DRUG CONCENTRATION MONITORING - AN APPROACH TO RATIONAL USE

Drug concentration monitoring should currently be considered only as a tool to supplement clinical assessment of patient response. Consideration of appropriate drug selection, dosage and clinical monitoring of response is the most crucial component of patient therapy. Confirmation is required of the benefits of drug concentration monitoring in influencing patient outcome. Similarly, further research into methods of measuring drug concentrations at receptor sites, and the correlation of such concentration with outcome, would be a valuable addition to clinical assessment in adjusting drug therapy to achieve desirable patient outcomes. Until such data are available, only selective use of drug concentration monitoring is warranted in the appropriate clinical care of patients and to prevent inappropriate use of healthcare resources. © 1993, Adis International Limited. All rights reserved.