Key terms and Concepts
Pharmacokinetics: metabolic status, ability to metabolize certain drugs
Pharmacodynamics: ability to respond to a drug at the level of the drug target or receptor
Pharmacogenetics: genetic influence on both the pharmcokinetics and pharmcodynamics
Pharmacogenomics: examines inherited variations in genes that dictate drug response
Genomic screening is now available to detect low/medium/high metabolizers and polymorphisms associated with adverse side-effects of common analgesics
Epigenetic profiles could enhance ability to reach the right regimen more quickly
