The ED50 (median effective dose) is the dose of a medication that produces a specific effect in 50% of the population that takes that dose. This number has common use as what a clinician or patient can expect for a drug effect, but clinicians may use a different dosage for their particular intended effect, depending on the balance of need or benefit of the drug versus the toxicity of the drug. The toxic dose in 50% of the population is called TD50; the ED50 should hopefully be much less than the TD50, as this would indicate an effective medication at a lower dose.[1]

The ED50 for a particular medication derives from a dose-response curve, in which the ED50 is at the dosage (x-axis) where there is 50% of the desired response (y-axis).

The ED50 should be used as a clinical starting point for practitioners when prescribing medications, as adjustments are made to balance efficacy and toxicity. The E-max would be equivalent to the maximum effect the drug may have. It is important to remember that as dosages increase, the risk for toxicities will increase, and they may not be directly proportionate. Each patient requires individualized goals of treatment and should be monitored for such to ensure the lowest effective dose possible, especially for long term treatment.

There are two forms of dose-response curves, graded and quantal. Graded answers the question, ‘how much’; whereas, quanta answers, ‘yes or no.’ The ED50 may change depending on the question the clinician is trying to answer, therefore, using the recommended ED50 as a starting point is recommended and making adjustments based on the clinical outcomes for the patient.

Research shows that even when manufacturers set dose estimation guidelines, it seems to have little impact on what dose clinicians prescribe. Another overlooked aspect of the ED50, of which clinicians and pharmacists may be unaware, is the patient by patient variation in the ED50 depending on their weight, height, fat content, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.[1]

ED50 for medications and the recommended dosages based on clinical studies derive for surrogate endpoints (e.g., blood pressure after taking medication) rather than the long-term effects the drug has on the body.[2][1]

Clinical studies have shown that regarding the ED50, many deem mortality to be too small of an endpoint and uncommon to be of particular interest for a medication. However, on a grand scheme in a large patient population, medications that may have substantial clinical benefits may also lead to severe consequences and death. An example of this is digoxin, which has had efficacy in heart failure and atrial fibrillation, but at commonly used dosages caused a net increase in mortality.[1]

When dosing drugs for significant periods, the dosage for the desired effect must be monitored to ensure that the patient does not approach the toxic dose.[3]

In a recent study, researchers found that prescription medications have contributed to over 10% of hospital admission and over 15% of hospital mortality.[4] This is not to say that all of these cases are from higher dosages than were needed for the intended efficacy, but a persistently high dose needs to be re-evaluated regularly to ensure toxic drug exposure to the medication is not occurring.

Research has found that lower dosages of medications such as aspirin and statins, when used at dosages near their ED50 are the most efficacious from a preventative standpoint. For example, an 81 mg dosage of aspirin after a first clinical heart event is just as effective as dosages of over 100 mg.[5] 

It is important to remember the different clinical endpoints in patients as well, and as patients change in weight, age, etc. their ED50 may also be altered. Clinicians are prone to work towards specific metrics, such as a hemoglobin A1C of 6% for a diabetic patient or a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg. However, these are clinical guidelines and should act as a starting point towards which the clinician believes their patient should achieve. If clinicians are not mindful of these considerations, patients may receive doses of medications that are in a toxic dose range to them which may be a standard dosage for another patient.[1]

The ED50 is the dose of a medication that produces a desired pharmacologic effect in 50% of the studied patient population that takes the medication. This metric is derived from clinical studies. This number helps clinicians decide the initial drug dose in patients. Clinicians may need to adjust the dose based on potential changing patient factors, e.g., renal function, hepatic function, disease state, drug interactions, etc. The healthcare team (e.g., physicians, pharmacists, nurses, etc.) need to work together and monitor drug efficacy and safety in order to improve patient outcomes. [Level V]