Abstract

Nwobodo Ndubuisi N

Therapeutic drug monitoring is relevant in individualizing drug therapy, optimizing clinical response and reducing incidence of adverse effects. The use of many effective drugs in clinical practice is limited due to narrow therapeutic window, necessitating individualization of treatment within the framework of therapeutic drug monitoring. Therapeutic drug monitoring is an effective tool for quality assurance in clinical practice, more so for optimizing therapy. Drugs for which therapeutic drug monitoring is indicated constitute only a fraction of drugs in current use. There are clear indications and specific characteristics of drugs for which therapeutic drug monitoring may be required, most especially drugs with very low therapeutic index such as anticonvulsants, cardioactive drugs, antineoplastic drugs, antiasthmatic drugs, immunosuppressants, antidepressant drugs, antibiotics, antiretroviral drugs and antimycobacterial drugs. Hence, the goal of an ideal therapeutic drug monitoring service can be readily achieved by ensuring cautious selection of appropriate drugs and techniques that are cost-effective, highly sensitive/specific and guarantees clinical benefits to the patient.