What is Pharmacogenomics (PGx)?
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how a patient's genetic makeup contributes to a positive therapeutic result and/or adverse reactions to prescribed medications. Using pharmacogenomics, physicians can customize treatment plans that minimize adverse side effects or hazards.
Pharmacogenomics provides knowledge that helps physicians prescribe a drug regimen with a greater probability of a positive outcome.
Get the RIGHT dose of the RIGHT drug at the RIGHT time.
Better, safer drugs the first time
Instead of the standard trial-and-error method of matching patients with the right drugs, doctors will be able to analyze your genetic profile and prescribe the best available drug therapy from the beginning. Not only will this take the guesswork out of finding the right drug, it will speed recovery time and increase safety as the likelihood of adverse reactions is eliminated.
More accurate methods of determining appropriate drug dosages
Current methods of basing dosages on weight and age will be replaced with dosages based on a person's genetics; how well the body processes the medicine and the time it takes to metabolize it. This will maximize the therapy's value and decrease the likelihood of overdose.
Not all Medication works for everyone...
Many drugs that are currently available are "one size fits all;" but they don't work the same way for everyone. It can be difficult to predict who will benefit from a medication, who will not respond at all, and who will experience negative side effects (called adverse drug reactions). Adverse drug reactions are a significant cause of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)
According to the Institute of Medicine
There are over 2.2 million avoidable ADR Hospitalizations per year
There are over 106,000 avoidable ADR deaths per year
There are over 350,000 Nursing Home ADRs per year
What are the Chances of an ADR?
The more drugs a patient is taking, the more chance of an ADR.
Patients taking over 11 drugs have a 96% chance of an ADR.
With the knowledge gained from the Human Genome Project, researchers are learning how inherited differences in genes affect the body's response to medications. These genetic differences will be used to predict whether a medication will be effective for a particular person and to help prevent adverse drug reactions.
A simple non invasive Pharmacogenomic buccal swab test is a once in a life time test that may enhance or even save your life!