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| By Safe Call Now Board Member Dr. Michael Genovese, MD, JD |
As first
responders do we know anything about medication when it is prescribed to us
from our doctors? The side effects, if
it will actually work or not? This is
great information you need to know for your health and wellness. Stay safe out there!!!
Dr. Michael V. Genovese, M.D., J.D.
With the advancement
of medicine and the multitude of available options, psychiatrists face numerous
challenges in tailoring the appropriate course of individualized treatment for
patients. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how a person’s individual DNA
affects his or her response to medications and a scientific method of evaluating
which medications a patient is likely to tolerate. The primary role of
pharmacogenomics is to develop rational means to optimize drug therapy, with
respect to the patient’s genotype, to ensure maximum efficacy with
minimal adverse effects.
There are many
factors involved in the decision making process of administering medication
such as efficacy, side effect profile, compliance, cost, family history, and
the patient’s previous medication trials. Approximately 50% of patients do not
respond to their initial medication treatment and up to 30% discontinue due to
intolerable side effects. Additionally, nearly 70% of patients are non-adherent
to their prescribed medication schedule, with adverse reactions representing
the most common cause. The statistics reveal the demand for an individualized
approach to patient care and a treatment plan specific to the patient’s needs.
Pharmacogenomics provides an evidence-based approach to improving customized treatment outcomes.
This personalized approach to medicine is safe and easy to accomplish. It
minimizes patient frustration associated with a trial and error approach to
pharmacology. Testing a patient is as simple as collecting cells from the
inside of the cheek with a cotton swab. The cells are sent to a lab and results
are generally available within a week. A detailed report provides patient
specific information regarding the genes that code for enzymes that are
responsible for metabolizing medication and regulating its activity at the
neuron.
