An Attitude Surveillance of Physicians for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Theophylline in Outpatients

Abstract

Investigation of the actual conditions and attitude surveillance of physicians to ward therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of theophylline were performed in outpatients prescribed a control released theophylline-tablet (Theodur ®) in November 1996. TDM of theophylline was performed in 1.6% of patients to whom were prescribed Theodur® during this period. The ratio of the patients who had a TDM history of theophylline was 28.1% of all patients prescribed Theodur®, while it was 41.7% in patients receiving over the usual Theodur® dose range (400 mg/day). Most physicians recognized the benefit of TDM, while about a half considered that TDM of theophylline is not essential for patients taking more than 400mg/day of the drug when their clinical condition is stable.