therapeutic index

noun

The ratio of the median toxic dose of a drug to its median effective dose, used to gauge the safety of a particular medication. A low therapeutic index indicates that the drug is easily overdosed.

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Meanings

nountherapeutic index (plural therapeutic indexes or therapeutic indices)

plural therapeutic indexes · plural therapeutic indices

  1. medicineThe ratio of the median toxic dose of a drug to its median effective dose, used to gauge the safety of a particular medication. A low therapeutic index indicates that the drug is easily overdosed.
Cite this entry
APA

therapeutic index. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/therapeutic%20index

MLA

“therapeutic index.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/therapeutic%20index. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “therapeutic index,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/therapeutic%20index.

Source: therapeutic index on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.