Drug Reponse: Genetic differences often determine drug benefits -- and adverse events!

• People differ tremendously in their ability to activate drugs to their therapeutic forms and in their ability to metabolize drugs, needed to prevent drug overdose. It is estimated that 100,000 Americans die needlessly each year because of adverse drug reactions.
• One major source of hospitalization and preventable death is overestimation of warfarin (Coumadin) dose in persons who poorly metabolize the drug, resulting in bleeding. Another is lack of activation of clopidogrel (Plavix) to its' therapeutic form, resulting a higher level of heart attack and stroke. A third involves the use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex) in women with breast cancer to prevent recurrence: It is estimated that a third of women taking the drug do not benefit, and have higher rates of recurrence.
• The same lack of benefit, and higher rates of adverse events, applies to antidepressants and antipsychotics as well as a long list of other drugs.
• On the positive side: A core set of liver enzymes -- that are well characterized genetically -- can be evaluated, once, to indicate likely drug responses. These genetic findings do not change over time. Thus drug dosages, and alternative drugs, can be correctly identified. You can present this information to your physician! Your physician is welcome to contact us to discuss the results.
• We test for genes relevant to warfarin, clopidogrel & tamoxifen, and for the following cytochrome P450 enzymes: CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2C9 & CYP3A5 needed to activate and metabolize a long list of medications.
• Drug panel CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2C9 & CYP3A5 covers the ability to benefit from at least half of common medications.
• Insurance and health savings accounts frequently cover the costs of these tests.