Monitoring before or soon after the initiation of therapy
Drug/drug group	Monitoring requirements
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/	Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy, repeated 2 weeks after initiation
Angiotension II receptor antagonists	Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy, repeated 2 weeks after initiation
Digoxin	Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy
Diuretics	Renal function and electrolytes before starting therapy
Glitazones	Liver function tests before starting therapy
Statins	Liver function tests before starting therapy
Monitoring of longer-term therapy
Drug/drug group	Monitoring requirements
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/	12-monthly renal function and electrolytes
Angiotension II receptor antagonists	12-monthly renal function and electrolytes
Amiodarone	6-monthly thyroid function tests
	6-monthly liver function tests
Azathioprine	3-monthly full blood count
Carbimazole	3-monthly thyroid function tests (6-monthly if patient been stabilised for over 1 year)
Digoxin	Digoxin level if toxicity or lack of efficacy suspected.
Diuretics	12-monthly renal function and electrolytes
Glitazone	12-monthly liver function tests
Levothyroxine	12-monthly thyroid function tests
Lithium	3-monthly lithium concentration
	12-monthly thyroid function tests
Methotrexate	3-monthly full blood count
	3-monthly liver function tests
	6-monthly renal function and electrolytes
Sulfasalazine	Full blood count 3-monthly in first year
	Liver function tests 3-monthly in first year
	Full blood count 6-monthly in second year
	Liver function tests 6-monthly in second year
	No further monitoring if stable
Statin	Liver function tests within 3 months, and at 12 months, of starting treatment
Theophylline	Theophylline level if toxicity suspected
Valproate	3-monthly liver function tests for first 6 months
Warfarin	12-weekly International Normalized Ratio