Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the measurement of the plasma concentrations of drugs and sometimes also of metabolites in an appropriate sample. Antipsychotic TDM can not only help assess adherence and minimise the risk of toxicity with these drugs, but also investigate reasons for lack of response, relapse, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The benefits of TDM may be particularly evident in the treatment of vulnerable patient groups, such as children, adolescents, pregnant women, and older people.
The aim of this masterclass is to aid clinicians who routinely prescribe antipsychotics to use TDM successfully in clinical practice. The presentation will focus primarily on clozapine, but will also discuss olanzapine and other second generation antipsychotics. Recent research findings in relation to sex and ethnic differences in clozapine pharmacokinetics, the effect of smoking, and factors affecting weight gain will be presented.
In this session you will gain:
- Essential information on the routine use of TDM for antipsychotics.
- Information as to when to perform TDM as part of the clinical decision-making process.
Chair: Adrian Heald, Salford Royal Hospital, United Kingdom
Robert Flanagan, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
