On Monitoring Drug Efficacy and Safety Monitoring drug efficacy and safety is a fundamental pillar of the modern healthcare system. It aims to ensure that medications achieve maximum therapeutic benefit while minimizing side effects and potential risks to patients. This process integrates multiple disciplines, notably analytical chemistry, clinical pharmacy, and medical sciences, to ensure the optimal use of pharmaceutical treatments. 1. Concept of Drug Efficacy Drug efficacy refers to the ability of a medication to achieve the desired therapeutic effect when administered at the correct dosage. Monitoring efficacy involves measuring the concentration of the drug or its metabolites in body fluids and observing the patient’s clinical response, such as symptom improvement or stabilization of vital signs. This information helps adjust doses according to age, health status, and liver and kidney function. 2. Importance of Drug Safety Monitoring Drug safety refers to minimizing toxic side effects and undesirable drug interactions. Safety monitoring is particularly critical for elderly patients, children, and individuals with chronic diseases, where the risk of complications is higher. It also facilitates early detection of toxic symptoms and prevents serious adverse outcomes. 3. Role of Analytical Chemistry and Modern Techniques Analytical chemistry plays a central role in drug monitoring through techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and immunoassays, which allow precise measurement of drug concentrations. These methods are employed in clinical laboratories to monitor drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges, including cardiac medications, antiepileptics, and potent antibiotics. 4. Drug Monitoring in Clinical Trials During drug development, rigorous studies are conducted to evaluate efficacy and safety before approval for medical use. These studies include monitoring potential side effects, determining appropriate dosages, and assessing interactions with other medications, ensuring that safe and effective drugs reach the market. 5. Post-Marketing Drug Surveillance The evaluation of drug safety continues after market release through pharmacovigilance programs, which collect and analyze reports of unexpected adverse effects. This process supports updating treatment guidelines or withdrawing certain drugs when necessary. Al-Mustaqbal University – Leading Private University in Iraq