Final answer:
The process involves developing medication after initial synthesis, ensuring safety and efficacy through FDA approval, and continuously monitoring post-approval. Dosage calculations are critical due to potential for toxicity, especially when considering patient-specific factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the process of preparing and giving out a medication to be taken at a later time. After a drug's initial discovery or synthesis, it undergoes development by chemists which may include chemical alteration, toxicity tests, and designing methods for large-scale production. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then begins the approval process, using large-scale human subject experiments to ensure safety and efficacy. The dosage and route of administration are critical, with dosage determined carefully to achieve therapeutic levels without causing toxicity. Patient-specific factors, such as body mass and liver or kidney function, must be considered.
Once approved, a drug is continually evaluated through pharmacovigilance systems to assess long-term safety. For drugs not absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, parenteral routes like intravenous or intramuscular injection are preferred. Medical and pharmaceutical personnel must calculate dosages with great care to avoid harmful outcomes.