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Which of the following combinations will produce the safest drug profile?

*Large LD50, large ED50
*Small LD50, small ED 50
*Large LD50, small ED50
*Small LD50, large ED50

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The combination of a large LD50 and a small ED50 will produce the safest drug profile, indicating efficacy at low dosages and a wide margin between therapeutic and toxic effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The safest drug profile would be one that has a large LD50 and a small ED50. The LD50, or lethal dose-50%, indicates the amount of a substance required to kill 50% of a test population, and therefore a large LD50 value indicates lower toxicity. In contrast, the ED50, or effective dose-50%, represents the dose at which 50% of the population exhibits a therapeutic effect. A small ED50 means that a smaller amount of the drug is needed to achieve its desired effect.

Therefore, a drug with a large LD50 and a small ED50 is preferred as it suggests that the drug can be effective at a low dose without approaching toxic levels. This wide margin between effectiveness and toxicity contributes to a safer drug profile for potential therapeutic use.

User Jonathan Wilson
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