Dose

A dose is the measured amount of a substance given or taken at one time, usually expressed in milligrams or in milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Dose is the foundation of pharmacology because the effects and the risks of nearly every compound change with the amount. Clinicians distinguish a single dose from a daily dose, which totals all administrations in a day, and from a dosing regimen, which also specifies frequency and duration. Prescription drugs have doses established through clinical trials and stated in labeling. Consumer products instead list a serving size chosen by the manufacturer.

In cannabinoid research, doses used in clinical trials of prescription cannabidiol are typically far larger than the amounts found in retail products, so findings from those trials cannot be assumed to apply at lower amounts. Studies also suggest that CBD does not always follow a simple linear pattern, with different responses at different doses. Readers meet the term on product labels and in study abstracts. A glossary can define the concept, but the appropriate dose for any individual is a question for a clinician or veterinarian.