First-line treatment

A first-line treatment or first-line therapy is a medical therapy recommended for the initial treatment of a disease, sign or symptom, usually on the basis of empirical evidence for its efficacy.

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Overview

This evidence, often based on scientific research studies, of which the randomized controlled trial is the gold standard, typically suggests the recommended therapy is most likely to have an effect for the given condition.

Alternative treatment options, including switching to another treatment, or augmenting the first-line treatment with another treatment, may be recommended if the first-line therapy does not ease the symptoms, or produces intolerable side effects.

See also

• medication
• randomized controlled trial