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CYP2D6 Metabolizer

Meaning

A CYP2D6 Metabolizer refers to an individual’s phenotypic classification based on the activity level of the Cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme, a key liver enzyme responsible for metabolizing approximately twenty-five percent of all commonly prescribed drugs. This enzyme’s activity is highly variable due to genetic polymorphisms, resulting in distinct phenotypes ranging from poor metabolizers who have little to no enzyme function to ultrarapid metabolizers with significantly increased activity. The metabolizer status critically influences the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of medications that are either inactivated or bioactivated by this enzyme.