Are you on Antidepressants?

IN MEDICINE, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. TWO PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE SAME ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION MAY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSES.

Environment, diet, age, lifestyle and state of health can all influence a person's response to medicines, however strong evidence now suggests that genetic factors play an important role. 

The response to antidepressant treatment requires 4-6 weeks of daily medication. Moreover, the average drug has only a 60-70% positive
response. It would therefore be highly desirable to match you to your most compatible antidepressant prior to initiation of therapy and to avoid
exposing you to a long period of trial and error. A genetic test called DNAdose can identify gene variants that may effect the way you respond to
antidepressants.

What is DNAdose?

DNA DOSE, a new Australian created, gene scan which includes involvement for 40% of all medications by testing for multiple genes. A DNAdose will predict which patients will have impaired drug metabolism due to their genetic makeup. Experienced Clinical Geneticsts will be provide a a thorough drug specific report of all drugs that the GenesFX Health is informed about including suggestions of dosage and alternative drugs when appropriate.

DNAdose identifies specific genetic variations in genes that code two enzymes: Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and Cytochrome P450
2C19 (CYP2C19).

Many medications used to treat depression are metabolised or cleared from your body as a result of these enzymes. Learn More

How significant are these variations?

• Approximately 10% of the population are poor metabolisers and will be unable to clear certain antidepressants efficiently.
• Approximately 1% of the population are ultra-rapid metabolisers and process the drugs at a much faster rate, receiving little or no benefit from the medication.

Benefits of  DNAdose

• Better, safer drugs the first time. Doctors will be able to prescribe the best available drug therapy from the beginning. This will speed up the recovery and increase safety as the likelihood of adverse reactions is reduced.
• Testing need only be done once in a lifetime.

 
It can be done before the patient even gets ill. Clinicians can keep the DNAdose report in the patient's medical records for future reference.