Tag: Trough levels

The practice of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is essential for numerous medications, with one study finding that incorrect timing of 'trough' level blood draws is a significant source of interpretive error. The primary reason **why are troughs drawn** is to assess if a medication's lowest concentration in the bloodstream remains within its safe and effective range.

According to a 2024 study, vancomycin critical values were the most common critical drug levels reported in therapeutic drug monitoring, highlighting the need for careful oversight. Understanding **what is a critical value for vancomycin** is vital for clinicians to prevent significant patient harm from toxicity.

According to one study, up to 47.5% of patients on vancomycin therapy had at least one high trough level (>20 mg/L) during treatment. A vancomycin trough is the lowest concentration of the drug in the blood, and when it is too high, it significantly increases the risk of serious adverse effects, including kidney damage and ototoxicity.

Recent data shows vancomycin-induced kidney injury occurs in 5-43% of patients [1.3.4]. Historically, the answer to 'What is the normal trough for vancomycin?' was the cornerstone of monitoring, but guidelines now favor a more precise method to enhance safety and efficacy [1.3.1, 1.3.7].