Final answer:
The Cumulative dose refers to the total amount of a drug in the body after repeated doses, and is separate from developing a tolerance, which is needing more of the drug for the same effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cumulative dose is the summation of a drug present in the body after repeated doses of the medication. The term 'cumulative' refers to the total amount of drug that has built up in the body after multiple dosages. With regard to determining the correct dosage, factors including a patient's age, body mass, liver and kidney function, and potential side effects must be carefully considered to achieve therapeutic drug levels without causing toxicity. Over time, patients may develop a tolerance to a drug, meaning they require more of the drug to experience the same effects. This is separate from the cumulative dose, which instead refers to the actual amount of drug in the system at a given time after repeated administration of a certain dosage schedule.