Pharmacogenomics Guided Prescription Changes Improved Medication Effectiveness in Patients with Mental Health-Related Disability: A Retrospective Cohort Analyses
Mental health problems are the leading cause of disability in Canadian workers. Medication ineffectiveness is hypothesized to increase the time to return-to-work in these workers. We assessed whether prescription changes based on pharmacogenomics profiling (RxReport®) improved medication effectiveness in patients on mental health-related disability. In this retrospective cohort analyses, we assessed the impact of pharmacogenomic … Read more
An Overview: Depression and Treatment
Most of us know or have a loved one someone suffering from anxiety, depression or loss of interest in life. We may even be that person. Maybe it started as circumstantial, and with the help of family, friends, therapy and resilient character, we were able to overcome. However, others are not so privileged. The longer … Read more
Back to Work from Disability
Case Study: Rafaz Mohamed July – October 2020 Author: Sandra Hanna BSc. Pharm. Personalized Prescribing Inc. Means of Referral: Organizational Solutions Inc. (OSI) Disability status: Short term disability, was transferring to long term disability, which was approved by Sunlife Insurance Condition(s): Major depressive disorder and Anxiety Medications at point of contact: Escitalopram (Cipralex) 10 mg once daily, … Read more
Retrospective on Pharmacogenomics in Canada
Pharmacogenomics was formally introduced in Canada in 2014, when CAMH secured a large grant to study its utility for mental illness. The CAMH study, which used the Assurex test in the US (now Myriad Genetics) generated much hype. CAMH tested over 10,000 patients referred by 3,000 doctors. A few insurance companies and large employers participated … Read more
The Journey to Mental Illness
We are born with genes that are either delicate or resilient. People with delicate genes, who are exposed to certain stressors in life that happen either gradually, or suddenly will undergo changes in gene expression called epigenetics. These changes may result in destabilization of brain chemicals, which may then lead to mood changes and then … Read more
The Journey Back From Mental Illness
While having less resilient genes, may make mental illness more likely, people who do experience mental illness experience it to varying degrees. Some people only experience a ‘situational depression’ which is also sometimes referred to as an adjustment disorder. This can happen after traumatic events such as interpersonal conflict or the death of a loved … Read more
An Elderly Woman’s Breast Cancer Therapy
Jenny is a 43 year old woman who has two children and a husband. She was recently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and was determined to beat it. She underwent surgery to remove the tumour and was given a treatment of chemotherapy and radiation, plus tamoxifen as hormone therapy. After completing all her chemo … Read more
A Panic Attack due to Cannabis
Scott R. is a 40 year old male who recently experienced a workplace accident that resulted in chronic back pain. Scott had tried using Tylenol#1 (i.e. codeine) and oxycodone for his pain but had not received significant relief despite the use of high doses. His physician began to suspect that he was abusing these medications, … Read more
Kim’s Depression and Multiple Medication Issues
Kim has had many issues with her depression and medications for a long time. After years of trial and error with various medications and therapies, she decided to invest in a pharmacogenomic test. Kim wanted to understand why her medications were not working for her. Via a simple and user-friendly process, she purchased the Rx … Read more
