DNA test for appropriate antidepressant.

[ricardo]

This was posted on the NMP FB page by a lady living in Spain. Apparently this test has been available in The States for over two years, any thoughts, anyone.

Hi all, my psychiatrist mentioned to me today a new test that's been out now for 2 years. It's a saliva DNA test that is used to see which antidepressant will be best for you based on your very own DNA. It has been proven to be 80%. I have had bipolar II, clinical depression, anxiety and panic disorder for over 25 years. I have tried, probably, nearly all the medications. I still suffer. I am currently taking Venaflaxine and Alprazolam. I am thinking on taking this test, although where I live in Spain, it us quite expensive. But after all these years I am thinking it could be a good idea. As I said this DNA test to relatively new but is now approved to be very effective in finding the best medication first time. Hit and miss is so common with finding a medication to suit. So again, has anyone heard of this or indeed done it? Thank you.

[pulisa]

I would be deeply suspicious of this claim.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Well it's a new one on me so had to look it up.

From having a quick read on the Mayo site (couldn't be bothered to dig into the detailed articles) it centres around liver enzyme testing and they already do it for certain cancer treatments, prediction of Warfarin dose, etc. Whilst it's not going to find you the drug that will "cure" you its aimed at finding ones that a specific liver enzyme will handle better. I've read a bit about these enzymes before and whilst they will be individual to us, they have been shown to differ based on where you are in the world too just like many other physical attributes.

So, without reading detail about how successful a drug could be for you, it certainly is a way of reducing side effects and what about those of us who have terrible reactions to specific meds? Will we ever see it on the NHS though? ...probably not but it would be nice given it could save us a load of hell but then we all know these antidepressants are mostly cheaper than the prescription charge so where is the motivation for doctors to use these tests?

I have an idea for another DNA test they can do - one that predicts which doctors are more use than a condom machine in the Vatican.

[ricardo]

Well it's a new one on me so had to look it up.

From having a quick read on the Mayo site (couldn't be bothered to dig into the detailed articles) it centres around liver enzyme testing and they already do it for certain cancer treatments, prediction of Warfarin dose, etc. Whilst it's not going to find you the drug that will "cure" you its aimed at finding ones that a specific liver enzyme will handle better. I've read a bit about these enzymes before and whilst they will be individual to us, they have been shown to differ based on where you are in the world too just like many other physical attributes.

So, without reading detail about how successful a drug could be for you, it certainly is a way of reducing side effects and what about those of us who have terrible reactions to specific meds? Will we ever see it on the NHS though? ...probably not but it would be nice given it could save us a load of hell but then we all know these antidepressants are mostly cheaper than the prescription charge so where is the motivation for doctors to use these tests?

I have an idea for another DNA test they can do - one that predicts which doctors are more use than a condom machine in the Vatican.

oh the test in Spain costs 900 euros.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Is that a good rate for a medical test? It seems much higher than the DNA testing we are seeing on TV as I thought was much less. But do they include a translation? The ones on TV are just results and then you need a doctor to intepret them which is laughable really since those tests are quite general and would mean doctors from several specialisms. It's all completely outside a GP's ability to translate.

[ricardo]

Is that a good rate for a medical test? It seems much higher than the DNA testing we are seeing on TV as I thought was much less. But do they include a translation? The ones on TV are just results and then you need a doctor to intepret them which is laughable really since those tests are quite general and would mean doctors from several specialisms. It's all completely outside a GP's ability to translate.

As i said Terry this has been available in The States for over 2 years but like you I hadn't heard of it.

psychiatrists that speak English are few and far between in Andalucia and it was just a coincidence that the person who posted the above went to my psychiatrist in Marbella,who was trained in New York. However I personally think it is expensive even though it is a private psychiatrist.

[pulisa]

It's all a big gamble really, like prescribing the meds in the first place. I used to be a Spanish linguist so I could translate for free though

[MissyMischief]

I haven't heard anything about this test living in the US, but boy, would it be sweet to at least find meds with the least side effects.