Conclusions
Community-based TDM is rarely undertaken for many drugs. However, despite the emergence of convenient assay technology, computer-based pharmacokinetic systems and evidence of therapeutic problems, there is no evidence that routine community TDM improves clinical outcome. Moreover, there is a wider debate as to the place of routine TDM in therapy. Community-based patients should probably have more frequent drug concentration monitoring than they do at present. However, by whom, for which drugs, and in which circumstances remains to be determined. The associated cost of more frequent monitoring is likely to be high and the potential economic implications of such an approach needs to be assessed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tonkin AL, Bochner F. Therapeutic drug monitoring and patient outcome. Clin Pharmacokinet 1994; 27: 169–74
Maguire TA. Therapeutic drug monitoring: a new role for the community pharmacist. Int J Pharm Pract 1991; 1: 61–2
Oles KS. Therapeutic drug monitoring analysis systems for the physician office laboratory: a review of the literature. Ther Drug Monit 1990; 24: 1070–7
Edwards C, Crombie DL, Fleming DM. The management of epilepsy in general practice. Allgemeinmedizin 1986; 15: 178–83
Roberts JE, Hughes DK. Audit of anticonvulsant plasma level assays. Br J Pharm Pract 1990: 298–305
Bredon JW, Bootman JL, Jones WN. Theophylline serum concentrations in patients with chronic obstructive airways disease. Ther Drug Monit 1985; 7: 163–75
Brown DW. Serum theophylline concentration in general practice patients. J R Coll Gen Pract 1987; 37: 273–4
Capps N, Watkins K, Jordan P. General practice theophylline audit in the Exeter health district. J Clin Pharm Ther 1990; 15: 101–7
Campbell M, Rawlins MD. Community-based therapeutic drug monitoring — a study of theophylline [abstract]. Pharm J 1993: R25
Culbertson V, Osborn R. Use of serum theophylline concentrations in ambulatory patients. Am J Hosp Pharm 1985; 42: 56–7
Donohue MS, Einarson TR, Gardner ME, et al. Theophylline pharmacokinetic consultation in a community pharmacy. Cons Pharm 1988: 54–7
Howard JC. Audit of serum theophylline concentrations in patients from general practice. J R Coll Gen Pract 1987; 37: 105–6
Mason BJ. Subtherapeutic serum drug concentrations and compliance. Ann Pharmacother 1991; 25: 103–4
Maguire TA, McElnay JC. TDM in the community pharmacy — a feasibility study. Int J Pharm Pract 1993; 2: 168–71
Moore LD, Taylor T. Theophylline dosing and theophylline level testing in a family practice population. J Pharm Pract 1988; 27: 57–61
Neville RG, McDevitt DG. Clinical audit of theophylline use in general practice. Br J Clin Pract 1991; 1: 18–20
Taylor DR, Kinney CD, McDevitt DG. Patient compliance with oral theophylline therapy. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1984; 17: 15–20
Holford N, Black P, Couch R, et al. Theophylline target concentrations in severe airways obstruction — 10 or 20 mg/L? Clin Pharmacokinet 1993; 25: 495–505
Hawksworth GM, Chrystyn H. Audit of plasma and biochemical concentrations in community pharmacy [abstract]. Pharm J 1993; 251: R24
Edwards C. Feasibility of a pharmacy-based kinetics service in primary care. Pharm J 1984: 232; 479–82
Chandler MHH, Clifton GD, Louis BA. Home monitoring of theophylline levels: a novel therapeutic approach. Pharmacotherapy 1990; 10: 294–300
Pearce P. Monitoring of serum anti-epileptic drug concentrations in the community. Br J Pharm Pract 1991; 13: 24–7
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Campbell, M. Community-Based Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. Clin. Pharmacokinet. 28, 271–274 (1995). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-199528040-00001
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003088-199528040-00001