Monitoring

Question 1

What do you monitor with Tazarotene (Tazorac)?

Answer 1

Pregnancy

Question 2

What do you monitor with Isotretinoin (Accutane)?

Answer 2

Pregnancy, lipids, depression, osteoporosis

Question 3

What do you monitor for systemic treatment of psoriasis?

Answer 3

Monthly LFTs

Question 4

What do you monitor with Azoles?

Answer 4

LFTs

Question 5

What do you monitor with Griseofulvin?

Answer 5

LFTs (some at baseline, but always at 1-2 months of therapy)

Question 6

What do you monitor with the Acyclovir family?

Answer 6

Kidneys

If a long course, CBC

Question 7

What do you monitor with Clozapine?

Answer 7

Weekly CBCs (stop if WBC is less than 3500)

Question 8

What do you monitor with antipsychotics?

Answer 8

CBC, LFT, EKG

Question 9

What do you monitor with SSRIs?

Answer 9

Depression, suicidal ideation in those 24 and under, seratonin syndrome

Question 10

What other drugs do you monitor for with the use of SSRIs?

Answer 10

Caffeine, alcohol, ecstasy, St. John’s wort, tamoxifen, warfarin, anything that prolongs QT.

Question 11

What do you monitor before placing a patient on stimulants?

Answer 11

Hx of cardiac problems, psychoses, and abuse

Question 12

What drug interactions do you monitor with Strattera (Atomoxetine)?

Answer 12

Fluoxetine, paroxetine, quinidine, albuterol

Question 13

How often do you monitor bone mineral density on bisphosphonates?

Answer 13

2 years after beginning treatment.

Question 14

What and how often do you monitor with hyperthyroidism (antithyroid drugs)?

Answer 14

WBC baseline and periodic for 1st 4 months (leukopenia is common). TSH/FT4 q 3 weeks until euthyroid, then 3 months, 6 months, annually.

Question 15

What and how often do you monitor with hypothyroidism or thyroid replacement drugs?

Answer 15

TSH/FT4 in 4-6 weeks until euthyroid. Then check again in 4-8 weeks. If still euthyroid (2 times), at 6 months and then yearly.

Question 16

What and how often do you monitor pregnant women with hypothyroidism?

Answer 16

TSH/FT4 at 8 weeks and 6 months (gestation). If change in medication q 6 weeks.

Question 17

Who do you screen for Vitamin D deficiency?

Answer 17

Those at risk (too expensive otherwise). Supplement for everyone else without screening.

Question 18

When do you redraw blood in Vitamin D deficiency?

Answer 18

2 weeks after completion of Vitamin D treatment.