Pharmacogenomics in a community pharmacy: ACT now.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the opportunity for community pharmacists to provide pharmacogenomic testing and counseling.

DATA SOURCES

Peer-reviewed pharmacy literature.

SUMMARY

Pharmacists practicing in community pharmacy are accustomed to optimizing drug therapy through various medication therapy management programs. They use patient-specific information obtained from the patient and their prescribers to cater patient-specific drug regimens. Pharmacogenomics is rapidly evolving, and this field can help optimize medication therapy using an individual's genetic code to identify opportunities for increased or decreased adverse effects or changes in efficacy. Pharmacogenomic testing technology has made conducting pharmacogenomic testing in community pharmacies possible. Pharmacists must arm themselves with the knowledge and skills specific to pharmacogenomics in order to fully integrate this expanding area into patient care and turn this into a great opportunity.

CONCLUSION

Advances in knowledge and technology regarding pharmacogenomics coupled with the overwhelming access and use of a community pharmacist by patients provides a tremendous opportunity for community pharmacists to lay claim to the field of pharmacogenomics. Pharmacists are able and needed to provide testing, evaluate results, and offer patient and prescriber education for pharmacogenomics. Pharmacists must take steps to assess the entire clinical picture and use pharmacogenomics where appropriate to optimize drug therapy.