Don't Routinely Recommend Pharmacogenetic Testing for Most Patients

September 2015

You'll see a push toward a more personalized approach to drug therapy with pharmacogenetic testing.

These tests will be promoted for a laundry list of meds...but they're not ready for prime time in most cases.

The goal of testing is to tailor drugs and doses based on the patient's genes...to avoid or minimize toxicity and maximize efficacy.

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Table of Contents

Vaccines Choose the Appropriate Flu Vaccine Based on Patient Age and Conditions
Gastroenterology Explain That Any Risk of Heart Attack With PPIs Is Very Small
NSAIDs Advise Limiting NSAIDs in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease
Obesity Weight Loss Consider Suggesting Saxenda for Patients With Obesity AND Type 2 Diabetes
Cardiology Expect New PCSK9 Inhibitors to be Saved as Statin Add-Ons
Infectious Diseases Manage Cold and Flu Expectations BEFORE Patients Go to a Prescriber
Respiratory Allergy Recommend Tapering OTC Nasacort Allergy 24HR Once Allergy Symptoms Improve
Constipation Tell Patients to Stop Laxatives When Starting Movantik
Stroke Don't Suggest Jumping to Clopidogrel if Patients Have a GI Bleed on Aspirin
Pharmacogenetics Don't Routinely Recommend Pharmacogenetic Testing for Most Patients
Lice Advise Nit Combing after Lice Treatments
Watch Supplement Use in Patients on "High-Alert" Meds