Two people with the same symptoms of illness may be prescribed the same drug as treatment, but one may respond better or worse than another because of their unique genetic makeup.
Pharmacogenomics, which is a rapidly growing field of study, deals with the simultaneous impact of multiple mutations in the genome that may determine the patient’s response to drug therapy. It seeks to identify genetic markers that predict the metabolism and elimination of prescription medications, and can help doctors and scientists to better understand why some people develop side effects from drugs while others do not.
As pharmacogenomics advances it can lead to safer and more effective drug therapies, eliminate trial and trial when it comes to delivering therapeutic solutions, and reduce healthcare costs for patients. A better understanding of pharmacogenomics will also allow doctors and patients to take more personalized approaches to treatment and recovery.
A person’s genetic makeup can have a profound impact on the way their body responds to drugs. This is one reason why getting a genetic test, before starting treatment with a new medication or undergoing surgery, is now increasingly being considered essential by doctors. This will allow medical personnel to understand whether specific genes may predispose the patient to certain side effects or other complications from taking specific medications.
Metabolism is the process by which the body transforms calories from food and drinks into energy. All chemical reactions that occur in living organisms, from digestion to the transport of substances from cell to cell, can be part of metabolism.
Some people find that their body is unable to metabolize, or process certain medications or drugs as efficiently as others, especially if they are taking multiple medications that can have an impact on each other.
The good news is that there are ways for you to adjust your dosage based on how your liver processes each medication. The liver is responsible for metabolizing most drugs in the body and helps break down some of them into the active chemical ingredients of medicines.
The liver uses enzymes called cytochrome P450s (CYP), which are responsible for metabolizing many different substances like caffeine and nicotine through different pathways depending on what they are being used for. However, some people have genetic mutations that cause problems with CYP function that then impacts metabolism of these drugs.
A new study now shows that just as with some people being genetically predisposed to certain diseases, so too could genetic differences in the ability to metabolize prescription drugs be used to predict adverse effects more effectively than the traditional clinical criteria such as age and gender currently used.
For example, persons with specific gene variants that make it easier for their body to break down caffeine and other stimulants like amphetamines, may find it problematic to take medications with these ingredients in them.
On the other hand, someone having similar physical and physiological attributes may not show any signs of illness or side-effects from their intake of coffee or amphetamines. The new finding suggests that pharmacogenomic testing could help doctors understand which medications work best for each patient based on their unique genetic makeup.
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