Lääkemonitoroinnin

Lääkemonitorointi, also known as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug concentrations in a patient's bloodstream at designated intervals. The primary goal of lääkemonitorointi is to ensure that drug therapy is effective and safe for the individual. It helps in optimizing drug dosage, preventing toxicity, and managing situations where a patient's response to a medication may be unpredictable due to factors like metabolism, organ function, or drug interactions.

The process typically involves taking a blood sample at a specific time relative to the last drug dose. This sample is then analyzed in a laboratory to determine the concentration of the drug. The results are interpreted by a physician or pharmacist who considers the patient's clinical condition, the target therapeutic range for the drug, and the measured concentration. Based on this information, dosage adjustments can be made to either increase the dose if the concentration is too low and efficacy is compromised, or decrease the dose if the concentration is too high and toxicity is a risk.

Lääkemonitorointi is particularly important for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small. Examples of drug classes commonly monitored include certain antibiotics, anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, and cardiac medications. It plays a crucial role in personalized medicine, allowing healthcare providers to tailor drug therapy to the unique physiological characteristics of each patient, thereby improving treatment outcomes and patient safety.