Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Titration ELISA as a Method to Determine the Dissociation Constant of Receptor Ligand Interaction
Published on: February 15, 2018
The drug titration paradox: something obvious finally understood
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
The drug titration paradox reverses expected dose-effect relationships, where higher exposure correlates with lower effect during titration. This phenomenon impacts clinical pharmacology and anaesthesiology research, especially in big data studies.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Anaesthesiology
- Pharmacometrics
Background:
- The drug titration paradox describes an inverse relationship between drug exposure and effect when doses are adjusted to achieve a target response.
- This contrasts with fixed-dose studies where a positive correlation between dose and effect is typically observed.
Discussion:
- The paradox challenges conventional assumptions in drug development and clinical practice.
- Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for accurate interpretation of clinical trial data, particularly in anaesthesia.
Key Insights:
- Titration-based dosing can lead to greater drug exposure being associated with lesser therapeutic effect.
- Conversely, lower drug exposure may correlate with greater effect, a reversal of the expected dose-response curve.
Outlook:
- The drug titration paradox necessitates revised methodologies for study design and data analysis in clinical pharmacology.
- Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this paradox and its clinical implications in anaesthesiology and big data research.
Related Concept Videos
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Several...
Dosage Regimens: Partial Pharmacokinetic Parameters
Dosage Regimen: Multiple Oral Dosage
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Repetitive IV Injections
Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Relationship: Dose to Pharmacological Effect
Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Relationship: Problems

