Which term refers to the process of gradually increasing a medication dose over time?

• A. Titration/dose escalation
• B. Tolerance development
• C. Plateau dosing
• D. Maintenance dosing

Answer: (A)

Gradually increasing a medication dose over time is called titration, or dose escalation. This approach starts with a small dose and then raises it in steps while monitoring how well the drug works and what side effects appear. The aim is to reach an effective dose that provides the desired benefit without causing unacceptable toxicity, and it helps tailor therapy to an individual’s response and tolerability. This differs from tolerance development, where the body becomes less responsive to the same dose over time and may require higher doses to achieve the same effect. Plateau dosing refers to a point where doses stop increasing because the response no longer changes, and maintenance dosing is about keeping that effective level steady to maintain drug exposure.