GeneSight Testing: A Path to Clarity and Relief

Suffering from a mental health condition, like depression, anxiety, or ADHD, can be a painful and difficult journey. Fewer than 50 percent of individuals with depression respond to their first medication. When seeking treatment, the last thing you want is to go through medication after medication with no relief. For a long time, finding the right psychiatric treatment meant doing just that, cycling through medication trials with no results, or even unpleasant side effects. The lack of progress can be discouraging and defeating. However, Genesight testing can offer a path to clarity and relief.

What is the GeneSight Test?

The GeneSight test is a pharmacogenomic, multigene panel that is used to provide recommendations or warnings for psychiatric medications. The test uses genetic information to assess how a drug may interact with a person's genes, as well as how a person may metabolize or respond to commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. The test considers smoking status and folic acid absorption as well. The results of the GeneSight test indicate which medications may be less effective, have increased risks of side effects, or may require dose adjustments, based on your DNA. These results help your provider to select medications that are more likely to be effective, leading to less trial and error, fewer side effects, and much needed relief. The test can be performed through either a blood draw or an at home cheek swab. The GeneSight test is recommended for individuals with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric illnesses, who have had a failed medication trial or negative side effects from a medication. 

What Does the Report Tell Me?

Your results from your GeneSight testing are compiled into a report that includes over 60 mental health medications. Each medication is classified into one of three categories: 1) Use as directed, 2) Moderate gene-drug interaction and 3) Significant gene-drug interaction. The “Use as Directed” category contains the medications that are likely to not cause significant side effects or have dosing considerations, whereas the moderate and significant gene-drug interaction categories are those that are likely to cause side effects, be ineffective, or require dose adjustments to be effective. The GeneSight test also tests for a variation of the MTHFR gene, which can predict an individual's ability to convert folic acid. This is important because improper conversion of folic acid can impact the efficacy of medications. When you and your provider receive your results, your provider will review them with you and use the results as a guide in selecting a medication or adjusting dosing. This can take away the guess work, and reduce the need for trial and error in order to find an effective medication.

Who Should Take the GeneSight Test?

The GeneSight test is typically recommended for individuals who have had a previously failed medication, low medication response, or unwanted side effects from a current or past medication. It is also recommended for older adults and individuals with liver damage in order to provide additional information that can help your provider choose the correct dose of medication. If you are tired of being in the cycle of medication trials, talk to your provider and they can tell you if you would be a good candidate for the GeneSight test.

How Much Does it Cost

Medicare and many commercial insurance will cover the cost of the GeneSight test if your provider is considering one or more medications that have potential gene-drug interactions that are recognized by the CPIC or FDA. Financial assistance is also available for those without insurance a genesight.com/cost/. On average, the out of pocket cost for patients is around $330 dollars or less for the test.

If you are looking to find a more clear path to getting relief from psychiatric medications, the GeneSight test could help you to avoid medication trials and unpleasant side effects. If you are interested in taking the next step, give us a call at 919-791-5611 or click here to schedule an initial evaluation with Olivia Vogel, PMHNP and discuss GeneSight testing today.