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THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING

THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING


THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING (TDM):
  • Refers to individualization of drug dosage by maintaining plasma or blood drug concentrations within targeted therapeutic range or window.

Principle: 

  • Based on a drug’s close relationship between plasma drug level & it’s clinical effect.

THERAPEUTIC WINDOW:

  • Is the minimum dosage necessary for a patient to benefit from the main effects intended of a specific drug.
USES:
  • TDM measures drug concentrations & clinically interprets its effects.
  • Mainly, individualizing therapeutic regimens for optimal patient benefits.
DRUG PRE-REQUISITES:

TDM testing is performed for drugs with certain qualities:

  • For drugs with lower therapeutic index.
  • Eg: Digitalis, aminoglycosides, gentamycin, TCA’s, theophylline, Lithium, anti-epileptics, Immunomodulators & antiarrhythmics.
  • For drugs with wider variations in pharmacokinetics.
  • For drugs with known correlation between serum concentration & drug response or toxicity.
TDM UNAPPLICABLE DRUG GROUPS:
  • Not used for drugs whose effect are easily measured.
  • Eg: Anti-hypertensives – Via BP monitoring 
  • Anti-coagulants (Warfarin) – Bleeding time monitoring.
  • Anti-Diabetics – Metformin
  • Not used for drugs producing active metabolites (activated inside body).

Exam Important

THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING

THERAPEUTIC WINDOW:

  • Is the minimum dosage necessary for a patient to benefit from the main effects intended of a specific drug.
  • TDM testing is performed for drugs with lower therapeutic index.
  • Eg: Digitalis, aminoglycosides, Gentamycin, TCA’s, theophylline, Lithium, anti-epileptics, Immunomodulators & antiarrhythmics.
  • TDM testing is not performed for whose drugs whose effect are easily measured.
  • Eg: Anti-hypertensives – Via BP monitoring. 
  • Anti-coagulants (Warfarin) – Bleeding time monitoring.
  • Anti-Diabetics – Metformin.
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