A patient with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder has begun lithium therapy, and the nurse has explained the need for regular monitoring of the patient's serum drug levels. What is the primary rationale for the nurse's instruction?
A) It is necessary to regularly test for blood–drug incompatibilities that may develop during treatment.
B) It is necessary to ensure that the patient's drug levels are therapeutic but not toxic.
C) It is needed to determine if additional medications will be needed to potentiate the effects of lithium.
D) It is needed in order to confirm the patient's adherence to the drug regimen.
B
Feedback:
Measuring serum drug levels is useful when drugs with a narrow margin of safety are given, because their therapeutic doses are close to their toxic doses. This is the case during lithium therapy. Serum levels are not commonly taken to monitor adherence to treatment. Blood–drug incompatibilities are not a relevant consideration.
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