Pharmacogenetics is the study of how people respond differently to drug therapy based upon their genetic makeup or genes. Diet, overall health, and environment also have significant influence on medication response, but none are stronger indicators of how you will process medication than your genetics.
Currently, over 250 prescription medications contain Pharmacogenetic information in their FDA approved labels.
The label's information contains the identification of biomarkers – the primary measurable indicators associated with a patient’s specific condition. The labels also identify targeted drug therapy specific for that genetic abnormality as well as list the genetic variations which may influence how a drug is metabolized or broken down in the body and is likely to cause a significant adverse event. The Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium or CPIC has created a searchable list of all medications with known pharmacogenetic implications and prescribing guidelines that can be found here.
Healthcare providers may use pharmacogenetic information to help inform the most appropriate treatment for each individual patient. This includes choosing a drug that is more likely to work, avoiding drugs that may cause side effects, adjusting the starting dose of a drug where appropriate, or determining whether closer monitoring of the drug’s effect is needed