Category: Genetic Insights

Genetic Insights | Patient

How Being a Poor, Intermediate, or Ultra Rapid Metabolizer can Impact ...

Two patients with depression each take the same dose of the same medication. One patient’s medication makes her feel extremely nauseous, leaves her with no energy and does not alleviate the symptoms of her depression. The other patient has no side effects and her medication works as prescribed. How can this be? The answer may lie in a patient’s genes.

Genes map what makes us unique. According to the Genetic Alliance, genes explain:

  • Why family members’ appearances are similar
  • How families’ health history can be passed down for generations, including some diseases like cancer

Genes also play an important role in how our bodies metabolize certain medications, such as antidepressants.

    How Genes Impact Metabolism Our unique genetic profile contains six enzymes that metabolize 90 percent of all medications patients are given. These genes an...

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