ED50

Medical abbreviation · Pharmacology

ED50
Stands forMedian effective dose
CategoriesMedical

ED50 stands for Median effective dose, a pharmacology abbreviation.

Dose that produces the intended effect in 50 percent of a test population, or half the maximal effect in a graded response. It is the basic measure of a drug's potency in pharmacology experiments.

Example: Compound B had an ED50 of 2 mg/kg in the mouse model versus 12 mg/kg for the reference.

Usage notes

Comparing ED50 with toxic doses (TD50) or lethal doses (LD50) gives the therapeutic index. Potency (a low ED50) is different from efficacy (the maximal effect achievable): fentanyl is more potent than morphine, but both can reach similar maximal analgesia.

More pharmacology abbreviations

  • Cmax – Maximum concentration
  • Css – Steady-state concentration
  • CYP – Cytochrome P450
  • DDD – Defined daily dose
  • DDI – Drug-drug interaction
  • DLT – Dose-limiting toxicity
  • INN – International Nonproprietary Name
  • LD50 – Median lethal dose
  • MOA – Mechanism of action
  • MTD – Maximum tolerated dose
  • NTI – Narrow therapeutic index
  • OIC – Opioid-induced constipation

See all 36 pharmacology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.