Predicting serum drug level using the principles of pharmacokinetics after an overdose: a case of lithium overdose

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irosh Fernando

Objective: In cases of drug overdose, clinicians often find it challenging to predict serum drug level and decide the optimum time for recommencing the overdosed drug. Method: This paper describes how to predict serum drug level using the principles of pharmacokinetics. Results: The proposed method and recommencement of the overdosed drug is demonstrated using a clinical case of lithium overdose. Conclusion: The proposed method can assist clinicians in predicting serum drug levels and deciding the optimum time for recommencing the overdosed drug safely. Therefore, it may reduce unnecessary repeat serum drug level procedures.

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S488-S488
Author(s):  
S Shields ◽  
J P Seenan ◽  
A Dunlop ◽  
P Galloway ◽  
J Macdonald

Abstract Background Whilst anti-TNF drugs such as adalimumab (ADL) have revolutionised the management of inflammatory bowel disease treatment outcomes are not universally favourable with 30% primary non-response (PNR) and 46% secondary loss of response (SLOR) rates reported.1,2 Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)—the measurement of serum drug levels and anti-drug antibodies—has become popular with clinicians who use it to optimise biologic therapy through serum drug-level guided dose adjustment. Conventionally TDM is based on the interpretation of trough drug levels (DL) which are obtained by drawing a blood sample immediately prior to the next drug dose. Obtaining an ADL trough DL can be challenging as the drug is administered as a subcutaneous injection usually in the patient’s own home. The aim of this project was to determine the current use of non-trough ADL TDM in clinical practice and determine whether timing of ADL TDM in relation to the next planned dose is clinically important. Methods All ADL DLs performed in 2018 in the Scottish Biologic TDM service3 were identified. DLs were included for patients in sustained clinical remission (SCR), on 40mg every other week dosing, and if the time from the last dose was ≤14 days. TDM performed during induction and for PNR or SLOR were excluded, as were patients on nonstandard dosing or with missing data on dose and interval. Results were analysed by quartile according to time from the last drug dose. Results 338 DLs were included. Median DL is 8µg/ml (range <0.4–36). Median time from last dose is 12 (range 0–14) days. The first quartile (n = 83, median 5 (range 0–7) days) had a median DL of 8.2µg/ml (<0.4–28.1). The second quartile (n = 90, median 11 (8–12) days) had a median DL of 7.9µg/ml (<0.4–36). The third quartile (n = 80, 13 days from last dose) had a median DL of 8µg/ml (<0.4 – 28.1). fourth quartile samples (n = 85, 14 days from last dose – true trough DLs) had a median DL of 8 µg/ml (<0.4–34.8). No relationship was identified between observed DL and the time of DL testing (ρ= -0.3162, p = 0.23). Conclusion It is not necessary to use trough DLs when performing ADL TDM for individuals in SCR. These data should give clinicians the confidence to use opportunistic ADL TDM testing in a clinical setting. Further work should be undertaken on non-trough testing of ADL DLs in other clinical scenarios. Disclosure Biogen GmbH contributed funding for this research. Authors had full editorial control and approval of all content. References


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S378-S379
Author(s):  
E Khoo ◽  
A Lord ◽  
K Hanigan ◽  
A Croft ◽  
G Radford-Smith

Abstract Background Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNFa) therapy have been established as an effective maintenance treatment for complicated Crohn’s Disease (CD). However, the efficacy of Infliximab (IFX) and Adalimumab (ADM) may be affected by low serum levels and/or the presence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA). This reinforces the importance of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). We aim to assess the clinical benefit of proactive vs. reactive TDM. Secondly, to assess the impact of TDM on clinical management. Thirdly, to identify risk factors for low serum drug levels and the development of ADA in CD patients. Methods This was a single-centred observational cohort study performed at a tertiary hospital, comprising of total 229 CD patients: 142 received IFX and 87 received ADM, who have had a trough drug level, tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records. Fisher’s Exact Test was used to determine if there are nonrandom associations between variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results One hundred and fourteen patients (49%) receiving a standard anti-TNFa regimen had subtherapeutic drug levels (67 had IFX < 3 μg/ml and 47 had ADM < 5 μg/ml). Interestingly, almost half of this cohort were asymptomatic. Reactive TDM completed among symptomatic patients have shown to have a statistically significant benefit in detecting subtherapeutic drug level (p = 0.0001). Following these results, only fifty-two patients (46%) had a change of therapy (29 IFX, 25 ADM); while the remaining sixty-two patients (54%) continued the same dosing regimen with only one documented admission within 90-days following the drug level being taken. Eight patients (4%) were found to have positive ADA, all in the presence of subtherapeutic drug levels. Two of these had a subsequent flare of their disease. They were all switched to another class of biologic therapy. Non-smoking status at diagnosis and the concomitant use of immunomodulator were found to have statistically significant associations with a therapeutic drug level (p = 0.0176 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Similarly, both of these risk factors were associated with lower risk of ADA formation (p = 0.0057 and p = 0.0165, respectively). Conclusion This study suggests that a large proportion of patients have subtherapeutic drug levels at standard dosing schedules. However, low drug levels do not correlate with a higher risk of complications if patients are in clinical remission. The results of this study also indicate that non-smoking status at diagnosis and the concomitant use of immunomodulator are associated with higher serum drug levels and lower risk of developing anti-drug antibodies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (04) ◽  
pp. 414-421
Author(s):  
Themistoklis Kourkoumpetis ◽  
Josh Levitsky

AbstractTo prevent rejection, liver transplant providers largely base their management decisions on their clinical impression and pharmacokinetics. Clinical impression relies on assessing graft function, liver enzymes, and biopsy. High immunosuppressive drug levels, although minimizing rejection, are related to significant side effects such as nephrotoxicity and metabolic syndrome, contributing to long-term morbidity and mortality. Similarly, levels that are lower than necessary can decrease the rate of side effects with a potential toll on rejection and graft survival. Herein, the authors present an update on immunosuppressive drug level monitoring and manipulation strategies according to different scenarios and time from transplant. They also provide a brief overview of next level immunosuppression monitoring strategies that aim to properly balance rejection rates with drug side effect profiles.


1983 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 917-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
J K Wiffen ◽  
S H D Jackson

Information concerning the prescriptions for theophylline preparations for a group of 80 inpatients and 55 outpatients were examined. Slow-release preparations were overwhelmingly preferred. The majority of patients were receiving low daily doses of theophylline or equivalent, and serum drug level monitoring was almost non-existent.


2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 206-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Bragatti ◽  
A. M. Mattos ◽  
H. Bastos ◽  
R. S. Riesgo

Alpha coma, an EEG pattern characterized by diffuse or widespread rhythmic activity in the alpha frequency band, is typically recorded in patients with profound coma and is frequently associated with severe neurological conditions. The most common etiologic factors of this pattern are hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, encephalitis, head trauma, metabolic disorders, and drug overdose. Reports of alpha coma pattern in children are relatively common. Clinical significance, both in children and adults, is variable, and highly dependent on etiology. The objective of this article is to report a clinical case of alpha coma pattern in a child with neuroblastoma. The EEG pattern was recorded during the evolution of treatment, secondary to complicating septic encephalopathy. The alpha coma pattern was replaced by a normal trace following a favorable outcome after sepsis resolution.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2288-2288
Author(s):  
Deborah L. White ◽  
Verity Saunders ◽  
Menelaou Andrew ◽  
Allan Rofe ◽  
Cassandra Slader ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2288 Previous studies have demonstrated that the achievement of an imatinib (IM) trough level of 1000ng/ml in CP-CML patients is associated with a better response. The aim of this sub-study was to perform a detailed assessment of IM plasma levels in the TIDEL II trial, in which patients are treated with IM 600mg/day upfront with subsequent dose escalation to 400mg BID, or switch to nilotinib if pre-determined molecular milestones are not met. Patients failing to achieve a trough level of >1000ng/ml 22 days after the commencement of IM were scheduled to dose escalate to 400mg BID or maximum tolerated dose (MTD). 105 patients were enrolled in Cohort I of this trial. Plasma for trough IM PK testing was collected at day 8 and day 22, then at 3, 6, and 12 months, and IM levels were measured via HPLC. The median IM PK at day 22 was 1550ng/ml (R 0–4680) (Table 1). 21% (22/103 evaluable) of patients failed to achieve 1000g/ml at day 8, 20% (21/103) at day 22, 20% (18/91) at 3 mths, 29% (23/80) at 6 mths and 24% (13/55) at 12 mths. Overall 56/103 patients (54%) failed to achieve plasma IM levels of >1000ng/ml at least once over the study period. In the majority of cases these reductions in IM level were transient. However, detection of an IM level <1000ng/mL beyond day 22 was associated with a concomitant rise (median 1.9 fold; R: 0.6–122.5 fold) in BCR-ABL levels in 22/36 patients, and was sufficient in 40% of cases to trigger mutation analysis. The Y253H mutation was the only mutation found in one patient who had repeated low drug levels. In 3/9 patients the low drug level was associated with a loss of MMR, which was re-established when drug levels rose above 1000ng/ml again. In 3/8 patients in CCyR at the time of PK fall, CCyR was lost, and 2 of these 3 patients were removed from study for compliance. 16/21 patients who had an IM level <1000ng/ml at day 22 dose escalated to 800mg (median 2.25 mths after commencement. R:1-3). 14/16 achieved IM levels >1000ng/ml when reassessed 22 days later. There was a significant difference in BCR-ABL levels at 2 months between this cohort of patients (median 10.7% (IS) Range 0.5–79%) and those who achieved ≥1000ng/ml at day 22 (median 3.01% (IS) Range 0–52.5%. p=0.028). However by 6 months, when all 16 low PK patients had been dose escalated for at least 3 months there was no significant difference between the two cohorts (<1000ng/ml @ day 22 – median BCR-ABL – 0.149% Range 0–9.9% vs ≥1000ng/ml 0.153% Range 0–16.4%. p=0.944) supporting the efficacy of this approach. Furthermore at 3 and 6 mths post escalation there was no significant difference in PK between these 16 patients and those who achieved 1000ng/ml at day 22 (p=0.469 and 0.738 respectively) (Table 1). Twelve patients were dose reduced to 400mg for intolerance (median 3 mths after commencement; R:1-9). For these patients, IM levels at day 22 were significantly higher (median 2110ng/ml; R:920–3860ng/ml) than for all other patients (median 1500; R:0-4680ng/ml, p=0.036). All patients who dose reduced demonstrated a subsequent decrease in IM level (Table 1). assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy change In summary, there is wide interpatient variation in IM levels in patients on 600mg/day. Dose escalation generally resulted in increased IM levels, and improved response. Intolerance is associated with higher IM levels, however high IM levels are not exclusively observed in patients with intolerance. Plasma IM levels <1000ng/ml occurred in approximately half of the patients at least once over the follow up period. Patients whose IM level fell below 1000ng/ml after day 22 often had an associated significant rise in BCR-ABL. Therefore, routine IM plasma testing provides an informative adjunct to BCR-ABL monitoring to guide subsequent treatment decisions. Table: Comparative trough IM levels in patients on 600mg/day, those dose escalated, and those dose reduced. Trough IM Plasma Level (ng/ml) median (Range) n= Day 8 Day 22 3mth 6 mth 12 mth All 1430(110–4070) 101 1550(0–4680) 103 1580(110–4940) 73 1505(0–4550) 70 1440(220–4870) 47 Dose increase D22* 1690(1210–3100) 16 1660(120–2800) 16 1550(0–3010) 9 Dose decrease* 1060(360–1850) 7 880(0–1900) 9 1535(860–2570) 6 Disclosures: White: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Slader: Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership. Osborn: Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Mills: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Hughes: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ariad: Honoraria.


Author(s):  
Mucahit Avcil ◽  
Ali Duman ◽  
Kenan Ahmet Turkdogan ◽  
Mucahit Kapci ◽  
Ayhan Akoz ◽  
...  
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