By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A DNA test which revealed how a woman suffering from depression was unknowingly taking medication that made her condition worse is being offered at a Casey chemist.
The DNAdose, a genetic cheek swab test which determines a patient’s response to more than 50 per cent of prescribed medications, is now being trialled at Casey Central Chemmart Pharmacy. The test is believed to be a first in Australia.
Casey Central Pharmacist Carolyn Wynen said the test identified four major enzyme systems in a person’s body and how these genes metabolised, determining why a patient’s body may react badly to certain medications.
“The idea is to take that DNA sample and map what a person’s enzyme profile is,” she said.
“What we’re finding is, because medicines are broken down by a certain pathway, if that person does not have the enzyme that allows that medicine to be broken down properly, it can result in toxic side effects.”
Ms Wynen said the DNAdose results were then sent to the patient’s doctor to assist the GP in prescribing medication.
The DNAdose, already a popular test in America, costs a once-off fee of $225, but is not subsidised by the Australian Government.
Last month, Ms Wynen said she completed the DNAdose test on a woman suffering from depression whose body was rejecting her medication.
“The result came back, and it revealed that she was such a slow metaboliser of that drug that it was just storing toxic levels in her body,” Ms Wynen said.
“She broke down into tears, she said she couldn’t look after her kids, she wanted to sleep all day and she had put on weight.
“The fact of the matter was that the doctor was thinking obviously that the depression was getting worse, but for her the reality was that the medicine was storing toxic levels in her body.
“My recommendation went to her psychiatrist with her results and a list of recommended medications.”
A study by GenesFX Health has found that between 17 to 25 per cent of people metabolise their medicines too slowly, which can result in potentially severe side effects. Meanwhile, up to 30 per cent of people metabolise their medicines too rapidly, which can reduce the effect of the prescribed medicine.
For more information, contact Casey Central Chemmart on 9704 8166 or visit dnadose.com.au.
Visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 257 or Lifeline on 131 119 if you are in need of immediate assistance or to talk to someone you can trust.
