Doseren

Doseren is the act of determining and administering a measured amount of a substance, most commonly medicines, to achieve a therapeutic effect while minimizing adverse effects. The term is used in medicine, pharmacology, veterinary care, and agriculture.

In Dutch, the related noun is dosering; in English the terms dosage or dosing are used. The word derives from Latin dosis and was adopted into many European languages via French and other sources.

Dosing decisions rely on factors such as age, body weight, organ function, and possible drug interactions. Doses are expressed in milligrams, milliliters, or International Units, and may be a single amount or part of a dosing schedule (dosingschema) with defined intervals, such as every 6 or 12 hours.

Weight-based dosing uses the calculation: dose = dose per kilogram × body weight. For liquids, dose = concentration × volume, for example a 100 mg/mL suspension given as 2 mL provides 200 mg.

Dosage forms and routes include tablets, capsules, injections, suspensions, and topical applications. Dosing may be titrated or tapered, and adjustments are common for pediatric, elderly, or patients with kidney or liver impairment.

Safety and quality are central: incorrect dosing can reduce efficacy or cause toxicity. Dosing should follow medical guidance, product labeling, and pharmacopoeia standards; self-dosing without professional advice is discouraged.