# Genetic tests can tell which meds will work best for you?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetic-tests-can-tell-which-meds-will-work-best-for-you/725974>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetic-tests-can-tell-which-meds-will-work-best-for-you/725974 "2015-07-23T18:11:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetic-tests-can-tell-which-meds-will-work-best-for-you/725974/1 "2015-07-23T18:11:40Z")

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I came across a website that claims their genetic tests can tell which medications will work best for you. They have a test for Psychotropic medicines.

From the website:

> [@](#):
>
> The information from the GeneSight test can help your healthcare provider select the medicine(s) and dose(s) that are best suited to your condition and genetic makeup. Medicines that align well with your genes may work better with fewer side effects.

Does anyone know if this is legitimate or a scam of some sort.

Website: [http://genesight.com/](http://genesight.com/)

Thanks:)

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetic-tests-can-tell-which-meds-will-work-best-for-you/725974/2 "2015-07-23T21:49:26Z")

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It certainly is a goal, but at present time I would be very doubtful of any claims that this is ready for clinical use.

For example, it certainly would be feasible to test for variants of genes that produce certain enzymes which might be responsible for metabolizing medications in the liver. A patient with variant X might metabolize a given drug faster than normal and thus such patient might need a higher dose or might do better on a different drug altogether. In a brief reading, this is some of the approach this company is claiming to take.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetic-tests-can-tell-which-meds-will-work-best-for-you/725974/3 "2015-07-23T21:52:43Z")

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It doesn’t tell you or your doctor which medicines will work. [It tells you which medicines should be avoided](http://www.healthline.com/health-news/medicare-now-covers-genetic-tests-for-depression-drugs-111814#2), which is far more plausible.

It’s [Medicare](http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/search/document-id-search-results.aspx?Date=10/27/2014&DocID=L35437)-approved, which is pretty difficult to earn.

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetic-tests-can-tell-which-meds-will-work-best-for-you/725974/4 "2015-07-23T22:48:26Z")

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This is the field of pharmacogenetics, and it’s been in clinical practice in limited forms for at least a decade. I know, because I used to do the testing for a couple of gene variants that affect how some drugs are metabolized.

I don’t know about this website in particular, but I’d be a bit wary. These are medical tests and should be ordered by physicians who understand how to interpret the results.