OCONOMOWOC, Wis. — When it comes to medications, Kelly Parsons said everyone metabolizes them differently.
What You Need To Know
Pharmacogenomics is a type of genetic testing that shows how your body metabolizes and uses pharmacological agents
Kelly Parsons, director of research administration and health economics at Rogers Behavioral Health, said the trial-and-error process can be difficult for those who struggle with a mental health disorder
A research study is currently being conducted at Rogers to see how clinicians are using pharmacogenomics and how patients are reacting to the findings
Parsons is the director of research administration and health economics at Rogers Behavioral Health.
“If you’ve ever started a medication, the conversation with your physician goes along the lines of, I’m going to try this medication with you, and I want you to come back in six to eight weeks,” said Parsons. “We’ll talk about how you’re doing, and whether it’s working for you and whether you’re having any side effects.”
Parsons said the trial-and-error process can be difficult for those who struggle with a mental health disorder. She said that’s why pharmacogenomics can be of benefit.
“Pharmacogenomics is the study of and testing of genes that are related to how your body metabolizes and uses pharmacological agents,” said Parsons.
Parsons said patients can take a test that shows what medications work best for their body.
“They don’t tell you don’t take this medication most of the time, but they might say you need a different dose of that medication or maybe try a different similar medication in the same class that maybe goes through a different pathway for its metabolism and utilization in the body,” said Parsons.
Emily Washcovick is a former patient at Rogers. She received treatment after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
She said the pharmacogenomics testing would have benefited her.
“If you could do some genetic testing to eliminate some of that time frame to find the right fit, I think that could be huge for so many people,” said Washcovick. “Every time you go through cycles of episodes, it makes it like more prone for your body to repeat that. So, the faster you can get medication that works for you, the easier it is to get all future episodes under control too.”
Parsons said the testing can put both the patients’ and clinicians’ minds at ease.
“When doctors do use the results of this test as a tool to guide what medication they’re selecting, that oftentimes patients are more adherent to their medications because they have a little bit more confidence in the selection that their doctor has chosen for them,” said Parsons.
A research study is currently being conducted at Rogers to see how clinicians are using pharmacogenomics and how patients are reacting to the findings.
Parsons said the goal is to have this type of testing become the standard of care for patients.