Breakthrough for medications?

[mjhawks]

At DQ's last psychiatric appointment, she told us about a recent breakthrough. They have discovered a way to better predict what will work for a person as an individual. It works like this:

The lab tech takes a cheek swab. They run some test to determine the biological and chemical make up for that subject. Based on the outcome they can better ascertain what medications will work best for which patients. They can then customize medications and doses for said patient.

This makes sense to me. 1) All psychiatric patients must go through a spectrum of medications to find the one that suites them best because, 2) everyone is different.

What do you all think?

 

[BusynMember]

I've heard it too. I am very glad and hope it is helpful. I am a mood disorder patient of soooooooo many years and it took me a decade to find the antidepressant that made my life normal. I so hope the next generations don't have to take so long.

 

[TerryJ2]

Yes, I've heard of it. But we've already gone through so many, I'm not sure it would be worth it any more.
I'll have to look into it more.

 

[Sherril2000]

This is very interesting, & should really help patients to get on the medication that will help early, instead of trying several medications & suffering through the side effects associated with them. Many patients I take care of complain of this, the medication didn't make them feel any better, & they felt the side effects were intolerable. My question is this, do any medications really help patients with- anti-social personality disorder? My sons exhibits many of the traits of this disorder, although he's in jail now so he hasn't been to the psychiatrist yet. When he was in the detention center the psychiatrist said he had conduct disorder, & put him on Prozac & Trazadone for sleep. He religiously takes these medications, & says he feels less angry when he's on them. I really think he might benefit by something that would further help his angry outbursts.

 

[InsaneCdn]

When he was in the detention center the psychiatrist said he had conduct disorder, & put him on Prozac & Trazadone for sleep. He religiously takes these medications, & says he feels less angry when he's on them.

I'm not a specialist on personality disorders, but from what I understand, personality disorders do not respond to medication (there can be some help in long-term therapy if the person really wants to change). If the medications are helping your son, it's more likely that other conditions are a problem. One possibility is depression.

 

[Sherril2000]

I think he is depressed. That's what I've read too, that medications don't help much with- the personality disorders, but counseling does. Wish there was a pill he could take that would make all his (& my) problems go away!

 

[mjhawks]

DQ is currently on Geodon and Lexapro for mood stabilizers. But we have already been advised that there is no medicine for her type of behavioral problem because it is her choice to act that way. Nonetheless we are going to have her swabbed and tested. Her psychologist has high hopes for this new technology.

 

[Sherril2000]

That's great! I really hope it helps her. My son has anger issues, & I think the anti-depressants help stabilize his mood

 

[InsaneCdn]

But we have already been advised that there is no medicine for her type of behavioral problem because it is her choice to act that way.

I wish I'd kept track of the number of times - and the number of different professionals - who told us this. In our case... they were wrong, at least in that they missed a raft of "co-morbid" stuff that IS responsive to medication, and which makes his other issues much worse.

At least you have one Dr on your side who is prepared to at least look into this new technology.