Avoiding the trial-and-error method

I used to joke that I was in the drug-of-the-month-club, as doctors tried various migraine treatments on me a few years ago.  Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to avoid the trial-and-error method, which actually takes years (since many drugs and supplements must be tried for several months before they help)?  Well, a new wave of testing is trying to take out some of the guesswork.  Many of the problems that individuals have with drugs are genetic in nature.  For example, for those with a specific genetic variation, codeine will provide no pain relief at all.  If patients can be tested ahead of time, they might be able to drastically shorten the time to effective treatment.

The SEYX company is one group that has developed a testing procedure known as Signature Genetics.  Part of the idea is that certain drugs are eliminated after a patient is tested by analyzing a cheek swab.  Common genetic variants are identified by genetic testing.

The testing is still very expensive, but here’s hoping that the idea will be further thought through and developed, and that the price will go down and availability will go up.  In the years ahead, testing like this could save a lot of wasted time trying risky treatments that aren’t right for you.