Question

Read the Following Case Study and Answer the Question Below

Mandy L.

Georgia

I live near a major highway on a mini-farm with chickens, ducks and goats. I have a domestic partner and two wonderful sons.

I now love to sit on my porch, watching the chickens peck the ground and enjoying the sunshine. But, not too long ago, I used to sit on this same porch and think how easy it would be to walk into traffic.

I suffer from Major Depressive Disorder and was diagnosed around age 19. In my 20s, I married a man who was physically abusive and subsequently divorced him. I remarried, but he too became verbally and emotionally abusive.

During my depressive episodes, my kids would describe me as a “zombie.” I knew I needed help.

Finding the GeneSight Test
In my 20-year battle with depression, I felt like my previous doctors kept throwing medicines at me. None were working. Or, if they had a slight improvement in my symptoms, I would have to deal with awful side effects. So, my doctors would prescribe another medication to counter the side effects.

At one point, I was taking nine different medications. I was on so many medicines that I literally would fall asleep during conversations. I was not functioning at all – and when I tried to function, I would end up in tears.

When I moved in with my partner in a new place, I started with a new psychiatrist. After a year, he suggested that I take the GeneSight Psychotropic test. I had never heard about the test, but after he explained it, I was excited and was like: “let’s do it!” After years of having medications thrown at me, it seems like a more logical, scientific approach.

I took the GeneSight test that day. When we got the results back, my psychiatrist reviewed them with me. I found them easy to understand. Out of the nine medications, five of them were not genetically compatible with me. We decided to ween off five of the medications – including one I had taken on and off for 20 years and never really seemed to help. We then added a new medication.

Improving My Score
It took a few weeks, but I started functioning better. When I was on my previous medication regime, I felt like only functioned at a 50 percent level. Now, two years later, I am taking genetically optimal medications and I feel like I function at 90 percent – quite an improvement for me!

I feel phenomenal. I feel alive. I feel hopeful, enthusiastic and productive. My partner no longer has to call me to tell me to get out of bed, brush my teeth, etc. I can get up and do things. I can help my kids and do laundry – stuff that seemed impossible before. There are still tough days, but now I know that it is just a tough day, it’s not hopeless.

There are not enough good things to say about the GeneSight test. It saved my life. I tell people who are suffering from depression: “If you are having a hard time with your medications, take the GeneSight test. It was the best thing I have ever done for my mental health.”

QUESTION

How might GeneSight (or other similar program) help provide individualized nursing care with other types of diseases (cardiac, respiratory, chronic pain, cancer, etc.)?

Answer 1

Genesight test

It is a pharmacogenomic test, that analyses patient's genes for any important genetic variations , that may impact or cause potential gene- drug interactions. Genesight test for psychotropic medications are proven to be 99.9 % accurate and different Governmental organisations also approved the validity of the Gene sight test .

Gene sight test and other similar programmes can be very useful in Cardiac, Respiratory, Cancer and pain treatment. Patients suffering with any of these chronic disorder, used to take many types of drugs and some physicians may keep throwing a variety of medications to the particular Patients in the name of treating the illness and managing the side effects of those drugs. Example: A patient suffering with Hypertension mar recieve Diuretics, Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors( Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors , Beta blockers etc. Many of these drugs are having major side effects. Doctors may prescribe these medications without an analysis of patient nature or illness condition.  

Each individual is unique, everyone may not respond same to every type of drugs. Their response to drugs may vary , according the metabolism of the drug in their body , that largely mau depend in Patient's genes or genetic nature. Gene sight test or other similar test can be used to analyse the genes of the patient , so that the outcomes of the medication can be predicted. It also provides information on ' which drug need to be adjusted more' , ' which drug may be less effective for patient ' etc ,so that based on the results physician can eliminate all unwanted drugs, or reduce it's doses , that in turn may resut in less side effects and more advantages and thus increased quality of life of patient.  

Cancer patients with chronic pain may be more benefited from GeneSight testing as many unwanted side effects of drugs can be eliminated from patient's body by adjusting the type and dose of drugs, that they are recieving, based on the results of GeneSight testing.