A Genetic Test Identifies Best Antidepressant

If you are one of the more than 264 million people who suffer from depression, you know how hard it is to treat. Finding the right combination of medications can take months or even years, and some people are never able to find an antidepressant that works effectively for them.

Why It Is So Difficult to Find Effective Drug Treatment for Depression

Every single person is different. The genetic makeup of each person is unique, and that genetic makeup affects the chemicals that govern how the body functions. When people take any prescribed drug, it interacts with those chemicals. The interactions are not always helpful, which can lead to ineffectiveness, medication side effects, or worsening of symptoms.

How Pharmacogenomics Changes This

The field of psychiatry has been working on ways to identify the right medication and the right dosage for mental health patients for decades. Pharmacogenetics, the study of how genes influence a person's response to drugs, has finally given the field a more targeted approach to treating patients more effectively.

Pharmacogenomic tests analyze specific gene variants, such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, that affect how a person metabolizes psychiatric medications. By understanding these variants, prescribers can identify which antidepressants are likely to be effective and which are likely to cause adverse reactions for a given individual.

Patients who have undergone pharmacogenomic testing have successfully treated depression more quickly than through trial and error alone. Harvard Medical School remains cautious about the technology, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not discounted it. In 2020, the FDA reviewed scientific evidence and issued a table of gene-drug interactions for which genetic testing is appropriate to determine safe medications and doses.

Pharmacogenomic tests represent a significant step forward. As more patients and providers use them, the evidence base will continue to grow.

Where to Get Genetic Testing for Antidepressants

Many people do not realize that they can use DNA data from a test they have already taken. Raw DNA data can be downloaded from providers such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or MyHeritage and uploaded to Sequencing for free. Once uploaded, the data can be analyzed through apps in the Partner Marketplace that provide pharmacogenomic insights including antidepressant compatibility and drug response.

Sequencing's Privacy First policy ensures your data is never sold or shared with anyone. You own your data and can access, download, and permanently delete it at any time, for free.

For those who have not yet taken a DNA test, Sequencing's whole genome sequencing reads 100% of your DNA across over 30,000 genes, including all pharmacogenomic variants relevant to antidepressant response. It is CLIA-certified, clinical-grade, and available from $399.

Order your whole genome sequencing kit today or upload your existing DNA data for free to get started.