DNA genetic testing for medications is also called pharmacogenomics or pharmacogenetics. It is the study of how your genes affect your body’s response to medications.
The word “pharmacogenomics” is combined from the words pharmacology (the study of the uses and effects of medications) and genomics (the study of genes and their roles).
Your body has thousands of genes that carry information that you inherited from your parents. Genes determine which characteristics you have, such as your eye color and blood type.
Some genes are responsible for how your body responds to medications. Drug-gene tests look for changes in these genes that may determine whether a specific medication could be an effective treatment for you or whether it could cause side effects.
DNA genetic testing is one tool that can help your healthcare provider determine the best medication for you. It helps your healthcare provider identify the right drug at the right dose at the right time when choosing your treatment.
Why Should You Have DNA Genetics Testing?
DNA genetics testing determines if a medication is right for you. A small blood or saliva sample can help determine:
- Whether a medication may be an effective treatment for you,
- The best dose of a medication, or
- If you could experience serious side effects from a medication.
A pharmacogenetics test looks for changes in one or more genes and predicts your response to certain medications. However, it cannot predict how you will respond to all medications.
Since your genetic makeup doesn’t change over time, you would need to have the same specific drug-gene test done only once. However, you may need other drug-gene tests if you take different medications. This is because each medication is associated with a different pharmacogenomics test. So be sure to keep track of all your test results and share them with your healthcare providers.
What is Individualized Medicine & How is Related to Pharmacogenomics?
Individualized medicine, also known as precision or personalized medicine, is the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient. Healthcare is tailored to the patient’s unique needs, with a focus on getting the best results for the patient.
According to Mayo Clinic, “individualized, precision or personalized medicine provides a genomic blueprint to determine each person’s unique disease susceptibility, define preventive measures and enable targeted therapies to promote wellness.”
Pharmacogenomics is part of individualized medicine. And pharmacogenomics testing is determined on an individual basis.
The goal of individualized medicine is to make such knowledge useful for individually-tailored prevention, diagnosis and treatment so as to better predict, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases to help patients live longer and healthier lives.
What You Should Do with Your Test Results?
Results for most DNA genetic testing are available within a week or two.
Once you receive your results, discuss them with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They may recommend that you:
- Keep taking a medication,
- Change the dose of a medication,
- Stop taking a medication, or
- Take a different medication.
