Finding the most effective psychiatric medication hinges on how your genes uniquely metabolize each different drug. At Sage Mental Wellness, Audra Worthington, MSN, PMHNP-BC, and Tammy Lewis, PMHNP-BC, offer pharmacogenomic testing because it reveals medications you should avoid and optimal dosing based on your genetic variations. You get faster symptom relief when we use pharmacogenomics to guide medication decisions. To learn more or schedule an in-person or telemedicine appointment, call the office in Hagerstown or Frederick, Maryland, or book online today.
Pharmacogenomics refers to genetic testing specifically focused on how your body will respond to psychiatric medications. By comparison, genetic testing diagnoses a disease or reveals your potential risk of developing a disease.
When you get pharmacogenomic testing, the lab experts evaluate your DNA, identifying genetic variations that determine:
The results of your pharmacogenomics allow your provider to avoid medications that cause side effects. It also reveals if you metabolize certain drugs faster or slower than average. As a result, your provider has guidelines for optimal dosing.
Pharmacogenomics can dramatically improve your mental health treatment by reducing the period of trial-and-error that typically occurs before finding the one medication that works for you.
Even the most experienced mental health professional faces the challenge of trial-and-error for two reasons:
You possess a unique set of genes and genetic variations. As a result, your body metabolizes and uses drugs differently than others. The medication that’s effective for you may be useless or potentially dangerous for another person.
There are multiple psychiatric medications for most mental health disorders. For example, there are 25 antidepressants. Though every antidepressant aims to improve the symptoms caused by depression, each one works a little differently in your body.
Your provider chooses a medication based on your symptoms and medical history, then starts your prescription at the lowest dose. You take the medication for a while to see if it helps. If your symptoms don’t improve, your provider increases the dose or changes the medication, and then you wait another few weeks to see if you feel better.
That’s the type of routine trial-and-error it takes to ensure you have the most effective treatment. Pharmacogenomic testing minimizes or eliminates this time-consuming process.
Your provider simply swabs the inside of your check. The tissue sample then goes to the genetics lab, where they run the analysis. The lab sends a full report to your provider, and they contact you to talk about the results.
To learn more about pharmacogenomics or to schedule an appointment, call Sage Mental Wellness or book online today.