To enhance patient outcomes, pharmacotherapy aims primarily to:

The focus of pharmacotherapy is to optimize management of symptoms, which is essential for improving patient outcomes. This involves selecting the appropriate medications and dosages that can effectively alleviate the symptoms of a disease, enhance quality of life, and promote recovery. By effectively managing symptoms, pharmacotherapy can lead to better adherence to treatment plans, reduced hospitalization rates, and overall improved health for the patient.

While increasing the number of medications taken may seem beneficial, it often leads to polypharmacy, which can complicate treatment regimens and increase the risk of adverse effects. Reducing medical costs is an important consideration but is secondary to the primary goal of ensuring effective symptom management. Finally, limiting patient involvement in care contradicts modern practice principles that emphasize shared decision-making and patient empowerment in the treatment process. Thus, optimizing symptom management stands out as the primary aim of pharmacotherapy.