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Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

TDM

Definition

The measurement of drug concentrations in blood at specific times to optimize individual dosing. TDM is essential for drugs with narrow therapeutic indices, significant pharmacokinetic variability, or serious toxicity. Common drugs requiring TDM include lithium, vancomycin, aminoglycosides, and immunosuppressants.

Example

Vancomycin trough levels are measured before the next dose to ensure they remain within the therapeutic range (15-20 mcg/mL for serious infections).

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