Table 1
Examples of Pre- and Post-drug Administration Tests6061
| Drug | Pre-adminstration Tests | Post-administration Tests⁎ |
| Cardiovascular | ||
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II inhibitors | Renal function, potassium | Repeat at 1 week after initiation and following dose increases. Consider checking renal function and potassium periodically once patient stabilized on medication |
| Amiodarone | LFTs, TFTs, potassium, CXR | LFTs and TFTs every 6/12. Consider periodic lung function tests, CXR, eye examination |
| Diuretics | Renal function and electrolytes | Repeat within a month of initiation. Consider long-term monitoring, particularly in the elderly |
| Digoxin | Renal function, potassium. Consider TFTs | Repeat at least annually and whenever there is a risk of change in potassium levels. Consider checking digoxin levels |
| Oral anticoagulants | Prothrombin time, APTT, LFTs | Check INR as regularly as needed to keep levels within the therapeutic range |
| Statins (see product inserts for specific guidance, e.g., for atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) | Lipid profile, LFT, CK | Repeat within 1–3 months. Check LFT and lipid profile at 6 and 12 months. Consider longer-term monitoring |
| Respiratory | ||
| Theophylline | Theophylline levels every 6–12 months after initial stabilization. Consider checking potassium if severe asthma or use of interacting drugs | |
| Anti-epileptic drugs | ||
| Carbamazepine | CBC, LFTs | CBC “periodically” (according to product insert) |
| Phenytoin | Consider CBC, LFTs | Check CBC (according to product insert). Consider checking LFTs and folate levels |
| Sodium valproate | CBC, clotting profile, LFTs | LFT “periodically” during first 6 months of treatment |
| Antipsychotic and anti-manic drugs | ||
| Atypical antipsychotics (excluding clozapine) | See product inserts. Likely to include CK, CBC, renal function and electrolytes, LFT, TFT, BP, weight. May include glucose, prolactin, ECG | See product inserts |
| Clozapine | See PI: All of the above plus WBC > 3.5 × 109/L with normal differential and EEG | See product inserts |
| Lithium | Urinalysis, renal function, TFTs | Once stabilized: renal function and lithium levels (e.g., 3 monthly), TFTs (e.g., 6 monthly) |
| Antimicrobials | ||
| Minocycline | If used for longer than 6 months, check every 3 months LFTs and signs of SLE | |
| Aminoglycosides (administered parenterally) | Creatinine clearance | Regular serum peak and trough levels depending on age and renal function |
| Vancomycin (administered parenterally) | CBC, renal function (creatinine clearance), urinalysis | Regular vancomycin levels |
| Endocrine | ||
| Thyroxine | TSH, T4 | Once stabilized, repeat yearly or following a dose change |
| Metformin | CBC, renal function | CBC annually and renal function “regularly” (according to product insert) |
| Thiazolidinediones, e.g., pioglitazone, rosiglitazone | LFTs | LFTs every 2 months for the first year and then “periodically” (according to the product insert) |
| Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs | ||
| Azathioprine | CBC, renal function and electrolytes, LFT | After initial intensive monitoring, CBC and LFTs monthly |
| Hydroxychloroquine | Renal function, LFTs, and ophthalmological examination | Opthalmological examination at least yearly |
| Leflunomide | CBC (with differential white count), LFTs (including ALT) | See product insert—regular checks of BP, CBC, and LFTs (including ALT) |
| Methotrexate | Renal function, CBC, LFTs, and CXR | Once stabilized on treatment, check CBC and LFTs at least “2–3 monthly” (according to product insert) |
| Penicillamine | CBC, renal function, urinalysis | Once stabilized, check CBC and urinalysis monthly |
| Sodium aurothiomalate | CBC, renal function, urinalysis, LFTs | CBC and urinalysis before each injection |
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↵⁎ Where possible, specific monitoring intervals are given. These are not available, however, for some drugs and in these cases terms such as “consider checking” and “periodically” appear. If in doubt, it is suggested that the reader consult relevant product inserts, but it should be noted that these are not always specific in their advice.
