Final answer:
Medication administration routes and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) are important aspects of drug therapy, especially in patients who cannot take oral medications. Parenteral routes like IV injections ensure higher plasma drug levels, and TDM helps maintain optimal drug concentrations to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. Dosage calculation must consider various factors, including the drug's half-life, and the patient's individual characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The route of administration is a critical factor in drug therapy, particularly when dealing with patients who may not tolerate oral medications. For these patients, parenteral administration, such as intravenous (IV) injections, is often required. This method is typically used in healthcare settings and ensures higher plasma levels of the drug compared to oral or intramuscular routes.
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a crucial part of personalized medicine and entails measuring drug concentrations in plasma or serum. Its goal is to maintain drug concentrations within an optimal therapeutic range, which is essential for effectiveness and minimizing drug toxicity. TDM is critical for drugs with a narrow therapeutic range and significant inter-individual variability in systemic exposure.
Factors to consider when determining drug dosage include the drug's half-life, whether the drug is dose-dependent or time-dependent, and individual patient factors such as weight, age, and organ function. The dosage must be carefully calculated to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing potential side effects and toxicity.