Pharmacogenetics

PGx; Pharmacogenomics

Definition

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how genes affect the way medicines work in a person. In some cases, your health care provider can use the information from pharmacogenetic testing to prescribe medicines that will work best for you with fewer side effects. Pharmacogenetics is a newer medical field that is likely to grow over time.

Information

Pharmacogenetics is a type of precision medicine. Precision medicine uses information about a person's genes, environment, and lifestyle to help diagnose, prevent, and treat illness specifically for that person.

Pharmacogenetics uses information from your genes to see how your body will respond to a medicine. Your provider may order pharmacogenetic testing to see:

  • If you can take certain medicines safely
  • How well the medicines will work

Pharmacogenetic testing results identify changes in certain genes. These genes control how your body responds to medicines. Using pharmacogenetic testing, your provider can find out:

  • Whether your body will have a strong, weak, or no response to a medicine
  • How quickly a medicine is taken up into the tissues and cells where it is needed
  • How quickly your body breaks down a medicine
  • The chance that a medicine will cause side effects

These results can help your provider know what medicine and dose will work to treat your condition. This can speed up the treatment process by avoiding trial-and-error dosing. Finding the right medicine can improve your health more quickly.

At this time, only certain medicines have this testing available. For example, it can be used in some cases for people taking medicine for:

Pharmacogenetics may help providers find the best medicines for the people who need them.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Pharmacogenomics. www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/pharmacogenomics/index.html. Updated November 13, 2024. Accessed January 13, 2026.

Korf BR, Limdi NA. Principles of genetics. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 31.

GO

Review Date: 1/10/2026

Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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