B1.viii · Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

Official V5 objective

Explain clinical drug monitoring including the relevance of: a. peak and trough concentrations b. minimum therapeutic concentrations

Written examination

SAQ history

1 appearance

1 exam appearance

2008A Q04

Describe the factors that are important when interpreting plasma drug concentrations.

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Oral examination

2 stations

2026A · VIVA 7
Relevant examiner prompt

The ICU pharmacist tells you that your patient’s phenytoin level is low. Explain why this might happen?

61.5% successful
2025A · Day 1 · VIVA 3
This VIVA will examine pharmacokinetics and antimicrobial pharmacology. You are treating a patient in the ICU with intravenous vancomycin. The measured level is high. Why might the level be high?

56% successful

Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.