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Genetic Test Done

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Depression
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ktp812
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 732
Posted 5/10/2019 4:56 AM (GMT -7)
I posted last fall when I was diagnosed with depression by my functional medicine doctor. She wanted me to do the genetic testing before prescribing anything since I am extremely sensitive to medications and have tried some anti depressants in the past which I had terrible problems with.
Anyway the test came back with negatives to Lexapro...Celexa..( which I had bad results with).
Also Zoloft the sleep med Belsomra (which didn’t work at all) and a bunch of pain meds were on the list.
Then she decided she didn’t want to treat me and told me to see a psychiatrist that also specializes in medications. I can’t get in until late June. I called my PCP and she also had me fill out the questions about depression and I scored a 16 (5 or less means not depressed)

I asked if I could try something while waiting for my appointment and she gave me Prozac since it was one of the “good” ones on my test. After five days I hadn’t horrible GI problems so I quit.
Now a few weeks have passed and I am going to give it another try and hopefully tolerate the side effects since I really need to do something now ...

I just wanted to say that the genetic test was pretty accurate because the meds that were negative I had tried some and they were really bad for me. It still is trial and error with the ones that are supposed to be okay so I am going to give it another go.

If anyone has had bad experiences with medications and your insurance will cover the test it’s worth getting. I think we ended up paying 300.00 total and insurance covered the rest.
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getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 44946
Posted 5/10/2019 5:47 AM (GMT -7)
Hi ktp812,

I am glad you were able to do the genetic testing and that it was accurate for you. I hope you are getting relief from the depression now. It is so hard when it is trial and error. I was on five or six different medications before I found what was right for me. Luckily now I have been on good antidepressants for about 19 or 20 years.

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing. Thanks for the advice.

Hugs, Karen...
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ktp812
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 732
Posted 5/10/2019 6:57 AM (GMT -7)
@Karen- I am only on day four of restarting Prozac so I am in the very beginning. I so hope I get some relief within a few weeks. I am going to do my best to stick through any bad side effects. I definitely need therapy too but will have to wait until June.

I am also taking 150 mg Wellbutrin in the morning because my PCP thought it would help with the chronic fatigue but it’s been 5 weeks and nothing yet. Although if I could get a good quality sleep would help immensely...
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getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 44946
Posted 5/10/2019 8:50 AM (GMT -7)
I wonder if you need more Wellbutrin? But it can take six to eight weeks to notice a difference. I took Wellbutrin years ago. I needed a high dose at that time, but, the high dose gave me insomnia. So I went on Effexor. I did good on it for years but when it went generic I couldn't get brand name so I switched to Pristiq. I have been on that since 2010, and am doing well on it. I take the highest dose. I also take abilify (generic) and Xanax when needed. It is hard to find what works. I hope that the genetic testing becomes affordable to people who need it. It would be worth it.

I hope that the Wellbutrin helps you. If not, maybe Effexor or Pristiq would help. They are close cousins I guess to each other.

I never did good on SSRI's (Prozac, Zoloft etc...), but when I switched to SNRI's I didn't get all the side effects that I got with the others.

Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a good day... And I hope that the therapy helps when you start...

Hugs, Karen...
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ktp812
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2007
Posts : 732
Posted 5/10/2019 9:58 AM (GMT -7)
@Karen- I just looked over the genetic test and Effexor was also on the NO list so that won’t be an option. I was taking 150mg Wellbutrin twice a day but had bad side effects of metallic taste in my mouth..felt like it was burning...severe constipation...worse insomnia ..etc. The doctor had me cut back to once daily along with Prozac.

I honestly don’t have much luck with anything...I don’t get alone well with medications but feel I have no choice if I want a life again. If this one doesn’t help there are others I can try and I will wait until I see the psychiatrist on June 18 to make any decisions.

Yes I agree the genetic testing in the long run would save money and help people feel relief quicker because the doctors would have a head start on what to try...In fact the functional medicine doctor was going to try me on Effexor but decided to wait till the test results...good thing.

Take care...Kim
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getting by
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2007
Posts : 44946
Posted 5/10/2019 11:11 AM (GMT -7)
Hi Kim,

I am glad that the doctor waited and that you were able to have the testing. It should be free for everybody I think but that is not likely to happen. But it would make things so much easier for everybody concerned.

The Wellbutrin gave me a weird taste too once when I took it. I tried it more than one time. I guess that it is the same thing as zyban and that it is to help you stop smoking. Zyban is suppose to make cigarettes taste bad. Well the Wellbutrin made everything taste bad that time. Probably because of taking a high dose. I do have an option to try it again with the Pristiq, but at this point I don't think I need it. I have chronic fatigue from fibromyalgia and I take Adderall for energy. So I don't need the stimulant effect from the Wellbutrin.

I know how you feel about not having luck with medications and being sensitive to them. It took me years to find something that worked. Everything I would try would give me some type of side effect, even though it helped with depression, the side effects depressed me more. Lately it has been the weather. Here it is May tenth and it is snowing. The sun tries tp peek out but it doesn't last long. And it rains all the time. I just pray for a day of sunshine so I can get out. Wha…

I hope you have a good day.

Hugs, Karen...
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