What does dose refer to in pharmacology?

• A. The amount of medication given on the basis of the patient's size and age.
• B. The time interval between doses.
• C. The potency or strength of a drug.
• D. The drug's brand name.

Answer: (A)

Dose refers to the amount of medication that is given to a patient. It is the quantity administered, often expressed in units like milligrams or milliliters, and is typically tailored to the person’s size or age (for example, mg per kg of body weight in children). This distinguishes dose from the dosing interval, which is how often the medication is given. It also differs from potency or strength, which describes how strong the drug is per unit rather than how much is taken. The drug’s brand name is unrelated to the amount administered. So the dose is best understood as the amount of medication given based on the patient’s size and age.