drug acetylation

Last reviewed 01/2018

Many drugs require acetylation for their metabolism. In the population there is a bimodal distribution in the rate of acetylation; the fast acetylation is autosomal dominant, and the slow is autosomal recessive.

Drugs which are significantly metabolised by acetylation include:

  • isoniazid
  • hydralazine
  • procainamide
  • phenelzine
  • dapsone
  • some sulphonamides