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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffAs with other medications, your doctor usually chooses an antidepressant based on your medical history and symptoms. Though these are solid guidelines, they can't predict how you will react to the medication or whether it will be effective for you. As a result, you may spend months or even years trying different drugs before you find the right treatment. It's hoped that genotyping tests such as the CYP450 will help circumvent some of this frustrating trial-and-error process.
How the test works
The CYP450 test involves a series of specific genotyping tests to evaluate genes (CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9, for example.) that produce enzymes your body needs to process certain antidepressants and other medications. The test can't predict how effective a particular medication will be for you. Instead, it shows which drugs are more likely to be effective, based on your metabolism. Just as important, it can minimize the risk of serious side effects.
According to some studies, antidepressants cause severe reactions in about 8 percent of people who take them and moderately severe reactions in another 30 percent. Knowing in advance how your body is likely to metabolize an antidepressant means that your doctor has a better chance of prescribing the right medication and dosage.
