Pharmacogenetics and addiction treatment

13 Dec Pharmacogenetics and addiction treatment

The opioid crisis is gripping communities across Canada and public health officials are imploring for innovative solutions and more research on drug addiction. The clinical management of pain continues to be challenging for patients and health care providers, in part because of the variability in the efficacy of treatments and incidence of side effects.

Considering the inter-individual variability when prescribing, may result in safer and more effective opioid formulations. Pharmacogenetics, the study of how genetics affects the body’s response to medications, can enable physicians to select analgesic drugs and personalized dosing. In this article published in the Pacific Standard you will find more information about the medical wave of the future including the role of pharmacogenetics in addiction treatments for alcohol addiction, smoking habit, and heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Genetics-based prescribing has become a reality in Canada with myPGx and TreatGx. myPGx is a pharmacogenetic test which reports on genes that affect the way medications work within the body, including genetic markers associated with response to opioids and nicotine replacement therapy. TreatGx, a decision support system, combines this genetic information with up-to-date clinical evidence and other health information to generate personalized medication options. TreatGx has been developed to facilitate the shared decision-making process between patients and health care professionals.

Visit our website for more information: TreatGx and myPGx