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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Prescriptions and Dosing

Dose

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/doʊs/nounCore term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, dose means: The amount of a medicine taken or given at one time, such as one tablet, two puffs of an inhaler or 5 millilitres of a liquid.

In Turkish: doz

How it is used

One of the commonest words in pharmacy. A dose can be high, low, usual, maximum, missed or double. Pharmacists check whether a dose suits the patient's age, weight and kidney function, and explain what to do about a missed dose. As a verb, 'dose' means to give a dose.

Example sentences

  1. The dose looks too high for a child of this weight. Let's check it with the prescriber.

  2. What should I do if I miss a dose?

Common collocations

  • miss a dose
  • double dose
  • maximum dose
  • adjust the dose
  • single dose
  • dosageHow much of a medicine to take, how often and for how long, for example two tablets three times a day for five days.
  • loading doseA larger first dose, or a few larger doses, given at the start of treatment to bring the drug quickly to an effective level in the blood.
  • maintenance doseThe regular dose given after the start of treatment to keep the drug at a steady, effective level in the body over time.
  • overdoseAn amount of a medicine or other substance that is more than the body can safely handle, taken by accident or on purpose, which can cause poisoning or death.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Prescriptions and Dosing

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.