Potency

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Potency

Potency (/poʊtənsi/) is a term used in various fields of medicine to describe the strength or effectiveness of a substance, such as a drug or vaccine. The term is derived from the Latin word "potentia," meaning "power."

Definition

In pharmacology, potency refers to the amount of drug needed to produce a specific effect. It is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity. A highly potent drug evokes a given response at low concentrations, while a drug of lower potency evokes the same response only at higher concentrations.

Factors Influencing Potency

The potency of a drug can be influenced by various factors, including the drug's chemical structure, its route of administration, and the individual's physiological state. For example, a drug administered intravenously is often more potent than the same drug administered orally.

Related Terms

  • Efficacy: The maximum response achievable from a drug. Unlike potency, efficacy is concerned with the maximum response, regardless of the dose.
  • Pharmacodynamics: The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action.
  • Pharmacokinetics: The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs.
  • Therapeutic Index: A comparison of the amount of a therapeutic agent that causes the therapeutic effect to the amount that causes toxicity.

See Also

External links

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