Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Selected Drugs an approach to Drug Therapy Optimization

Abstract

THEOPHYLLINE: newlineThe study conducted here aimed in the therapeutic drug monitoring of theophylline which is a drug candidate having large interindividual variability and having narrow therapeutic index. Since theophylline was the affordable alternative choice for treatment as per guidelines in the study setup, it was chosen for the study. The study assessed the efficacy and safety by estimating the steady state serum theophylline concentrations at the trough and peak levels and the pharmacodynamic response of the study patients to the treatment. The patients were given with the dose of 300 mg sustained release tablet of theophylline per day initially. The dose of theophylline was increased according to the severity of the patients, if the concentration observed was not in the therapeutic range. The dose adjustment was in accordance to the severity of the patients and resulted in the theophylline concentration within the therapeutic range. newlineGENTAMICIN: newlineThe study conducted here aimed in the therapeutic drug monitoring of gentamicin. Since gentamicin is effective against Gram negative bacterial infections and is an affordable treatment choice, it is widely prescribed in the study setup. But gentamicin is a drug candidate of narrow therapeutic index, in which the higher concentrations can lead to toxicity. The study assessed the safety and efficacy, by estimating the serum gentamicin concentrations at the trough and peak levels after it had reached the steady state and the pharmacodynamic response of the study patients to the treatment. The present study assessed the serum drug concentrations reached in the patient s population, with the different gentamicin dosing and observed the clinical efficacy and safety. The study observed that gentamicin was prescribed mostly in respiratory infections. The study observed that gentamicin was prescribed mostly in respiratory infections. The present study observed prescribing of an additional antibiotic along with gentamicin as prophylaxis and was empirical.