Potency (pharmacology)
In pharmacology, the term potency describes the strength of a drug depending on the dose or concentration.
The concentration of the drug at which an effect occurs is measured. A drug with a high potency shows a great effect even at low concentrations. Since the term potency is vague, further information is required for an exact characterization. For agonists , the EC 50 is usually used , i.e. the molar concentration of the agonist at which 50% of the maximum possible effect for this substance occurs. This is the concentration of an active ingredient at which the concentration-effect curve in the logarithmic representation of the abscissa has its turning point .
With neuroleptics , a certain type of psychotropic drugs , a distinction is made between low-potency neuroleptics, medium-potency neuroleptics and high-potency neuroleptics. A high potency stands for a strong antipsychotic effect with a weak sedative effect. A low potency, however, indicates the opposite; there the sedative effect is very pronounced and the antipsychotic effect small. For more information, see Neuroleptic # High and Low Potent Neuroleptics .
literature
- Eduard Burgis: Intensive course: General and special pharmacology . Elsevier GmbH Munich 2008. pp. 7, 8, Fig. 1.6. ISBN 978-3-437-42613-1