Dawka

Dawka, in pharmacology, refers to the amount of a drug or other substance given to a patient at one time or over a defined period. In English-language medical literature the term is dosage. Measurements are commonly expressed in milligrams (mg), micrograms (µg), milliliters (mL), International Units (IU), or grams (g), and dosing guides may specify both daily and single-dose amounts.

Determining the appropriate dawka involves balancing therapeutic benefit against the risk of adverse effects. The dose is influenced by patient factors (age, body weight, renal and hepatic function, pregnancy) and drug-specific properties (potency, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic index).

Common dosage concepts include the loading dose to rapidly reach therapeutic levels, and the maintenance dose to sustain them. The therapeutic window or range is the dose that achieves efficacy without unacceptable toxicity. Maximum tolerated dose and minimal effective dose are used in safety considerations.

Calculations often rely on body weight, e.g., mg/kg, or body surface area (mg/m²) in pediatrics or oncology. Routes of administration (oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical) affect bioavailability and dosing schedules. In many guidelines, dosing is per day but may be divided into multiple administrations.

Guidelines emphasize starting with an initial recommended dose and titrating based on response and tolerability. Dosing must consider drug interactions, renal or hepatic impairment, and special populations (children, elderly).

Usage of the term dawka is common in Polish medical literature and practice, where it denotes the amount administered per dose or per treatment period. Dosing information is typically found in drug labels, clinical guidelines, and pharmacology references.