Single administration
Many medications are administered daily over a long period of time, such as agents for high blood pressure or lipid-lowering agents such as statins for disorders of lipid metabolism. However, various drugs also exist for which a single dose, i.e., a single administration, is sufficient. If necessary, it can be repeated after a defined period of time. In case of a regular application, for example every week, it is not a single dose. In this case, a long dosing interval is the basis. It is important that patients are adequately informed by healthcare professionals about the therapy regimen, because a single administration is unfamiliar to patients. A single dose may be higher than a usual single dose, but this is not a necessity. A long half-life is also not a mandatory requirement. Finally, because of its simplicity, the single dose represents a significant advantage for treatment adherence.
Examples
- The antibiotic fosfomycin for the treatment of cystitis.
- The antibiotics trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole for cystitis.
- The antibiotic azithromycin for the treatment of defined infectious diseases (eg, chlamydia).
- The antifungal drug fluconazole for the treatment of vaginal mycosis.
- Antihelminthics (vermifuge) such as mebendazole and pyrantel for worm infestation.
- The “morning-after pill” (levonorgestrel, ulipristal acetate) for emergency contraception.
- The nitroimidazole metronidazole for trichomoniasis.
- The dopamine agonist cabergoline for weaning.
- The antiemetic aprepitant for nausea before chemotherapy.
A single dose is also sometimes sufficient for simple complaints such as mild headaches.
