.
Academic
Fundamental concept in pharmacology, toxicology, and medical papers.
Everyday
Virtually unused in everyday conversation outside healthcare professions.
Technical
Core term in medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, and toxicology for drug safety evaluation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “therapeutic index”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “therapeutic index”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “therapeutic index”
- Using 'therapeutic index' to mean the list of diseases a drug treats.
- Pronouncing 'therapeutic' with stress on 'rap' (/ˌθer.ə.ˈræp.tɪk/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It means the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small, requiring careful dose adjustment and monitoring (e.g., blood tests) to ensure safety and efficacy.
They are often used interchangeably. Strictly, the 'index' is a calculated ratio (e.g., TD50/ED50), while the 'window' is the range of doses between minimal efficacy and unacceptable toxicity.
Examples include digoxin (for heart conditions), warfarin (a blood thinner), lithium (for bipolar disorder), and phenytoin (an anti-epileptic).
It is typically expressed as the ratio of the dose that produces toxicity (e.g., TD50 - median toxic dose) to the dose that produces a desired therapeutic effect (e.g., ED50 - median effective dose).
The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose of a drug.
Therapeutic index is usually technical/specialised in register.
Therapeutic index: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθer.əˈpjuː.tɪk ˈɪn.deks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθer.əˈpjuː.t̬ɪk ˈɪn.deks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a typical idiom carrier; technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an INDEX finger pointing to the gap between the helpful dose (therapy) and the harmful dose (toxic).
Conceptual Metaphor
SAFETY IS A WINDOW/SAFETY IS A MEASURABLE GAP.
Practice
Quiz
A drug with a high therapeutic index is considered: