Ethnic pharmacogenetics research

Abstract Pharmacogenetics as a field of research is increasing the basis of knowledge on the use of psychotropics in different ethnic patient populations. This chapter summarizes cur-rentknowledge on the metabolism of anxiolytic agents with emphasis on pharmacogenetics and ethnic variations in drug responses. 

To enhance therapeutic safety, clinical pharmacology has led efforts to discover the causes responsible for interindividual drug responsiveness in patients. This field of research is called pharmacogenetics. Often the underlying reason is a difference in enzyme property or activity. Ethnic variations are additionally observed. Prudent physicians will attempt to determine the metabolic status of a patient before prescribing a particular drug. 

Although research efforts in the field of ethnopharmacology have been limited, it is increasingly clear that medication dosing may be significantly affected by ethnic differences related to the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenetics of certain medications. Fortunately, the literature on this subject is steadily proliferating. 

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