ABSTRACT
Therapeutic drug monitoring of imipramine (IMI) enhances the physician’s ability to use this agent more rationally, increasing both its safety and efficacy. This chapter individualizes the dosage regimen of IMI based on the steady-state serum concentration of IMI + DMI measurement and clinical evaluation of patients treated for depression. Depth of depression was assessed using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The accuracy and precision of prediction method were evaluated on the basis of mean prediction error and root-mean-square prediction error. Based on the knowledge of one steady-state serum concentration of IMI + DMI, which was determined from starting dosage, dosage adjustment was performed.
