Finding the Right Psychiatric Medication The First Time With Gene Testing

For years, doctors have prescribed mental health medications mostly on a trial-and-error basis. This can mean trying anywhere from a couple to many different medications or combinations of medications to find out what works for you.

Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Ifeanyi Olele of Genesis Psychiatric Solutions provides a more modern approach to psychiatric drug treatments, gene testing. By using this testing in advance of prescribing, we can tell which drugs are more likely to work for you.

Pharmacogenetics 101

Pharmacogenomics is a way to offer personalized medication management, especially for people who have psychiatric conditions. 

The Food and Drug Administration has approximately 260 drugs with a label of pharmacogenomics. Many of these drugs now offer extra information for prescribers, such as specific actions to take depending on biomarker information. 

Gene testing can reveal such biomarkers, including chromosomal abnormalities and gene expression differences that can alter how medications work for you.

Since pharmacogenomics testing can tell us in advance how your genes could interact with certain medications, we can determine the following once we’ve diagnosed you with a mental health condition:

• Which medication(s) are most likely to be effective for you
• Recommended dosages of such medication(s)
• Any potential side effects, including adverse effects 

Gene testing can tell us how quickly and effectively your body metabolizes medications and can predict your response to one drug compared with another. This helps us not only prescribe the right medication and dosage, but the right intervals of dosing to maintain your mental health. 

How gene testing works

Gene testing is a quick process. We have you come into our office where we swab your cheek to collect your DNA. Your DNA can be sequenced to determine how your genetics can direct us toward the right prescription(s).   

Next, we carefully package your sample and send it to a sequencing lab. The lab performs the analysis to complete your gene testing and sends us the results. The amount of time this takes depends on how high the demand at the lab is.

Once we get your results, we set another appointment for you to sit down with Dr. Olele to discuss your results and find out which drugs are most likely to yield effective results. Together, you and Dr. Olele work out a suitable treatment plan that meshes with your lifestyle and condition. Your treatment may include both medication and therapy.

Do you want to learn more about pharmacogenomics testing? It’s easy to schedule a consultation with Dr. Olele; just call our closest location or request an appointment online. We have offices in Alexandria and Fairfax, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Dr. Olele can also deliver services via telemedicine.