What are the primary goals of pharmacotherapy?

The primary goals of pharmacotherapy involve relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for patients dealing with various health conditions. This holistic approach prioritizes the patient's overall well-being and aims to manage or alleviate the effects of diseases effectively. By focusing on symptom relief, pharmacotherapy directly addresses the discomfort and challenges patients face, which can lead to enhanced physical and emotional health.

In addition, improving quality of life can involve not just symptom management but also ensuring that patients can engage in daily activities, maintain their roles in family and society, and enjoy better overall health outcomes. This goal aligns closely with the broader objectives of healthcare, which include promoting wellness and supporting functional independence.

The other choices present objectives that are not as central to the essence of pharmacotherapy. For instance, while monitoring disease progression is important, it is more a part of clinical management rather than a goal of pharmacotherapy itself. Additionally, increasing the number of prescriptions does not necessarily contribute to patient health and can lead to polypharmacy, which may pose additional risks. Finally, while reducing healthcare costs is a valuable outcome, it is not the primary goal of pharmacotherapy; patient care and quality of life take precedence over financial considerations.