Dave has a particularly efficient CYP2D6 enzyme system in hi

Dave has a particularly efficient CYP2D6 enzyme system in his liver. Based on this information one would predict that he would:

A. Be efficient at metabolizing most psychoactive medications

B. Have trouble with the biotransformation of many drugs

C. not be particularly efficient at metabolizing psychoactive medications

D. be efficient at metabolizing some psychoactive medications more than others

Solution

Answer: Correct answer is D). Be efficient at metabolizing some psychoactive medications more than others.

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme system metabolizes various molecules of endogeneous and exogeneous origin. In populations, there is huge variability in the action of this enzyme system. In the case of Dave, the CYP2D6 enzyme system is quite active, which means the body system would metabolize psychoactive medications. However, CYP2D6 acts on nearly 20% drugs used for clinical purposes. Therefore, the CYP2D6 enzyme system in Dave would be efficient at metabolizing some psychoactive medications more than others.