therapeutic drug monitoring
The practice of measuring medication concentrations in blood to optimize dosing and ensure therapeutic effectiveness.
Full Definition
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) involves measuring blood levels of psychiatric medications to guide dosing decisions and ensure optimal treatment outcomes. This practice is particularly important for medications with narrow therapeutic windows, such as lithium, valproic acid, and certain antipsychotics. TDM helps clinicians determine if a patient is receiving adequate medication levels, identify potential toxicity, and adjust doses accordingly. Regular monitoring is essential for medications where blood levels correlate with clinical efficacy and where toxic levels can cause serious adverse effects.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as TDM; ensure context makes clear this refers to blood level monitoring, not other forms of monitoring.
In Context
- "Therapeutic drug monitoring revealed subtherapeutic lithium levels requiring dose adjustment." — Laboratory report
- "The patient requires routine therapeutic drug monitoring due to narrow therapeutic window of the prescribed medication." — Treatment protocol