Pharmacogenetic test

[Recentness]

I just had a call with the psychiatrist from the clinic where they diagnosed my ADHD in December. After I told him that for the first month or so after taking Ritalin things began to look up (clearer thoughts, more perceptive, happier..), things went south after that. Looks like my brain stopped responding to the treatment.

He suggested that I try a pharmacogenetic test (it also seems to be known as pharmacogenomic test), which can apparently indicate how the body will process or be responsive to a given drug/molecule treatment based on a person's specific DNA.

The test apparently involves ordering a kit and sending a saliva sample. The results and report are available within a few days. The report provides the individual 's expected response to a drug treatment (see sample report: cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2732... )

This seems to be part of a promising field in medicine called "targeted personalized therapy" or "precision medicine", which makes sense to me, but the test costs upwards of $285 (not cheap).

So my question is if anyone has tried this? and if so, did you find that it helped you find the right treatment?

I am trying to get the right treatment because there seems to be a certain inertia on the part of my physician who is only ready to prescribe what he is familiar with regardless of whether it actually works. Understandably, he seems to be worried about side effects, but I find it pointless taking anything that makes no difference to my condition.

Thanks in advance for your comments and stay safe and healthy everyone!

[tom81101]

I should try that test cause I've been taking 60mg of adderall and it basically does nothing for me anymore

[HonestAbe]

My doctor did the testing for me, but that was only after working with a med for a few years. Maybe just try the other stimulant family first to see how it goes. Try the Adderall and Vyvanse family or maybe the dose you were on just wasn’t high enough and you needed to bump it up.

[Recentness in reply to HonestAbe]

Thanks.

I am trying Vyvanse, but I find it has little effect (same with Ritalin and Adderall).

In any case, I have done the test and I am waiting for the results.

I will post here what I find in case it help others assess whether it is possible to know the right stimulant and focus on the dosage instead of doing trial and error with the type of stimulant.

Best regards,

[Wilma13 in reply to Recentness]

how did the test work out? Was it worth the money?

[PhoenixGal in reply to Recentness]

I would love to hear your experience with the outcome of the test as well. Lately I've been considering taking a test as well but am hesitant due to the cost, so I'd love to know if you think it was worth it or just a waste of time and money. Thanks