Hello, @ainsleigh -- we've had members talk about this topic, and I'd love for you to meet some of them. Please meet @kdubois, a volunteer mentor here on Connect who has some experience with genetic testing related to drug metabolism. @jimhd and @gailb, also volunteer mentors, may have some thoughts on testing in this arena. @seeker619 has also talked about this and may have some thoughts for you.

@ainsleigh -- are you considering doing genetic testing to find an appropriate medication for depression and anxiety?

In reference to this genetic testing...Can anyone tell me if it is all it is cracked up to be. I can see where there could be benefits as well as disasters. With these type of things I will admit I am highly skeptical. Will also admit I do not know anyone having had thus. I live in the realm of poverty and not by choice-stuff happens. The thought of living the remaining days of life in the depression I am experiencing and anyone having read any prior posts do know that medications and I do not work well together. I even have dreadful side-effects to thyroid medications. I have no choice but to take the medication or risk permanent damage. I can say the side-effects to this are dreadful and the thought of introducing another antidepressant scares me-BIG TIME.
Does genetic testing test for this type of thing?
I am not against antidepressants because the life I am living is challenging and discouraging.
@ainsleigh Thank you for asking about this. I will admit I am a skeptical person and also interested in hearing what others have to say-as in, personal experiences.

@ainsleigh @parus, I have a new psychiatrist and she intends to do a cheek swab on my next visit. The med she started me on just hoping to give me some relief from the twists and turns of my last two (nothing malicious, just a newbie and a very old one) may not be the right one for me as we discovered after taking it for a week, but it may just be a little early to know. She also said that it would help with titration of dosage because she will learn some things about my metabolic rate and not only with what she prescribes but also the pain medications I take. I will report back when I have some results, but I expect that to be a few weeks. Peace to you both, Gary

Hi
I just got this in my email.
I am giving you the link.
It talks about genetic testing and meds.
Hope it helps!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/depression/how-genetic-testing-could-improve-depression-and-anxiety-treatment?cid=63emHLN061318E&elq_mid=570&elq_cid=834841&utm_campaign=CN_HLN_18_06_13%20Ortho&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

During a visit, January of 2017, with my psychiatrist, he told me about the genetic testing thing and I told him I would rather not. He replied that it wouldn't cost me anything and Medicard would pay for it. I told him I still didn't want to do it, so we continued with our session. Nearing the end of the session he reached in a drawer, pulled out a swab and handed it to me and I didn't have a choice. The cost according to the EOB was thousands of dollars and it has never been mentioned by him again. I have no idea what the results were.