What is the Origin of Dosing Inconsistency?

This term is a clinical descriptor that highlights a deviation from the pharmacologic principle of maintaining steady-state drug concentrations for optimal therapeutic effect. The concern over inconsistency intensified with the rise of individualized hormone replacement therapy, where precise and stable blood levels are critical for minimizing side effects and maximizing physiological benefit. It is a challenge inherent in managing chronic conditions requiring continuous medication.

What is the Mechanism of Dosing Inconsistency?

Erratic hormone delivery prevents the body's sensitive endocrine feedback loops from establishing a stable new equilibrium. Intermittent high doses can cause supraphysiological peaks, potentially leading to side effects and receptor downregulation, while missed or low doses result in subtherapeutic troughs and symptom recurrence. This fluctuating hormonal signal disrupts the precise communication between the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and target organs, undermining the goal of achieving endocrine homeostasis.

Dosing Inconsistency

Meaning

A state characterized by a lack of uniformity or regularity in the amount or timing of a prescribed hormonal medication administered to a patient. This deviation from the intended therapeutic regimen can arise from patient non-adherence, compounding pharmacy variability, or imprecise administration techniques. Dosing inconsistency leads to unpredictable fluctuations in circulating hormone levels, which destabilizes the endocrine environment and compromises treatment efficacy.