How frequently should urea, creatinine & electrolytes in patients taking Bendrofluazide be monitored?
Renal function and electrolytes should be measured at baseline prior to the initiation of medication. If the baseline investigations are normal, with conventional doses of diuretics, the development of hyponatraemia or hypokalaemia would be unusual. No studies have identified the optimal time period over which to monitor renal function and electrolytes in patients taking long-term thiazide-type diuretics for the treatment of hypertension. Routine monitoring of electrolytes would normally be required on an annual basis. In patients with abnormalities in electrolytes or renal function at baseline, or in patients in whom concomitant medication has been added such as an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, additional monitoring might be required following such intervention. It is difficult to generalise and physician judgement must play a role in each individual patient.
