Therapeutic monitoring of drug concentration in blood. Are the analyses correctly ordered?
Ahlers, A.A.; Nielsen, C.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 153(18): 1281-1284
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 2028544 Document Number: 377665
In order to use therapeutic drug monitoring, it is important that a therapeutic range is established, and that doctors are familiar with the conditions necessary for this. Information and timing of 175 drug requests (digoxin, lithium, theophylline, valproic acid and carbamazepine) from the out-patients of the Department of Clinical Chemistry were studied by means of a questionnaire. The relationship between the last dose and blood sampling time showed great variation between the various drugs. 37% of the patients had received no information from their doctor concerning the correct time of the last dose of the relevant drug before sampling. The results showed the importance of thorough information to the patients by their doctors about the time of the last dose prior to sampling.