Implementing Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) comes with some challenges. Let's break them down:
Individual Differences: Each patient is unique. Things like age, weight, and how well their kidneys work can change how a drug reacts in their body by up to 50%.
Therapeutic Ranges: The best level of a drug in the body can change. For example, with the drug digoxin, the safe amount is very specific, between 0.5 and 2.0 ng/mL.
Following Directions: Many people don’t stick to their treatment plans. In fact, over 50% of people with long-term conditions don’t take their medicines as they should. This makes TDM less effective.
Costs: TDM tests can be expensive, costing between 300 each. This can put pressure on healthcare budgets.
Training and Education: About 30% of healthcare workers feel they haven't been properly trained to understand TDM data.
These challenges can make it harder to implement TDM effectively.
Implementing Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) comes with some challenges. Let's break them down:
Individual Differences: Each patient is unique. Things like age, weight, and how well their kidneys work can change how a drug reacts in their body by up to 50%.
Therapeutic Ranges: The best level of a drug in the body can change. For example, with the drug digoxin, the safe amount is very specific, between 0.5 and 2.0 ng/mL.
Following Directions: Many people don’t stick to their treatment plans. In fact, over 50% of people with long-term conditions don’t take their medicines as they should. This makes TDM less effective.
Costs: TDM tests can be expensive, costing between 300 each. This can put pressure on healthcare budgets.
Training and Education: About 30% of healthcare workers feel they haven't been properly trained to understand TDM data.
These challenges can make it harder to implement TDM effectively.