Blood Test : Therapeutic Drug Levels

Many medications must remain within a certain therapeutic range in the bloodstream in order to achieve their desired effects. In some cases, the level of medication in the blood may go beyond an acceptable limit and symptoms attributable to drug toxicity may develop. For this reason, monitoring certain drug levels has become increasingly important.

Below is a listing of medications which are routinely measured for the purposes of therapeutics. Included are their therapeutic blood levels and approximate levels at which point drug toxicity must be considered.

1. THEOPHYLLINE (10-20mcg/ml, toxic > 20mcg/ml)

2. AMINOPHYLLINE (measured as theophylline)

3. DIGOXIN (.8-2.0ng/ml, toxic > 2.5ng/ml)

4. PHENYTOIN (10-20mcg/ml, toxic > 20-50mcg/ml)

5. CARBAMAZEPINE (4.08.0 ug/ml, toxic > 10ug/ml

6. VALPROIC ACID (50-100 ug/ml, toxic > 150ug/ml)

7. PROCAINAMIDE (5-30ug/ml, toxic >40 ug/ml)

8. LITHIUM (0.5-1.5meq/l, toxic > 1.5meq/l)

9. QUINIDINE (2.4-5.0mcg/ml, toxic >6mcg/ml)

10. PHENOBARBITAL (15-39mcg/ml, toxic > 40mcg/ml)

11. GENTAMICIN (4-10mcg/ml, toxic > 12 mcg/ml)

12. TOBRAMYCIN (4-10mcg/ml, toxic >12 mcg/ml)

13. CYCLOSPORINE (250-875ng/ml for kidney transplant, 360-1200 ng/ml for non-kidney transplant)

* The normal therapeutic ranges for the above medications can vary from person to person. There is wide variability in patients as to what is considered a "toxic level." Some people may manifest signs and symptoms of toxicity at levels below those listed here as toxic.

* These medications, along with their potential drug side effects and drug interactions.

MEDICAL TESTS

Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal X-Ray
Allergy Testing
Amniocentesis
Amylase Blood Test
Angiodynography
Angiogram
Arterial Blood Gases
Arthrocentesis
Arthrogram
Barium Enema
Blood Chemistry
Blood Coagulation Test
Blood Cultures
Blood Glucose Test
Blood Test Smac 25
Bone Marrow Biopsy Aspiration
Cardiac Catheterization Angioplasty
Cardiac Enzymes
Cholesterol Blood Test
Complete Blood Count
CT Scanning Back
CT Scanning Chest Abdomen
Drug Levels
Glucose Tolerance Test
Hepatitis Blood Test
HIV Blood Test
Kidney Biopsy
Kidney Blood Test
Lipoproteins
Liver Biopsy
Liver Blood Test
Lymph Node Biopsy
Mononucleosis Test
Paracentesis
Peritoneal Lavage
Pregnancy Blood Test
Prostate Specific Antigen
Skin Biopsy
Spine X-Rays
Thyroid Biopsy
Thyroid Blood Test
Toxicology