Monitoring before or soon after the initiation of therapy |
Drug/drug group | Monitoring requirements |
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/ | Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy, repeated 2 weeks after initiation |
Angiotension II receptor antagonists | Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy, repeated 2 weeks after initiation |
Digoxin | Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy |
Diuretics | Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy |
Glitazones | Liver function tests before starting therapy |
Statins | Liver function tests before starting therapy |
Monitoring of longer-term therapy |
Drug/drug group | Monitoring requirements |
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/ | 12-monthly renal function and electrolytes |
Angiotension II receptor antagonists | 12-monthly renal function and electrolytes |
Amiodarone | 6-monthly thyroid function tests |
6-monthly liver function tests |
Azathioprine | 3-monthly full blood count |
Carbimazole | 3-monthly thyroid function tests (6-monthly if patient been stabilised for over 1 year) |
Digoxin | Digoxin level if toxicity or lack of efficacy suspected. |
Diuretics | 12-monthly renal function and electrolytes |
Glitazone | 12-monthly liver function tests |
Levothyroxine | 12-monthly thyroid function tests |
Lithium | 3-monthly lithium concentration |
12-monthly thyroid function tests |
Methotrexate | 3-monthly full blood count |
3-monthly liver function tests |
6-monthly renal function and electrolytes |
Sulfasalazine | Full blood count 3-monthly in first year |
Liver function tests 3-monthly in first year |
Full blood count 6-monthly in second year |
Liver function tests 6-monthly in second year |
No further monitoring if stable |
Statin | Liver function tests within 3 months, and at 12 months, of starting treatment |
Theophylline | Theophylline level if toxicity suspected |
Valproate | 3-monthly liver function tests for first 6 months |
Warfarin | 12-weekly International Normalized Ratio |