Drug Metabolism and Variability among Patients in Drug Response

Differences in drug responsiveness are common, often leading to challenges in optimizing the dosage regimen for a particular patient. Recent advances provide a rational framework for understanding many interpatient differences in drug disposition and their clinical consequences. This article focuses on the cytochrome P-450 enzymes, a superfamily of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes that play an important role in oxidative drug metabolism.