Using Genetic Information Improves Drug Therapy – MM1610
Clinical pharmacogenomics, the use of genetic data to guide therapy decisions, can help determine whether individual differences in the expression of proteins or enzymes affect the metabolism of a particular drug. These effects can change the levels of active or inactive metabolites, which require the use of a different drug or altered dose for optimum efficacy.
Family doctors are usually the first resource for patient questions about genetics; but quick and accurate use of pharmacogenomic data in a clinical environment can be challenging. Patients have increasing interest in and access to their own genetic information, including pharmacogenomic data from direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies. Clinicians, however, are largely unfamiliar with principles supporting clinical use of this type of data and few primary care doctors are comfortable ordering a pharmacogenomic test or interpreting test results, often citing a general lack of education in this area.
When used appropriately, pharmacogenetic testing can be a practical tool to optimise drug therapy and avoid medication adverse effects.
Modern Medicine – October 2016
