The dose response curve describes the relationship between the amount of the drug given and the degree of response produced by the drug. Body weight is the primary factor that affects drug dose. An individual dose response curve plots a single drug effect on a single individual at different dosages. The threshold response is the point at which the measurable response is first observed. A drug will produce different dose response curves for each of its effects.
Curves are generally unique to each individual.
A group drug response curve plots the percentage of several individuals showing the desired effect at various dosage levels. The slope of the curve is an important aspect of the dose-response curve. It indicates the rate of increase of the drug effect as the dosage increases. Steep slopes indicate that a small change in dose has a large change in effect. Maximum efficacy refers to the dosage at which the response curve plateaus.