Cytochrome P450 enzymes and psychiatric drugs

Published: February, 2009

How a patient's genetic profile and other medications can alter drug response.

The American Journal of Psychiatry published an article describing the hypothetical case of a woman who sought treatment for depression while taking tamoxifen, a drug often prescribed to reduce the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence. The case was intended to illustrate the impact that the liver's cytochrome P450 enzymes can have on psychiatric drug choice, especially when patients are taking multiple medications.

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