What factors can pharmacogenomics influence?

• A. Drug effectiveness, side effects, dosage, duration of tx
• B. Only dosage
• C. Only duration of tx
• D. Only side effects

Answer: (A)

Pharmacogenomics looks at how genetic differences change the way a patient responds to a drug across several aspects of therapy. It can influence how well a drug works and the likelihood of side effects, as well as what dose is appropriate and how long the drug remains active in the body. Genetic variants can alter metabolism, transport, and drug targets, leading to different levels of drug exposure and distinct clinical outcomes. For example, certain genotypes require lower doses to avoid toxicity and can affect how quickly steady-state is reached, while other variants change the efficacy of analgesics or the risk of adverse reactions to certain medications. Because these factors can all be influenced by genetics, pharmacogenomics covers drug effectiveness, side effects, dosage, and duration of treatment.