The impact of pharmacogenetics on the development and use of antipsychotic drugs.
There are substantial differences between individuals in the effects of antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia. This is apparent in symptom response, as well as in the emergence of side effects, such as tardive dyskinesia or weight gain. Genetic variation is likely to contribute substantially; in the past decade genetic polymorphisms in candidate genes have been identified which are associated with these individual differences. Whether pharmacogenetics will prove valuable in antipsychotic drug discovery is unclear, although it is already elucidating mechanisms of antipsychotic drug action, and genetic testing may well lead to a future of individualised drug treatment.
Reynolds
Gavin P
GP
Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Queen's University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK. g.reynolds@qub.ac.uk
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents