Question 71

Vancomycin is an IV medication that has a narrow therapeutic index and requires periodic laboratory monitoring to prevent patient harm.

Vancomycin is an intravenous antibiotic that is known for its narrow therapeutic index, meaning that the range between effective and toxic doses is small. Due to this characteristic, it requires regular monitoring of serum levels to ensure efficacy while preventing potential toxicity.

A) Varenicline

Varenicline is primarily used as a smoking cessation aid and is not classified as an intravenous medication. It does not have a narrow therapeutic index nor does it require periodic laboratory monitoring, making it an incorrect choice for this question.

B) Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant that can be administered orally and does not require intravenous administration. While it does require monitoring for side effects, it is not known for having a narrow therapeutic index, thus it is not the correct answer.

C) Valacyclovir

Valacyclovir is an oral antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by certain types of viruses. It does not require intravenous administration nor does it have a narrow therapeutic index, which disqualifies it as the correct answer in this context.

D) Vancomycin

Vancomycin is an intravenous antibiotic that is critical for treating severe bacterial infections. It is well-documented that this medication has a narrow therapeutic index, necessitating periodic laboratory monitoring of drug levels to avoid toxicity and ensure therapeutic effectiveness.

Conclusion

Vancomycin stands out as the correct answer due to its classification as an IV medication with a narrow therapeutic index that requires careful laboratory monitoring. The other options do not meet the criteria of being intravenous medications nor do they have the same level of risk associated with their therapeutic indices. This makes Vancomycin the definitive choice for this question.