Learn about pharmacogenetics with information from AboutKidsHealth

Learn about pharmacogenetics (PGx), an example of precision medicine that uses a person’s genetic make-up to predict how they will respond to a certain medication. The AboutKidsHealth article, Pharmacogenetics: Using precision medicine to find the right medication at the right dose, explains what pharmacogenetics is and how it relates to a child’s medication and how pharmacogenetics testing is done.

 

Selecting medication and dose
Medications are usually prescribed using a “one size fits all” model, with a set standard dose based on the indication, age and weight of a child. Precision medicine can be used to instead precisely tailor medication choice and dosing for patients, allowing medications to be safer and more effective. 
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Learn about pharmacogenetics (PGx)

Overview of PGx uses

More than 400 medications now include PGx information on their labels. To get this information, PGx testing is performed. PGx testing looks for genetic variants to prevent side effects and increase therapeutic success:

  • Results can predict if a person will experience an unusual reaction to a medication compared to the average population. It can also help with finding medications that might work better.
  • If someone is already taking a medication, PGx testing can provide answers as to why that medication may or may not be working.

 

How PGx testing is performed
During a PGx test, the inside of a person’s cheek is swabbed to collect a sample of cells that contain DNA. If several swab attempts are unsuccessful, a blood sample may be collected if the health-care team thinks it is necessary.
 
PGx testing may be done before or after prescribing a medication. It may be done before (pre-emptive testing) in order to have a patient’s PGx information available when prescribing a medication and before an unexplained side effect occurs. Alternatively, PGx testing may be done afterward (reactive testing) to understand why certain medications have not been effective or why a side effect may have occurred.
 

To learn more about pharmacogenetics please see, Pharmacogenetics: Using precision medicine to find the right medication at the right dose. 

 

AboutKidsHealth is SickKids’ health-education website and features more than 3,500 articles on a range of health topics. For more information on pharmacogenetics and other health topics, visit www.aboutkidshealth.ca.