Your Guide to Personalised Healthcare

Learn from the AttoDiagnostics blog.

Is Sertraline the Best SSRI for Mood and Anxiety?

Published 14/05/2025

When a patient asks, “Is sertraline the right antidepressant for me?”, the most reliable answer may come not from trial and error—but from a pharmacogenomic test. Sertraline is a widely prescribed SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) used across the NHS to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. But what makes it different from other SSRIs? And could it be more effective—or less tolerable—for certain patients?

Is Paroxetine the Right SSRI for Your Patient?

Published 14/05/2025

If your patient is asking, “Will paroxetine help with my depression or anxiety?”, the answer depends on more than just symptoms. With strong serotonergic activity, anticholinergic effects, and powerful CYP2D6 inhibition, paroxetine is one of the most pharmacologically distinct SSRIs—and it’s not right for everyone.

Pravastatin and Pharmacogenomics

Published 06/05/2025

Pravastatin is one of the oldest and most established statins, used for decades to help manage cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. As a hydrophilic statin, it tends to stay in the bloodstream and doesn’t penetrate muscle and brain tissue as deeply as other statins. This property contributes to its lower risk of side effects, especially muscle-related symptoms.

Simvastatin: More Than Just a Cholesterol-Lowering Medication

Published 02/05/2025

Simvastatin is one of the most widely prescribed statins in the UK, commonly used to lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk. But recent research shows that its benefits—and potential side effects—go far beyond cholesterol control. Understanding how simvastatin works, how it affects the body, and how genetic testing for medication response can influence its effects can empower patients to make more informed decisions about their treatment. This is where pharmacogenomics in the UK is becoming increasingly valuable.

Atorvastatin and Pharmacogenomics: Personalising Heart Health

Published 02/05/2025

Atorvastatin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the UK for managing high cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk. But beyond its well-known cholesterol-lowering effects, atorvastatin has a range of additional benefits—and potential side effects—that are influenced by your unique genetic profile. Thanks to advances in pharmacogenomics in the UK, it’s now possible to understand how your genes affect your response to medications like atorvastatin, allowing for a safer, more effective, and more personalised medicine approach.

Rosuvastatin and Pharmacogenomics

Published 02/05/2025

With the rise of pharmacogenomics in the UK, it’s now possible to use genetic testing for medication response to understand how your genes influence your reaction to medications like rosuvastatin. This personalised medicine approach doesn’t just improve safety and effectiveness for individuals—it also has the potential to lower NHS costs by reducing trial-and-error prescribing, preventing avoidable side effects, and helping patients stay on treatment.

Which Medicines Are Covered In Our Pharmacogenomics Test?

Published 01/05/2025

At AttoDiagnostics, we offer UK-based pharmacogenetic testing designed to support personalised prescribing. Whether you’re exploring options for psychiatric medications, managing a long-term condition, or just curious about your genetic response to certain drugs, this test gives patients and doctors powerful, science-based insights for over 115 medications.

How DNA-Driven Prescriptions Could Save the NHS over £530M Annually

Published 27/03/2025

Every year, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) account for 6.5% of hospital admissions in the UK, costing the NHS an estimated £530 million annually. These preventable incidents burden an already overstretched healthcare system and impact patients' lives with prolonged recovery times and unnecessary suffering. But, what if there were a way to eliminate this trial-and-error approach to prescribing? Enter pharmacogenomics: the future of personalised medicine.

PGx Testing and AttoDiagnostics

Published 13/03/2025

When someone isn’t feeling well, there are many factors to consider. A typical approach by a healthcare practitioner is to start with a first-line drug. If it doesn’t work, they may change the prescription after a month or two. This trial-and-error process can sometimes take two to three months before a patient finds the medication that truly works for them. But with pharmacogenomics (PGx), a GP can determine—before prescribing anything—which medication will work best for that individual.