Monitoring treatment and changing therapy
Monitoring treatment
Patients on ART need close monitoring to assess:
• Adherence to the prescribed regimen
• Tolerance and side effects of the medications
• Efficacy of treatment
Monitoring of therapy should be done by both clinical and
laboratory assessments
,CLINICAL MONITORING
The frequency of visits for clinical monitoring should be as follows:
•
The first visit should take place 2 weeks after initiating therapy.
This appointment should focus on ensuring that the medicines are
being correctly taken and stored. Any side effect should be noted
and addressed accordingly.
•
Subsequent visits should be done monthly if the patient is stable and
the focus should be on assessing the patient’s clinical progress and
checking for any side effects of the drugs.
•
After 6 months, if the patient is compliant and clinically stable,
appointments may be spaced at 2 to 3 months intervals.
, At each visit:
• Plot the patients weight and note the trend.
• Determine the patient’s physical condition.
• Address ongoing medical problems including
possibility of failure of treatment through the
development of new OI.
• Treat intercurrent infections
• Check drug dosages.
• The patients should be given medicines to last for
1month even when the clinic appointments
are less frequent.
• Adherence counseling should be done at
each visit.
Monitoring treatment
Patients on ART need close monitoring to assess:
• Adherence to the prescribed regimen
• Tolerance and side effects of the medications
• Efficacy of treatment
Monitoring of therapy should be done by both clinical and
laboratory assessments
,CLINICAL MONITORING
The frequency of visits for clinical monitoring should be as follows:
•
The first visit should take place 2 weeks after initiating therapy.
This appointment should focus on ensuring that the medicines are
being correctly taken and stored. Any side effect should be noted
and addressed accordingly.
•
Subsequent visits should be done monthly if the patient is stable and
the focus should be on assessing the patient’s clinical progress and
checking for any side effects of the drugs.
•
After 6 months, if the patient is compliant and clinically stable,
appointments may be spaced at 2 to 3 months intervals.
, At each visit:
• Plot the patients weight and note the trend.
• Determine the patient’s physical condition.
• Address ongoing medical problems including
possibility of failure of treatment through the
development of new OI.
• Treat intercurrent infections
• Check drug dosages.
• The patients should be given medicines to last for
1month even when the clinic appointments
are less frequent.
• Adherence counseling should be done at
each visit.
