Pinpoint which medications work best for you
Pharmacogenomic testing at Medcan lets you manage your health proactively
How well a drug will work for a particular individual depends in large part on DNA. Evidence indicates that genetic factors can account for an estimated 20% to 95% of drug metabolism and response. But typically the way a physician finds the right medication for a patient is to consider factors such as weight, gender, age, diet, and experience, to select a drug to try with the patient and to monitor response during a trial period. If the medication proves to be ineffective, the physician makes a switch and the trial-and-error cycle starts again until illness symptoms are effectively addressed.
Now Medcan clients can leap forward in their understanding of what medications might be suitable for them through a genetic test. While Medcan has provided genetic tests that assess response to a limited set of medications in the past, we have launched a new pharmacogenomic test panel that identifies your metabolizer status for over 200 medications. Metabolizer status indicates how long the body takes to activate or break-down the medication, and influences the ideal types of medications prescribed and the suggested dose. This far broader and advanced test can help your physician determine which drug may work for you and which medications to avoid.
“Pharmacogenomic testing at Medcan introduces a novel way of understanding how a patient may respond to medications, helping physicians make the best choices for pharmacological treatments for various medical conditions. The test result for an individual can improve efficiency in clinical practice when drugs are required to treat these medical conditions,” says Dr. Jason Abrams, Associate Medical Director at Medcan.
A revolutionary pharmacogenomic test at Medcan
Before taking the test with a simple swab, clients sit with a genetic counsellor discuss any adverse drug reactions of the past or experiences of medication use with limited efficacy.
“Take for example depression medication: the average number of drugs a person tries before they find one that actually works for them is usually four. The lengthened time to reach the best health outcome is quite significant,” says Allison Hazell, Clinical Director of Genetics at Medcan.
The test reviews medications listed across multiple disease states or treatment areas – over 200 drugs are impacted by the genes tested on this panel – covering commonly prescribed medications for cardiovascular disease, oncology, psychiatry, pain and a dozen more disease states or conditions. It also assesses drugs with limited impact of genetic variants but can be significant from a drug-drug interaction perspective.
A proactive avoidance of adverse drug reactions
Besides providing clear guidance on medication effectiveness, pharmacogenomic testing helps physicians navigate patients away from adverse drug reactions. Where as many as 25% of hospital admissions are caused by adverse drug reactions, this benefit is revolutionary.
One study at the University of Utah saw a 40% reduction in hospitalizations and a 71% reduction in emergency department visits after certain pharmacogenomic testing. Another from the University of Illinois Hospital saw a 77% reduction in 30-day hospital readmission rates after pharmacogenomic testing for Warfarin and Clopidogrel (drugs to prevent heart attacks and stroke).
“Some medications have very clear outlined pharmacogenetic pathways—to the point where the FDA will put a label warning on that drug to say individuals should consider genetic testing prior to dosing. In those cases, the evidence is so strong that if you have a genetic change it will cause a side effect or reduce effectiveness,” says Hazell.
Expert guidance for prescribing physicians
Medcan genetic counsellors are available to support physicians who are provided with a patient’s pharmacogenomic test results from Medcan. Genetic counsellors play an important role in informing and assisting physicians in the interpretation and communication of test results. The service can also provide the physician the opportunity to consult with a pharmacist who is qualified to educate on how to consider pharmacogenomic data in the context of drug selection, dose adjustment and monitoring.
Who should consider pharmacogenomic testing?
Clearly anyone who has had a history of adverse drug reactions or medication with limited efficacy would benefit from this type of testing. But anyone who is interested in managing their health proactively would benefit too. With knowledge of how you personally respond to medications, you and the healthcare professionals you consult in the event of future illness will be able to make the most effective choices moving forward.
