Pharmacogenetics in Practice: Drug Management Amidst Rare Genomic Testing

Although personalized medicine is an ideal concept, there remains little training or discussion to its applicability for the primary care provider. Psychiatric, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and pain are common complaints/conditions seen in primary care, and treatment options have genomic implications. This article provides the experienced clinician with the background, clinical utility, and applicability of pharmacogenetics in medications commonly prescribed such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers, clopidogrel, statins, proton pump inhibitors, and codeine. The dose adjustment or alternative treatment considerations based on a patient’s pharmacogenetic profile are discussed.