The Right Medication for You: Pharmacogenomics Testing at Mayo Clinic

Share this:

How Your Genes Determine which Medications Work Best for You

The drugs available today to treat diseases are powerful agents that work as intended for most people. Yet, in some cases, a particular drug at the standard dose might not work for you or may trigger an unintended side effect.

When you take a medication, your body’s response is determined by many factors, including your distinct genetic makeup. Depending on your unique genes, you may process and absorb medications differently than other people, either causing too much of a reaction or no reaction at all.

Fortunately, pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing can determine how your genes affect your response to medications. The results of this type of testing can give your health care provider information so that he or she can adjust medications to be more effective for you.

Who Should Order PGx Testing?

Mayo Clinic research has shown that even when looking at a small fraction of the human genome, 99% of people had genetic variations that influence medication selection and dosing.¹

As a result, people who may benefit from PGx testing include those taking multiple medications, experiencing unpleasant side effects, or taking medication with known genetic influences.

Helping Your Health Care Provider Make the Right Decisions

By ordering a PGx test, your physician can understand how your genetics influence your response to medications.

This information will allow your health care team to make decisions with you about how to treat certain conditions and select the best medications based on these results.

These results can also ensure the medication you are currently taking is the best for you and that you are receiving the right dose based on how quickly or slowly your body processes the medication.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories

This post was authored by the Marketing Team at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.