Pharmacogenetics
WHAT IS PHARMACOGENETICS?
In the human body, a family of enzymes (cytochromes P450) is responsible for the uptake, conversion and degradation of drugs as part of the metabolic process. Approximately 90% of the population has genetic variations in these enzymes that can significantly affect the response to a drug by either enhancing or blocking it. In addition, many people do not respond to drug treatment or suffer from side effects. Unilabs offers a pharmacogenetic test to determine your individual genotype. A distinction is made between individuals with an ultra-fast, fast, intermediate or slow metabolism. This distinction paves the way for personalised treatments, with the goal of understanding the different functions of each enzyme in order to tailor drug therapy.
WHAT IS PHARMACOGENETICS?
In your body, there is a special family of enzymes known as Cytochrome P450. These enzymes play a crucial role in processing medications – they absorb them, transform them, and break them down.
Did you know that about 90% of the population has genetic variations in these enzymes? These variations can influence how your body reacts to a medication – they can either enhance or block the effect. Interestingly, many people respond differently to medication treatments or experience side effects.
With the Pharmacogenetics Test, you can discover more about your individual genetic traits. These insights open up new possibilities for personalized treatments, as medication therapy can be more precisely tailored to your needs.
YOUR BENEFITS
- Compatibility: The right medication from the beginning
- Correct dosage: Optimal response to medication and targeted therapeutic success.
- Reduced response times: For faster response to therapy
- Reduction of side effects
- Reduction of undesirable drug interactions
- Pharmacogenetics Passport: Carry your personal results with you anytime, anywhere
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER A PHARMACOGENETIC TEST?
A pharmacogenetic analysis is particularly beneficial for patients who:
- Experience unwanted medication reactions
- Have insufficient medication effectiveness
- Take multiple medications
- Have known genetic risk factors
- Take medications over an extended period
HOW CAN A PHARMACOGENETIC TEST HELP YOU?
A pharmacogenetic analysis provides valuable additional information for your doctor. It allows for a more precise adjustment of medication dosage based on your personal genetic profile. The more accurately a medication dosage aligns with your individual genetic profile, the more targeted the success of the therapy, reducing the risk of side effects or adverse interactions with other medications.
HOW DOES A PHARMACOGENETIC TEST WORK?
During the analysis, genetic variations, also known as SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), are examined. Our analysis takes a closer look at these variations – a kind of individual fingerprint for our genes present in over 90% of people. These tiny differences influence how our bodies react to medications. Enter enzymes, functioning like little workers in our bodies, processing medications.
Our test investigates over 65 of these small differences in enzymes, which act like switches determining how fast or slow our bodies process medications.
Think of these enzymes as different speed settings:
- Normal Metabolizer (EM – Extensive Metabolizer): Everything is working normally; the enzymes process medications as usual.
- Intermediate Metabolizer (IM – Intermediate Metabolizer): Kind of like a “slow-motion” mode. The enzymes work more slowly.
- Poor Metabolizer (PM – Poor Metabolizer): Here, it slows down or even stops because certain genes in the enzymes aren’t working as they should.
- Ultra-Rapid Metabolizer (UM – Ultrarapid Metabolizer): This is like the turbo mode, faster than average.
So, these small differences in enzymes influence how our bodies absorb and process medications – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. And the personal touch: Your genetic fingerprint remains the same, so this test only needs to be done once and stays relevant for future treatments. Simple!
HOW CAN I GET A PHARMACOGENETIC TEST?
Get your personalised pharmacogenetic profile now. For more information about the test, visit the Unilabs Website.