Explain the term 'titration' in medication.

Titration refers to the process of adjusting a drug dosage to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing adverse effects. This involves carefully increasing or decreasing the dosage of a medication based on the patient's response and any side effects experienced. The goal of titration is to find the optimal dose that effectively manages the condition being treated with the least amount of risk for harmful effects.

This method is particularly important in medications with a narrow therapeutic index, where the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small. Titration can be guided by clinical parameters, laboratory tests, or patient feedback, ensuring that therapy is both safe and effective. It is a critical component of personalized medicine, as it allows healthcare providers to tailor treatments to individual patient needs.

In contrast, the other options describe actions or methodologies that do not align with the concept of titration. Prescribing a drug without monitoring does not take into account the patient's response, and simply doubling a drug dose immediately or stopping therapy completely can lead to adverse effects and does not promote a careful and measured approach to medication management.