How is a dosage adjusted if a patient is underweight?

When a patient is underweight, their body may not metabolize or respond to medications in the same way as an average-weight individual. Medications are often dosed based on ideal body weight to ensure both efficacy and safety. If the dosage is calculated based on a standard weight that does not reflect the actual weight of an underweight patient, this can lead to an increased risk of adverse effects or toxicity.

By decreasing the dosage for underweight patients, healthcare providers can account for their lower body mass and ensure that the medication concentration remains within therapeutic levels without overmedicating. This careful adjustment helps to minimize potential side effects and ensures that the treatment remains effective without compromising patient safety.

Consulting a pharmacologist may be necessary in complex cases or if there’s uncertainty regarding appropriate dosage adjustments, but the initial step is typically to reduce the dosage based on the patient's actual weight. Keeping the dosage the same or increasing it could lead to complications or inadequate care.