Personalized Prescribing

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

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

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

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

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