doziranje

Doziranje, or dosage, is the process of determining the amount, form, and schedule of a substance to be administered in order to achieve a desired therapeutic effect while minimizing adverse effects. It is used in medicine, toxicology, nutrition, and veterinary science. Dosage decisions draw on pharmacological knowledge, clinical guidelines, and patient-specific factors.

Several factors influence dosing. Patient characteristics such as age, body weight or surface area, renal and hepatic function, and pregnancy status affect how a substance is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. The type and severity of the disease, the route of administration and the formulation, potential interactions with other drugs, and the goal of therapy (treatment versus prevention) also play critical roles. The therapeutic window, half-life, and clearance of the substance determine how often and how much to give. Practical considerations include adherence, dosing schedules, and available presentations of the product.

Dosing strategies vary. They may include fixed dosing for adults, weight- or surface-area–based dosing for children, loading doses to reach therapeutic levels quickly, maintenance dosing to sustain effect, and titration to achieve a target response. Doses are often expressed as milligrams per kilogram, milligrams per day, or fixed amounts per administration, with adjustments for organ impairment or special populations. Monitoring and follow-up are essential to assess efficacy and safety and to revise regimens as needed.

In practice, dosages are prescribed by healthcare professionals and should be taken according to official guidance. Incorrect or unsupervised dosing can lead to insufficient treatment or toxicity.