[Individualized drug therapy--need for improvement].

The lack of dose adjustment to the individual needs of a patient is a major cause for the substantial difference between the efficacy of therapies established in large trials and the therapeutic results obtained in everyday practice (reduced effectiveness). In addition, these differences affect drug safety and ultimately also costs. Hence strategies to maintain good compliance and to avoid incompatibilities, drug interactions and adverse events should be applied whenever drugs are prescribed. This supplement compiles different techniques and measures which may support health professionals in reaching these goals.