Personalized Medicine

Innovations in medicine have made extraordinary leaps and we believe you should be able to benefit. Our patients often tell us they are tired of being guinea pigs and wish their condition had a sure answer. Now with the help of pharmacogenomics, we are one step closer to that goal. We want to provide you the best care available and so welcome to Pharmacogenomics (PGx).

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the study of how your genes respond to medications. This innovative field utilizes: pharmacology – the science of drugs, with genomics – the study of genes and their functions. With the knowledge available from the Human Genome Project, we can start to predict how inherited differences in genes affect the body’s response to different medications.

Your individual PGx info can be used to prescribe medications that are unique to your genetic profile. By doing this we can increase the odds that a medication will be effective for you or we can reduce the odds of an unwanted side effect from occurring (less guessing). Adverse drug events are a significant cause of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. Our goal with PGx is to reduce the risk for side effects and improve the effectiveness of your treatment by taking the “one size fits all” approach away. And since your genetic information does not change, we can use the information for all medications you may be prescribed for the rest of your life (a big bang for your buck & health).

At Arrow Pharmacy, you can get genetic results through a saliva test (5 mins). This is most often done with a cheek swab that is mailed to a partner lab for analysis. Once your results yield, we will have you schedule your Pharmacogenetic Analysis appointment.

Understanding and applying your genetic information requires knowledge of the ins and outs of how each medication works in the body. Since pharmacogenomics is a relatively new field, only certain practitioners are more familiar with interpreting and applying the information. We recommend looking for someone with a pharmacogenomic education or certification, much like our Pharmacogenetic pharmacists at Arrow. We also HIGHLY recommend that you do your genetic profiling at Arrow, so that we can securely retain your genetic information and apply it whenever you have new medications. Additionally, we will also provide you with a copy of your pharmacogenetic report and collaborate with your physician.

Most insurances do not cover PGx since it is new, but coverage is increasing with the acceptance and incorporation of personalized medicine. Some insurances may cover PGx testing and it will depend on your conditions and/or medications. In our experience, the most commonly covered are psychiatry medications. Arrow Pharmacy does not submit claims to insurance for our patients, we can provide you with all necessary documentation for submission to your insurance.