Medication Levels
Blood levels of medicines that need monitoring to stay safe and effective.
25 tests explained
Common follow-up tests
- Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)Measures how much acetaminophen (Tylenol) is in your blood, mainly to check for an overdose.
- Amikacin (Peak)Shows how high the antibiotic amikacin gets in your blood soon after a dose, to help keep treatment effective and safe.
- Amikacin (Trough)Shows how much of the antibiotic amikacin is still in your blood just before the next dose, a check that it is not building up.
- Carbamazepine (Total)Measures how much carbamazepine (Tegretol), a seizure and nerve-pain medicine, is in your blood.
- Cyclosporine (Trough)Measures how much cyclosporine, an anti-rejection and immune-calming medicine, is in your blood just before your next dose.
- DigoxinMeasures digoxin (Lanoxin), a heart medicine, in your blood to check that the dose is in a helpful and safe range.
- EverolimusShows how much everolimus, a medicine used after transplants and for some tumors, is in your blood, so your team can fine-tune your dose.
- Gentamicin (Peak)Shows the highest level of the antibiotic gentamicin in your blood shortly after a dose, to check the dose is strong enough without being too strong.
- Gentamicin (Trough)Shows how much gentamicin is still in your blood just before your next dose, a check that the antibiotic is clearing and not building up.
- LamotrigineMeasures the level of lamotrigine, a seizure and mood medicine, in your blood to check it is being absorbed and cleared as expected.
- LevetiracetamMeasures the level of levetiracetam, an anti-seizure medicine, in your blood to check it is being absorbed and cleared as expected.
- LithiumMeasures how much lithium, a mood-stabilizing medicine, is in your blood so your care team can keep it in a range that works and is safe.
- MethotrexateMeasures how much methotrexate is in your blood at a set time after a dose. It is mostly used to guide care after high-dose treatment.
- Mycophenolic Acid (MPA)Measures the active form of mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic) in your blood. Transplant and autoimmune teams use it to see how much drug your body is getting.
- PhenobarbitalMeasures phenobarbital, a long-acting seizure medicine, in your blood. It helps your team see whether your dose gives a steady level in the usual range.
- Phenytoin (Free)Measures the active, unbound part of phenytoin (Dilantin) in your blood. It is a better guide than the total level when albumin is low or in kidney or liver disease.
- Phenytoin (Total)Measures the total amount of phenytoin (Dilantin), a seizure medicine, in your blood. Your prescriber uses it to check your dose.
- Salicylate (Aspirin Level)Measures salicylate, the form aspirin takes in your blood. It is mainly used when too much aspirin or a similar product may have been taken.
- SirolimusThe amount of the immune-calming medicine sirolimus (rapamycin) in your blood, measured just before your next dose.
- TacrolimusThe amount of the anti-rejection medicine tacrolimus in your blood just before your next dose, used by your transplant team to fine-tune treatment.
- Tobramycin (Peak)The highest tobramycin level in your blood after a dose, used to check this IV antibiotic is reaching an effective level.
- Tobramycin (Trough)The lowest tobramycin level in your blood, taken just before your next dose, used to check the antibiotic clears well and does not build up.
- Valproic Acid (Total)The total amount of valproic acid (valproate), a seizure and mood medicine, in your blood, usually checked just before your next dose.
- Vancomycin (Random)A vancomycin level drawn at any time, not tied to the dose schedule, which only makes sense along with when your last dose was given.
- Vancomycin (Trough)The lowest vancomycin level in your blood, drawn right before your next dose, used to check this IV antibiotic is working without building up.