Doseskalation

Doseskalation, also known as dose escalation or dose titration, is a fundamental principle in pharmacology and medicine used to determine the optimal dose of a medication or treatment. This process involves gradually increasing the dose of a drug or therapy until a desired therapeutic effect is achieved or until unacceptable side effects occur. The goal is to find the highest effective dose that is still tolerable for the patient.

This method is commonly employed in several contexts. In clinical trials, especially Phase I studies, dose escalation is crucial for identifying the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a new drug. Researchers start with a very low dose and increase it incrementally in small groups of participants, monitoring for adverse events at each step. Once the MTD is established, subsequent phases of the trial can then explore efficacy at doses below this limit.

Beyond clinical trials, dose escalation is also a standard practice in treating chronic conditions. For instance, in managing hypertension, a physician might start a patient on a low dose of an antihypertensive medication and gradually increase it if blood pressure targets are not met. Similarly, for pain management, doses of analgesics are often escalated to find the most effective relief while minimizing side effects. The principle allows for personalized treatment, acknowledging that individuals respond differently to medications.