Understanding pain management and pharmacogenomics

Understanding Pain Understanding Pain Management and Management and

PharmacogenomicsPharmacogenomics

•• In the past, pain management has involved a In the past, pain management has involved a general blanket of options meant to cover every and general blanket of options meant to cover every and any individual in their pursuit of pain relief. any individual in their pursuit of pain relief.

•• With the advent of genotyping for pain, this With the advent of genotyping for pain, this pursuit for pain relief has taken on a new meaning pursuit for pain relief has taken on a new meaning as well as changing the many options available.as well as changing the many options available.

•• Pain management and genetics means combining means combining an individual’s genetic blueprint with the best an individual’s genetic blueprint with the best possible pain medications, treatments and dosages possible pain medications, treatments and dosages that their body will handle flawlessly. that their body will handle flawlessly.

• • Pain management and pharmacogenomics is is about putting patients and their doctors in charge of about putting patients and their doctors in charge of their own medication destiny.their own medication destiny.

•• By genotyping for pain, doctors can easily guide By genotyping for pain, doctors can easily guide the treatment strategy for the patients that are being the treatment strategy for the patients that are being considered or are already receiving pain considered or are already receiving pain medications. For example, opioids are extensively medications. For example, opioids are extensively used for management for moderate to severe pain, used for management for moderate to severe pain, however, the opioids effectiveness can vary greatly however, the opioids effectiveness can vary greatly between individuals. between individuals.

•• This variance is generally attributed to how well This variance is generally attributed to how well the individual metabolizes the opioids, either the the individual metabolizes the opioids, either the drug is metabolized too quickly and leaves the drug is metabolized too quickly and leaves the body before it can have a real affect, or the drug is body before it can have a real affect, or the drug is metabolized too slowly and the patient experiences metabolized too slowly and the patient experiences an increase in toxicity due to the drug remaining in an increase in toxicity due to the drug remaining in the body.the body.

•• Certain enzymes in the human body are Certain enzymes in the human body are responsible for the metabolism and biosynthesis of responsible for the metabolism and biosynthesis of medications, including opioids. By genotyping for medications, including opioids. By genotyping for pain, researchers, clinicians and doctors can test for pain, researchers, clinicians and doctors can test for certain enzyme variations that bring about different certain enzyme variations that bring about different effects in an individual’s ability to metabolize effects in an individual’s ability to metabolize different medications.different medications.

•• Ultimately, pain management and genetics is able to Ultimately, pain management and genetics is able to improve pain management, decrease the number of drug improve pain management, decrease the number of drug toxicity episodes and greatly lower the number of adverse toxicity episodes and greatly lower the number of adverse drug reactions that occur.drug reactions that occur.

•• Drug metabolism involves a lot of processes that don’t Drug metabolism involves a lot of processes that don’t necessarily have solely to do with the individual or the necessarily have solely to do with the individual or the drug, but both of them combined.drug, but both of them combined.

•• Pain management and pharmacogenomics is a highly Pain management and pharmacogenomics is a highly complex process that can be affected by a multitude of complex process that can be affected by a multitude of factors including the patient’s overall clinical condition, factors including the patient’s overall clinical condition, underlying disease, other medications the patient is taking, underlying disease, other medications the patient is taking, foods they ingest as well as their mental state.foods they ingest as well as their mental state.

•• DNA Stat, located in Addison, Texas, is the country’s DNA Stat, located in Addison, Texas, is the country’s leader in pain management and pharmacogenomics.leader in pain management and pharmacogenomics.

•• WeWe are dedicated to furthering the applications and are dedicated to furthering the applications and clinical utilities available due to pharmacogenomics and clinical utilities available due to pharmacogenomics and take pride in their superior customer service and take pride in their superior customer service and commitment to putting the “personalized” in personalized commitment to putting the “personalized” in personalized medicine. medicine. 

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