PHARMACOGENOMIC TESTING
PHARMACOGENOMIC TESTING
Pharmacogenomic Testing : What You Need to Know
As a participant of the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative ( AGHI ), you will gain knowledge of how differences in your genes may affect your health . Along with learning if any genetic differences increase your risk of certain diseases , you will also receive information on genetic differences effect on medications . How your body responds to a medication depends on factors such as age , gender , other drugs you take , medical conditions you may have , and your overall health . One of these factors is your genetics . The study of genes and their function is known as genomics . By combining genomics with pharmacology ( scientific knowledge of medications and their use ), the field of pharmacogenomics was born .
Pharmacogenomic testing may be used to help predict :
• Which drug may work best for you
• The proper dosage
• Your risk for negative side effects
Currently , pharmacogenomic testing is done for genes that affect certain types of drugs , such as medications for treating depression , pain , and heart disease . It will be expanded to other genes as researchers learn more about how genomic differences affect the way medications work in the human body
A person ’ s genes may determine what type of response they have to certain medications .
A PERSON ’ S GENES MAY DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF RESPONSE THEY HAVE TO CERTAIN MEDICATIONS .
RESPONDS TO A NORMAL DOSE
RESPONDS TO A LOWER DOSE
RESPONDS TO A HIGHER DOSE
RESPONDS TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICATION
20 Alabama Genomic Health Initiative Annual Report 2021