Pharmacogenetic Testing in Psychiatric Pharmacy: Background, Clinical Relevance, and Barriers
by Sarah A. Fierek, 2022 PharmD Candidate, Amy M. Genisot, 2022 PharmD Candidate, Rachel A. Hawley, 2022 PharmD Candidate, Molly A. O’Connell, 2023 PharmD Candidate, Amy M. Wolff, 2023 PharmD Candidate
"Pharmacogenetics is the study of how variations in inherited DNA sequences affect individual responses to medications. Identifying gene variants is important, because variants can alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs, thus impacting metabolism. Approximately 1 in 5 prescriptions are affected by actionable pharmacogenes, meaning the presence of gene variants may influence how an individual responds to a medication. Many psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics, are metabolized by enzymes that vary in activity based on one’s genes. Although the use of medications affected by actionable pharmacogenes is common, preemptive pharmacogenetic testing is not yet widespread due to lack of access, affordability, utility, and necessity."
Keywords: Prodrugs, Antipsychotic Agents, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomic Testing, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2, Base Sequence, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System, Psychotropic Drugs, Metabolic Clearance Rate, Inactivation, Metabolic, Genotype, Antidepressive Agents, Prescriptions, Costs and Cost Analysis
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2021 November/December Table of Contents
"Pharmacogenetics is the study of how variations in inherited DNA sequences affect individual responses to medications. Identifying gene variants is important, because variants can alter the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs, thus impacting metabolism. Approximately 1 in 5 prescriptions are affected by actionable pharmacogenes, meaning the presence of gene variants may influence how an individual responds to a medication. Many psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics, are metabolized by enzymes that vary in activity based on one’s genes. Although the use of medications affected by actionable pharmacogenes is common, preemptive pharmacogenetic testing is not yet widespread due to lack of access, affordability, utility, and necessity."
Keywords: Prodrugs, Antipsychotic Agents, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomic Testing, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2, Base Sequence, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System, Psychotropic Drugs, Metabolic Clearance Rate, Inactivation, Metabolic, Genotype, Antidepressive Agents, Prescriptions, Costs and Cost Analysis
Download PDF
2021 November/December Table of Contents