Monitoring drugs by dose response graph

The response to drugs of 30 agitated, noisy, restless, aggressive patients in an extended care unit was monitored over two years. A graph was used to record the patients' response to sedatives, tranquillizers and hypnotic drugs in each four hour interval for 24 hours. The object was to keep patients relaxed so that they could participate in ward activities. This monitoring method requires close teamwork between the physician and ward nurse. The nurse observes and records the patients' moods every four hours, and the physician changes the dose, timing, or drug as needed.