Most medications are prescribed based on symptoms, not genetics. But genetic variation affects how your body metabolizes drugs — sometimes dramatically. A drug that works perfectly for one person may be completely ineffective for another.
Clopidogrel (Plavix) is one of the most commonly prescribed blood thinners. But it's a prodrug — it needs the CYP2C19 enzyme to convert it into its active form. If you carry two loss-of-function alleles (2/2), you're a poor metabolizer. The drug essentially doesn't work.
True46's pharmacogenomics section flags this interaction with a critical alert, referencing CPIC (Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium) guidelines.
The Doctor Card tab in your True46 report summarizes drug-gene interactions in a format designed for physician review. Alternatives that don't depend on CYP2C19 metabolism (like prasugrel) can be discussed with your prescriber.
CYP2C19 poor metabolizers make up about 2-3% of the population. That's millions of people potentially taking medications that won't protect them. True46 analyzes 108 drug-gene interactions using CPIC-referenced evidence, catching what standard prescriptions don't.
Individual results vary. Never change medications without consulting your physician. True46 is not a substitute for medical advice.