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Amiodarone Monitoring — PSA MCQ

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HardPharmacologyAmiodarone MonitoringPSAMRCP Part 1UKMLA

A 61-year-old on chronic amiodarone presents for routine review. Which monitoring parameter is essential to check periodically?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: CThyroid and liver function tests; after baseline safety checks with planned review of clinical response

The best answer is “Thyroid and liver function tests; after baseline safety checks with planned review of clinical response”. Amiodarone can cause thyroid dysfunction and hepatotoxicity; periodic TFTs and LFTs are essential. It can also cause pulmonary toxicity and corneal deposits. Monitoring electrolytes may be needed but TFTs and LFTs are specifically required. No routine monitoring is unsafe. The cited UK authority supports this decision in the stated clinical context. The competing choices are clinically recognisable alternatives, but they are less appropriate because they either delay the required intervention, treat a different severity or mechanism, omit a necessary co-treatment, or introduce avoidable harm. Patient-specific contraindications and monitoring still apply.

Reference: NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service: Amiodarone monitoring: https://www.sps.nhs.uk/monitorings/amiodarone-monitoring/