Therapeutic drug monitoring
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Meropenem is an effective β-lactam antibiotic that is frequently used to treat serious infections in both intensive care unit (ICU) and febrile neutropenic hematology/oncology (Hem/Onc) patients. Studies suggest that to be effective, meropenem concentrations must be maintained above the inhibitory concentrations for the majority of a dosing interval. However, the pharmacokinetics (PK) of meropenem seem to differ in critically ill patients compared with healthy or less ill subjects used to select labeled dosing regimens. ⋯ Standard meropenem dosing regimens were inadequate in many critically ill febrile, neutropenic Hem/Onc, and septic ICU patients. These data suggest a role for meropenem concentration monitoring in such patients.
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Pregabalin has an abuse potential and is occasionally used as a recreational drug. To draw the right conclusions regarding new intake of pregabalin in situations of repeated urinary drug testing, the knowledge of its disappearance rate in urine is essential. ⋯ In subjects with normal renal function, it seems highly unlikely that a urine specimen should remain positive for pregabalin for more than 5-6 days after intake.