🧬 Pharmacogenetics

• Study of how a person’s genes affect their drug response.
• Goals:
• Personalize drug therapy.
• Reduce side effects & adverse reactions.
• Improve adherence.
• Lower healthcare costs.

👩‍⚕️ Who Benefits Most

• Patients taking multiple drugs.
• Patients not responding to current therapy.
• Patients with adverse drug reactions.
• Patients on black box warning drugs.

⚠️ Note: Not all drugs have genetic testing, and one test does not predict response to all medications.

💊 Examples of Drugs with Genetic Variation in Metabolism

• Mercaptopurine
• Irinotecan
• Abacavir
• Warfarin
• Clopidogrel
• Opioids
• Mental health drugs
• Carbamazepine

⚖️ Legal & Ethical Issues

• Privacy: Who owns/has access to genetic info?
• Autonomy: Patients can accept/refuse testing & change their mind.
• Justice: Equal, fair treatment for all patients.

🧠 Clinical Judgment in Pharmacogenetics

• Concept: Safety
• Recognize cues:
• Assess family history (3 generations).
• Look for drug side effects/adverse effects.
• Analyze cues: Patient may feel anxious, need teaching/support.
• Generate solutions: Include patient + family preferences in care plan.
• Take action:
• Refer to genetic counseling if needed.
• Teach patient how to use and share results.
• Evaluate outcomes: Check if patient understands, is safe, and therapy is effective.