does a higher miligram count mean a more powerful drug? does any of it depend on the person's body type?

Answer 1

If it's higher milligrams of the active ingredient, yeah, usually. But sometimes, it's higher because it's an extended-release drug, which lets some be absorbed slowly, over a long period of time. Which wouldn't make it stronger, just longer-lasting.

People absorb drugs differently, sure. Usually, a smaller person is hit harder by drugs because there's a higher concentration for the size of the person (like, say, a small child.) Women generally absorb alcohol faster than men, but not just because of size differences--they metabolize alcohol differently.

Drugs are a personal thing--they hit everyone slightly differently. But as a very general rule, more milligrams=stronger drug.

Answer 2

The Milligram count is not the strength of the drug but the weight of the drug in the metric system. Two quantities of different drugs may weigh the same, but have different "strengths". For example: 325mg of Acetaminophen is considered one dose, where as 500mg of Dicloxacillian is considered one dose. Some drugs that are very potent aren't measured in mg, but in micro grams. Some drugs are so small you wouldn't even notice them sitting on the table but if you were to accidentally touch them you could absorbed them through your skin and feel their effects. What you want to know is a drugs potency per weight, or in other words its dose.

Some but not all drugs are affected by body size and type.

Answer 3

milligram is a measurement of weight (grams). The higher the milligram doesn't make it more powerful, per say, but have more of it. So yes it makes it more potent, but that is only because you are taking more of it (because it has more in it). Kind of like comparing one shot of whiskey versus two shots of whiskey. Its 2 ounces vs 1 ounce. So while the potency is still the same (80 proof), the more shots you take (higher milligram in pill world) the more it affects you.

A good example is 250 mg of Tylenol. I generally need about 500 mg when I take pain relievers. I usually by Extra strength which means the pills are about 500 mg each. So two 250mg pills are 100% exactly equal to potency (and weight) of one 500mg. Your body weight does have a factor on how much you need. 500mg of is not an idea amount for a child. That because its a child, but because a child is light weight (75 lbs or less). They don't have as much mass, body fat, etc to absorb all that. There are other factors depending on the drug too of why you may be prescribed a lower mg than a higher one. I have childen 7 years old and up. When they have a headache, I take a Tylenol and cut it with a sharp knife. I know if I cut a 500mg in half, its 250, so I aim to cut about 1/5 of the pill (100mg). Bayer aspirins are 81mg and it says you can give one to a child above 3 or 4 yrs old I think.

Answer 4

If you are talking about the same medication than yes a pill with 10mg would be higher than 5 mg. If you are talking about two different pills even if they are in the same class then you can not really compare their strengths the same way. For example Naproxen and Ibuprofen are both anti-inflammatories. The max dose for Naproxen is 500mg twice a day and Ibuprofen would be 600-800mg three times a day, these are essentially equivalent.

Body weight can affect how you process a medication. It can also affect how "concentrated" a medication would be which is why we dose several medications based on weight.

Answer 5

The number of milligrams indicates how much of the drug or compound is in one tablet or dose of a medication.
The higher the mg, the more stuff in the pill.

Doses of many drugs are dependant on the metabolism and weight of the person, so doctors prescribe medications in different strenghts for different people and for different treatments.

Answer 6

When you are comparing two different medications, no. Absolutely not.

If you are comparing two pills of the same medication, then usually, but not always.
Take Ambien for example. Tests show that taking more than the recommended max dose only works as a placebo, it does not actually work any better, but only increases the chances of side effects.

Answer 7

Yes higher mg of one medicine is powerful than lower mg of same drug.

But you cannot compare mg of one drug to another. for example, you cannot compare 10 mg of Ibuprofen to 20 mg of Acetominophen, but you could compare 10 mg of Acetominophen to 20 mg of Acetominophen.

Answer 8

the higher, the longer the effectiveness of the drug. ex: take 800mg of Motrin every 8 hrs... take 600mg every 6hrs, and 400mg every 4 hrs... it varies on the drug etc... metabolism can effect the lasting power of a drug too.

Answer 9

Milligram count doesn't tell you much at all. You can't compare different drugs based solely on dose size.

Answer 10

Yes higher MG does make the drug more potent..