PHARMACOGENETICS
BY: ZAINABU RASHID
INTRODUCTION
Pharmacogenetics is the study of influence
of a gene on therapeutic and adverse effects
of drugs.
It is also the study of how genes affect
one's response to medication.
It was first coined by Vagel in 1959.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Pharmacogenetics comes from “Pharmakon” which means “drugs” and “genetikons”
which means “generatives”.
It involves two divisions:
Drug disposition- this entails drug absorption, metabolism, distribution and
excretion.
Drug target- pharmacological effect of drugs are exerted by modulating activities of
enzymes or receptors.
INFLUENCE OF PHARMACISTS
● Pharmacists must understand the principles of
pharmacogenetics to provide personalized drug therapy for
their patients.
● Pharmacists should be able to interpret genetic test results
and provide recommendations on drug dosages and selection.
● Pharmacists should also be able to identify potential
drug-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions based on a
patient's genetic makeup.
INFLUENCE ON PATIENT
● Pharmacogenetics can benefit patients by providing personalized
drug therapy that is more effective and has fewer adverse effects.
● Patients with genetic variations that affect drug metabolism can
benefit from lower drug dosages or alternative drugs that are
more suitable for their genetic makeup.
● Patients with a history of adverse drug reactions can be screened
for genetic variations that increase their risk of ADRs, allowing
healthcare providers to avoid drugs that are likely to cause harm.
RESEARCH ON CURRENT STUDIES
One study found that patients with a
genetic variation that affects warfarin
metabolism had a higher risk of bleeding
when treated with the standard dose of
warfarin.
By adjusting the warfarin dose based on
the patient's genetic makeup, the risk of
bleeding was reduced.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
● Pharmacogenetics is a fascinating field that has the potential to
revolutionize the field of medicine.
● It is amazing to think that a patient's genetic makeup can affect
their response to drugs and that personalized drug therapy can be
developed based on this information.
● There are potential benefits of pharmacogenetics in improving
drug therapy outcomes and reducing the risk of adverse drug
reactions
Video link
https://youtu.be/X5atvMqPAUY
REFERENCES
1. Rickles N. M. Wertheimer A. I. & Smith M. C. (2010). Social
and behavioral aspects of pharmaceutical care (2nd ed.). Jones
and Bartlett.
2. Jamie, K. (2012, September). Pharmacogenetics and the
Pharmacy Profession: A Sociological Exploration. CORE.
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/40008419.pdf#page119
