by PGx Medical | Apr 5, 2018 | Uncategorized
Antidepressants are an unusual class of drugs that often take multiple tries to ensure a patient receives the right medication, at the right dosage, and with few if any, side effects.
Pharmacogenomics helps eliminate “trial and error” when treating depression
When it comes to depression, as a provider, you don’t have a lot of time to experiment. You want to help your patient as quickly as possible get the relief they need to start living a normal life again. But depression medications are tricky. Sometimes it takes three or four medications for weeks at a time to find one that works for that patient. In the meantime, the depression is still there, and sometimes worse due to the side effects of the drugs you are trying.
Wouldn’t it be much easier to know for sure that a medication “fits” that patients genetic profile? This does multiple things.
- It eliminates the “trial and error” process. The old way to prescribe meds – let’s try this drug for 3-4 weeks and if it doesn’t work, come back and we’ll try something else.
- Let’s the provider know if there is a chance for drug-on-drug interactions potentially saving a trip to the hospital or worse, harmful side effects.
- By knowing what medication works for each unique individual, it helps the patient get better, quickly, which is the end goal.
Getting patients off a non-successful drug and then trying another one just lengthens the amount of time a patient has difficulty coping and returning to normal day-to-day activities.
Pharmacogenomics is changing that. This simple swab of the cheek can help guide healthcare professionals in proper prescribing. This test gives us hope not only for current medications but also gives providers a roadmap for future medications.
For more information on pharmacogenetic testing, or to schedule an educational webinar or speaker for your next meeting or conference, contact PGx Medical, 405-509-5112 or email info@pgxmed.com.
by PGx Medical | Mar 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
Diagnostic testing is becoming faster and more cost-effective in healthcare
Precision Medicine:
Diagnostic Testing of the Future
Personalized medicine is rapidly advancing, according to an article in sanvada.com. This technology allows for custom treatment according to a patient’s DNA. Personalized medicines in 2015 accounted for forty-two percent of every drug in development. When discerning optimal treatment for a person, Precision treatment utilizes diagnostic tests as well as the patient’s family and personal histories of health.
Along with the creation of quicker diagnostic testing, medical providers will make faster adjustments to treatment while providing positive outcomes; this would provide potential noticeable reductions with treatment.
PGx Medical is the trusted and experienced resource for the implementation of molecular diagnostic testing in the field of aging services. These tests align current and future medications with each person’s unique genetic profile. Our process impacts quality by addressing top clinical concerns such as falls, dementia, sleep, pain, med management and overall staff efficiencies.
For more information, contact PGx Medical at 405-509-5112 or email info@pgxmed.com
by PGx Medical | Mar 13, 2018 | Aging Services
Long-Term Care may be costly, but your medications shouldn’t be.
Polypharmacy is a growing concern in the elderly population
Prescription drugs are a major component of the overall cost of caring for the elderly. Persons sixty-five and older spend an average of over three percent of their income on prescription drugs. That percentage is even higher when over-the-counter medications are included. While Medicare Part D pays for some medications for those enrolled in a plan, it is reported that over sixty-five percent of seniors’ prescription costs are out-of-pocket.
The average annual cost of prescription drugs widely used by the elderly increased from $5,571 in 2006 to $11,341 in 2013, according to a study on drug price trends conducted by AARP.
According to CBSnews.com, Medicare isn’t allowed by law to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. With about 38 million people in its Part D prescription coverage, Medicare covered a massive $121.4 billion worth of drugs in 2014, the latest year for which data is available.
When looking for a long-term care community for a family member or yourself, there are many factors to take into consideration. How will I pay for this is probably first and foremost. But you might want to ask yourself, do they have clinical staff available? How do they handle medication? Will my loved one be given something they don’t need that may do more harm than good?
Many retirees think that Medicare will pay for their long-term care. Unfortunately, this is not true and often one of the biggest misconceptions. Although Medicare covers some home and nursing home care, it is only for rehabilitation purposes and not categorized as long-term.
As long-term care continues to rise, so do medications. Below are a few medications that have increased over the years and the amount paid by Medicare.
Abilify – This psychiatric drug helps Americans with the treatment of a number of issues including bipolar disorder and depression. Generated about $4.9 billion in sales in 2014, according to The Wall Street Journal. Medicare represented about half of those sales. The program shelled out about $2.5 billion on Abilify in 2014. Medicare spent $853 on each prescription, an increase of 17 percent from the prior year when Abilify prescriptions cost about $730 each.
Lyrica – This pain medication jumped 45 percent on a per-prescription basis between 2014 and 2013, according to Medicare data. The increase meant Medicare spent $1.4 billion on Lyrica in 2014, compared with $1.07 billion in the previous year.
Now there is a diagnostic test that can help determine if your body can even metabolize these medications, or if you are spending thousands of dollars on
medications that don’t even have the ability to work based on your genetic profile. It’s call
pharmacogenetics testing. This simple swab of the cheek can help save money on unnecessary medications, re-hospitalizations due to
adverse drug events, and helps you or a loved one live a better quality of life knowing you are on the
right medication.
According to an article in the latimes.com, the nation’s healthcare tab will continue to outpace economic growth over the next decade, and it is driven by rising prices for drugs and medical services,
By 2026, healthcare spending will account for almost one-fifth of the U.S. economy, an all-time record. The U.S. has the highest medical prices in the world, research indicates.
If you would like more information on pharmacogenetics testing for you, your long-term care community, clinic or pharmacy, contact PGx Medical. Your trusted and experienced resource for the implementation of pharmacogenetics in the field of aging services.
PGx Medical
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
www.pgxmed.com
source: payingforseniorcare.com, latimes.com, cbsnews.com
by PGx Medical | Feb 5, 2018 | Uncategorized
Welcome to Part Two of a two-part series on BabyBoomers in Action!
Jim McWhirter, the owner of Wellington Parke Retirement Community and host of BabyBoomers in Action, sits down with Dr. Rafael Justiz, Oklahoma Pain Physicians and Clay Bullard, President of PGx Medical to discuss how your DNA can help determine the right medicine for your unique genetic profile, via pharmacogenetics testing.
Are you tired of trial and error? Hear how pharmacogenetics testing can help reduce trial and error and improve quality of life!
For more information on pharmacogenetics testing:
Oklahomapainphysicians.com
PGxmed.com
by PGx Medical | Jan 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
Welcome to Part One of a two-part series of BabyBoomers in Action!
Jim McWhirter, owner of Wellington Parke Retirement Community and host of BabyBoomers in Action, sits down with Dr. Rafael Justiz, Oklahoma Pain Physicians and Clay Bullard, President of PGx Medical to discuss how your DNA can help determine the right medicine for your unique genetic profile, via pharmacogenetics testing.
For more information on pharmacogenetics testing:
Oklahomapainphysicians.com
PGxmed.com
