How Early Should Pharmacogenetic Testing Be Done for Mental Health Medications?

What you need to know

• By age 35, up to 97% of people with mental health conditions and 65% of women in the general population use medications that could benefit from genetic testing
• First medication use requiring genetic testing occurs as early as age 11-13 in young people with ADHD or autism
• Testing multiple genes at once (panel testing) is more beneficial than single-gene testing since many people use multiple medications affected by different genes

The Growing Role of Genetics in Medication Response

Have you ever wondered why some people respond well to certain medications while others experience side effects or no benefit? The answer often lies in our genes. Pharmacogenetics studies how genetic variations affect medication response. This field is becoming increasingly important as we learn more about personalizing drug treatment based on an individual’s genetic makeup.

Why Timing Matters for Genetic Testing

This groundbreaking Danish study followed over 86,000 young people to understand when they first started using medications that could benefit from genetic testing. The researchers found that people begin using these medications much earlier than previously thought - as young as age 11 for boys with ADHD or autism, and age 13 for girls with these conditions.

In the general population without mental health conditions, first use occurred around ages 13-15. This early medication use suggests that genetic testing could provide valuable information for treatment decisions even in adolescence.

Mental Health Conditions and Medication Use

The study revealed striking differences in medication use between people with and without mental health conditions. By age 35:

• 97% of women and 87% of men with schizophrenia used medications affected by genetic variations
• 96% of people with bipolar disorder or depression used these medications
• 65% of women and 23% of men without mental health conditions used these medications

Common medications included antidepressants, pain medications, stomach acid reducers, and oral contraceptives.

The Case for Comprehensive Genetic Testing

Rather than testing one gene at a time, the research supports testing panels of multiple genes simultaneously. This is because:

• Many medications are affected by multiple genes
• People often take several medications over time that are influenced by different genes
• Up to 70% of people with mental health conditions use multiple medications simultaneously that interact with different genes

This comprehensive approach provides more complete information to guide medication choices and dosing.

What This Means for You

If you or a loved one has a mental health condition or is likely to need certain medications in the future, consider discussing genetic testing with your healthcare provider, particularly:

• Before starting medications for mental health conditions
• If you’re experiencing side effects or lack of response to current medications
• If you anticipate needing multiple medications that are affected by genetic variations
• If you have a family history of unusual medication responses

Early testing can help guide medication choices and dosing from the start, potentially avoiding trial and error with medications.

Conclusions

• Genetic testing for medication response could benefit people much earlier than previously recognized - even in adolescence for some conditions
• Testing multiple genes at once provides more comprehensive information than single-gene testing
• Early genetic testing may be particularly valuable for people with mental health conditions who often need multiple medications