Dr. Jami Benton, MD
I have found the Metabolic Validation test to be very useful for patients in my clinic practice as well as my nursing home patients. It is quick to use! In fact, my nurses do all of the work and then they go thru the results and alert me of the medications that are less likely to work for those patients. It takes no time for me at all! The paperwork is very minimal and nurses can fill it out. The swab takes less than a minute to swab the inside of both cheeks. Then it gets mailed off and the results come back in just a few days.
I had a patient in my clinic that had seen multiple doctors, a psychiatrist and several counselors for her depression. She had tried many medications to help her depression but she complained that none of them made her feel better. We did the Metabolic Validation testing and found out that the patient had a gene mutation that kept ALL of the antidepressants from working. No wonder she never felt better with the medications! From the test results we found some alternative medications that could be used to treat her depression. She was so relieved that there was a really good reason for the previous anti-depressants not to work.
I had a patient who had shoulder surgery who kept complaining that the Hydrocodone did not help his pain. The Naproxen actually did better in controlling his pain. He did the Metabolic Validation testing and found out that Hydrocodone does not work well for his pain but Naproxen works best. This is helpful information if he ever has to use pain medication again.
I had a patient who complained that his pain meds were not working at all and would ask for more and more. I suspected he was a drug seeker but could not prove it. He did the Metabolic Validation testing and ALL of the narcotics work well for him. We now know he is a drug seeker and treat him appropriately.
The PGx Medical Metabolic Validation test is helpful if a patient is not responding to a medication as well as we think they should. This helps us chose appropriate medications that are more likely to work and avoid those that may cause problems for the patient. It is very helpful with resistant depression, psychosis and ADHD medication failures. I am even starting to use the testing first before prescribing any medication. Patients love the testing because we can avoid the medications that are not likely to work or those that could cause adverse reactions; they get on the right medications quicker with less trial and error. Insurances like it because it saves them money by getting quicker results without multiple medication changes.
Nursing Home surveyors encourage nursing homes to use the Metabolic Validation testing on patients to try to keep patients off of multiple medications and to use those that work well. It also decreases the adverse reactions and helps keep patients off of anti-psychotics or at least on minimal doses of anti-psychotics.
Jami Benton, M.D., graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. She then attended the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and completed a Master of Science, as well as a Doctor of Medicine, degree. Benton completed a residency in 2008 at the Oklahoma University Rural Family Practice residency program where she served as chief resident.
Benton has been committed to providing health care in northwest Oklahoma since completion of her residency. She is board certified in family practice and is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice.
Dr. Benton currently practices at Integris Family First in Enid, OK. She also see’s patients at the Integris Clinic – Cherokee Family Clinic in Cherokee, OK and is the current Medical Director at Cherokee Manor and Fairview Fellowship Home.
To schedule an appointment, please call 580-242-4300.
For more information on Metabolic Validation Testing, contact,
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112