Have you or a loved one ever had a bad reaction or unusual side effects when taking a medicine? Reading the long list of allergies, warnings, interactions and other possible complications on any prescription drug leaflet can be scary. Why is it that some drugs work great for some people but dont work well for others?

With 1,222 new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1950 and 2008, there are many options on the market (Munos, 2009, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery).With so many options, finding the right medication can be a drawn-out process of trial and error for the patient and the provider. As a result, complications are becoming alarmingly common. In 2015, the FDA received nearly 1.3 million reports ofdrug interactions, a rate that more than doubled in six years. Deaths from severe allergic reactions are also on the rise. *How your body reacts to any given medicine will be different from that of your spouse, your cousin, your best friend, your next-door neighbor, and your favorite grocery checkout clerk. (Reactions may even differ with the over-the-counter-drugs like aspirin or dietary supplements that the very same checkout clerkrang up for you!)

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Genes Advice | Pharmacogenomics