Medicines do not work in the same way for everyone and are not tolerated equally well by all patients. Some of these differences may be related to genetics.
Pharmacogenetics examines how genetic variants can influence the effectiveness and tolerability of medicines. This information can help doctors tailor the selection and dosage of certain medicines to the individual patient.
What is pharmacogenetics?
Your genetic makeup can influence how your body responds to a particular medicine. This may affect:
How effective a medicine is
The appropriate dosage
How quickly an active substance is broken down in the body
The risk of certain side effects
Certain genetic variants can cause medicines to be metabolised more quickly or more slowly.
For example, if an active substance is broken down very slowly, its concentration in the body may increase. If it is broken down particularly quickly, an adequate concentration of the active substance may not be reached.
Other genetic variants may be associated with an increased risk of certain adverse drug reactions.
A pharmacogenetic analysis can therefore provide additional information in certain situations to support the individual selection or adjustment of medication.
Who is a pharmacogenetic test suitable for?
A pharmacogenetic analysis may be particularly useful for patients:
Who experience adverse drug reactions
When a medicine does not have the expected effect
When taking several medicines at the same time
With known genetic risk factors
When taking medication over a long period
When an individual adjustment of medication or dosage may be appropriate
The results can provide your doctor with additional information about which medicines may be better suited to you and which dosage should be considered.
How does the pharmacogenetic test work?
The pharmacogenetic test is performed using a blood sample and generally only needs to be carried out once.
The analysis examines genetic variants, including so-called SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms).
These genetic variants can influence the activity of various enzymes involved in the breakdown or processing of medicines.
Depending on your genetic profile, certain active substances may:
Be metabolised more quickly
Be metabolised more slowly
Have a different effect
Be associated with an altered risk of side effects
Our test analyses more than 65 genetic variants to create an individual pharmacogenetic profile.
As your genetic profile generally does not change throughout your lifetime, the test usually does not need to be repeated for future prescriptions.
Benefits of a pharmacogenetic test
A pharmacogenetic test can support personalised drug therapy.
Potential benefits include:
Better tolerability: Support in selecting suitable medication
Individual dosage: Additional information to help tailor dosage to the individual patient
Faster treatment optimisation: Support in selecting an appropriate treatment
Reduced risk of side effects: Identification of genetic factors that may increase the risk of certain adverse drug reactions
Fewer unwanted interactions: Additional information in cases of complex medication regimens
Support for quality of life: Individually tailored medication may help adapt treatment more closely to the patient’s needs
Pharmacogenetics passport
Your personal results always with you
With the Pharmacogenetics Passport, you can keep your personal pharmacogenetic information with you at all times.
The information it contains can provide an additional basis for selecting and dosing certain medicines during future medical treatments.
Comprehensive report
After the analysis, you will receive:
A personal patient card
A detailed pharmacogenetic report
The patient card and report are provided in English.
This makes it easier to use the results during medical treatment abroad and to share them with doctors.
The report includes the genetic variants analysed and the corresponding pharmacogenetic information, supporting healthcare professionals in the individual assessment of your medication.
A sample report is also available.