Pharmacogenetics
Scientific Foundation of Pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenetics (PGX) is the study of genetic differences or variations in metabolic pathways which can affect individual responses to drugs, both in terms of therapeutic effect as well as adverse effects. PGX testing is a type of genetic test that predicts a patient's likelihood to experience an adverse event or not respond to a given drug. PGX testing can be conducted via a non-invasive buccal swab test that is simple, fast, easy, and convenient. The test results can be used to greatly increase the safety and effectiveness of drug therapy.
According to a recent study, PGX studies have provided an overwhelming amount of evidence regarding the influence of genetic variations and drug responses. Awareness of the genetic variations of a patient with a response to certain drugs can help physicians decide which type of drug therapy may be appropriate and most effective for individual patients and can also help the physician avoid drugs that may cause adverse reactions. Several drugs can cause severe or life-threatening reactions in patients with certain genetic variations. Some patients may experience sub-therapeutic or ineffective responses with certain drugs due to genetic variations.
PGX testing not only will lower the annual ADR hospitalizations, but will save lives, money, and make drug therapy more safe and effective. Many US organizations including John Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Duke Medical Centre, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), and RCIVA Dallas have noticed the benefit of PGX and have adopted the testing.
Why Should a Physician Order PGX Testing?
Pharmacogenetic (PGX) testing helps physicians find more personalized, effective, and safer medicine by understanding the patient's ability to metabolize medications, reducing adverse effects, avoiding drug interactions, and time-consuming drug trials. Pharmacogenetic testing can be particularly useful in chronic pain management. Knowing a patient's genotypes prior to prescribing pain medicine can help minimize debilitating side effects and addictions to narcotic medications. Pharmacogenetic testing can mean the difference between a treatment failure and a successful outcome.
Who Should Physicians Test?
Scientific Foundation of Pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenetics (PGX) is the study of genetic differences or variations in metabolic pathways which can affect individual responses to drugs, both in terms of therapeutic effect as well as adverse effects. PGX testing is a type of genetic test that predicts a patient's likelihood to experience an adverse event or not respond to a given drug. PGX testing can be conducted via a non-invasive buccal swab test that is simple, fast, easy, and convenient. The test results can be used to greatly increase the safety and effectiveness of drug therapy.
According to a recent study, PGX studies have provided an overwhelming amount of evidence regarding the influence of genetic variations and drug responses. Awareness of the genetic variations of a patient with a response to certain drugs can help physicians decide which type of drug therapy may be appropriate and most effective for individual patients and can also help the physician avoid drugs that may cause adverse reactions. Several drugs can cause severe or life-threatening reactions in patients with certain genetic variations. Some patients may experience sub-therapeutic or ineffective responses with certain drugs due to genetic variations.
PGX testing not only will lower the annual ADR hospitalizations, but will save lives, money, and make drug therapy more safe and effective. Many US organizations including John Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Duke Medical Centre, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), and RCIVA Dallas have noticed the benefit of PGX and have adopted the testing.
Why Should a Physician Order PGX Testing?
- Allows for safe and more effective medicine
- Reduces the risks of side effects and overdose
- Minimizes adverse drug interactions
- Allows the physician to know the right dose
Pharmacogenetic (PGX) testing helps physicians find more personalized, effective, and safer medicine by understanding the patient's ability to metabolize medications, reducing adverse effects, avoiding drug interactions, and time-consuming drug trials. Pharmacogenetic testing can be particularly useful in chronic pain management. Knowing a patient's genotypes prior to prescribing pain medicine can help minimize debilitating side effects and addictions to narcotic medications. Pharmacogenetic testing can mean the difference between a treatment failure and a successful outcome.
Who Should Physicians Test?
- Any patient who requires a higher-than-standard dosage to achieve the desired result
- Any patient who has had a severe adverse drug reaction
- Any patient who has had unexpected or unexplained responses to medications
- Any patient who has had multiple unsuccessful drug trials
- Any patient who has health issues in multiple organ systems
- Any patient who has had multiple drug types prescribed
Medicare, Worker's Compensation and many insurance carriers now
cover these tests based on normal protocols of necessity. To get more
information and learn how doctors can now get test kits free and offer
patients the option to DNA test,
