Which statement best describes a high therapeutic index?

A high therapeutic index refers to the ratio between the toxic dose and the effective dose of a drug. Specifically, it indicates that there is a large margin of safety between the dose required to produce therapeutic effects and the dose that could cause harmful effects. Therefore, when a drug has a high therapeutic index, it is less likely to result in adverse reactions because the effective dose is far removed from the toxic dose.

This concept is crucial in pharmacology, as medications with a high therapeutic index can be administered with a reduced risk of toxicity, making them safer for patient use. In contrast, drugs with a low therapeutic index have a small window between effective and harmful doses, which increases the potential for adverse reactions. Thus, the correct statement emphasizes the safety profile of drugs characterized by a high therapeutic index, indicating a lower likelihood of adverse effects.