Even doctors suffer from these drugs (trigger, as it deals with suicide)

[[Te...]]

Lapis, I think that's what needs to be utilized, and ASAP. There are simply too many drugs out there that are very powerful. We can't leave this to chance any longer. The search for a new pill is never-ending for Big Pharma because they want to make money. Meanwhile, people's lives are at risk. Doctors can't keep up with all the new drugs coming out, and lots of people have always suffered terribly debilitating symptoms from benzos. Personalized medicine must be commonplace, not just used once in awhile. And it has to be affordable. Hmmm. I wonder if that would fly in the U.S. "Health" care is such a controversial subject here. But if more people demand to have personalized medicine, then it could be commonplace one day (I hope SOON).

[Guest [Sk...]]

Maybe "personalized medicine" will reveal how different we all are with regards to metabolization of these meds. If more testing is done on individuals BEFORE prescriptions are given, and we see that this person has this genetic makeup and the next person has a completely different one, etc., then we see that no two people will have the same experience on benzos -- or a myriad of other meds as well. The CYP450 enzymes are known entities -- not mysteries -- and there IS testing available. But the question is whether it can used regularly, i.e. whether it's accessible, affordable, available to all.

 

Sadly just the genetics is not the whole answer really, we have to know also what damage the drug can exert

perhaps personality types, perhaps previous trauma, age, other health conditions  etc etc 

 

It was checked for me re  my genetics, as to my response

and that I would be better on benzos as opposed to anti depressants

due to genetic defects after testing.  :'(  :'( 

 

It also depends much like Drs education today also

and  the education on these various aspects too

as many have no real knowledge on these aspects

Much like Drs knowledge  on Benzos when dispensing them

and their possible  damage to the patient :'(

 

Yet here I am today trying to heal now Benzo damage.  :'(

[[La...]]

Maybe "personalized medicine" will reveal how different we all are with regards to metabolization of these meds. If more testing is done on individuals BEFORE prescriptions are given, and we see that this person has this genetic makeup and the next person has a completely different one, etc., then we see that no two people will have the same experience on benzos -- or a myriad of other meds as well. The CYP450 enzymes are known entities -- not mysteries -- and there IS testing available. But the question is whether it can used regularly, i.e. whether it's accessible, affordable, available to all.

 

Sadly just the genetics is not the whole answer really, we have to know also what damage the drug can exert

perhaps personality types, perhaps previous trauma, age, other health conditions  etc etc 

 

It was checked for me re  my genetics, as to my response

and that I would be better on benzos as opposed to anti depressants

due to genetic defects after testing.  :'(  :'( 

 

It also depends much like Drs education today also

and  the education on these various aspects too

as many have no real knowledge on these aspects

Much like Drs knowledge  on Benzos when dispensing them

and their possible  damage to the patient :'(

 

Yet here I am today trying to heal now Benzo damage.  :'(

 

Hi Skyblue,

Did you have your DNA testing 20 years ago, before you started benzos? I only became aware of its use for psychiatric meds testing very recently. Was that through your family doctor? Was it correct about anything in your case?

 

There's an ongoing study at a well-known hospital here in Canada that began in 2014, but they're only testing for antidepressants and antipsychotics, not benzodiazepines. I'll be curious to hear about the results of this study, but I believe it's still in progress. As far as I know, it's a seven-year study, and it's being done in association with an American company.

 

If it becomes widely available here in Canada, it might have a major positive effect on things like adverse reactions to medications. Obviously, the questions of affordability, accessibility and accuracy need to be answered.

 

 

 

[Guest [Sk...]]

Lapis,

  NO  sadly wasnt 20 years ago,

 

approx 5 or 6 years ago when the genetic test was done.

They the benzos at that time  were the better of two evils I guess.

 

and Dr was informed from genetic  specialists that the benzos were better utilized by my body

than an anti depressants.  And I would agree with this too

 

However the damage they had already done

and the length of time taken would have contributed to my protracted withdrawals I guess.

 

Back then they did not address the damage these drugs could do over long term ingestion.  :'(

 

so many things are  often not taken into account.

 

Hopefully they have come up with better result now, and the drugs

are now limited to short term dispensing in most cases now.

 

we all search for solutions, however sadly the body is often in charge. 

 

Good luck with the trial results.

 

 

[[La...]]

Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that, Skyblue. I hope that if and when this sort of testing becomes widely available here, it will not only be accurate, but it will also be used IN ADVANCE of giving someone a particular medication. Prevention is the key, of course. As we all know, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

 

Here's a quote from the info about the study:

 

"The GeneSight® Psychotropic test analyzes how eight genes may affect a patient’s metabolism and their response to 33 antidepressant and antipsychotic medications approved by Health Canada. The expanded GeneSight report includes information on the same genes, antidepressant and antipsychotic medications that were available on the CAMH Pharmacogenetics report."

 

Anyway, this particular study is not about benzos -- possibly because they don't prescribe them regularly, but I'm not really sure. By the way, CAMH refers to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a major psychiatric hospital here in Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest [Sk...]]

  Lapis

 

a quick you-tube  to watch just uploaded 4 days ago,

that talks about genetics and epigenetics

and how the outcome of their effect can be  altered

regardless of any genetic defect. 

 

 

Just food for thought maybe.