Drugs & monitoring

Question 1

Lithium - How often should lithium levels be monitored

What else is monitored/how often

Answer 1

Every 3 months in first year
Every 6 months thereafter (more often if last plasma lithium level was 0.8 or higher)

BMI, U+E, calcium, TFTs - every 6 months

Question 2

Clozapine - How often should FBC be monitored

Answer 2

Weekly for 18 weeks, then every 2 weeks for up to one year, and then monthly

Question 3

Isotretinoin - what bloods are monitored/how often

Answer 3

LFTs + serum lipids

Measure before tx, 1 month later, then 3 monthly thereafter

Question 4

Mesalazine -how often should U+Es be monitored

Answer 4

Measure before tx, at 3 months, then annually thereafter