More and more is becoming known about the possibilities of tailoring medication to the individual characteristics of patients. For example, the treatment at your pharmacy is tailored to, for example, age, gender, weight and functioning of the liver and kidneys to guarantee optimal and safest possible treatment. Recently, an extra factor has been added: DNA testing to determine the ability to break down medicines. This now happens in specific cases if a treatment does not work or if side effects occur. So only when things go wrong.
Prevent
Mrs van de Ven-Kemps and pharmacist Robin van der Klip.
The pharmacists of the Voorste Stroom, Robin van der Klip and Vince Maar, thought this wrong way of thinking and would rather prevent problems than solve them. A good example of this is that the effectiveness of the blood thinner clopidogrel depends on the patient’s DNA. In one in three patients, the standard dose does not work or does not work optimally. The pharmacy, together with the general practitioners in Oisterwijk, has therefore called on all clopidogrel users to get tested. The type of DNA was easily determined by a single blood draw. The turnout was great. 119 patients had their DNA determined. In 29 patients it turned out that they were indeed not optimally protected. They have been changed in dosage or have received a new treatment.
Enzymes
Mrs van de Ven-Kemps (88) was also tested for her DNA. It turned out that her enzymes were less active, clopidogrel was not made enough active and her blood was not optimally diluted. “I didn’t notice whether clopidogrel worked well. Fortunately, I have not had another TIA in the 10 years that I have been taking it. I am now going to take a double dose in consultation with my pharmacist and GP. It feels good to be well protected now!”
The young pharmacists see it as a challenge to provide appropriate and effective care to prevent worse. “We see that the pressure on healthcare is increasing. With new insights, such as this DNA test, we can relieve the hospital because we prevent new infarctions, for example. If you receive a call to have your DNA determined, we strongly advise you to take this test in order to guarantee you an even better quality of care. Together we work towards a healthy future for everyone.”
If there is a clear reason to start the research, like the example above, there are no costs for the patient, everything is reimbursed by the insurance. If the patients want the examination themselves without indication, this is also possible, but then this must be paid for by them themselves.
2023-07-25 06:33:49
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