The use of genetically appropriate medication in the treatment of psychiatric disorders is gaining more importance every day. Experts emphasize that the type of treatment and drug dosage should be determined according to the genetic maps extracted from blood and saliva samples. According to experts, the use of genetically appropriate drugs in treatment-resistant cases, children and elderly patients provides positive results in treatment.
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Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said that the use of medication in accordance with genetic characteristics has positive effects on treatment.
Medication should be used in dose and on time
Stating that the use of medication is very important in terms of treatment of the disease, recovery and quality of life, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz pointed out the importance of administering the drugs in place, in dose and in the right way.
Stating that there are three ways of correct application in drug use, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "First, it must be procedurally correct, that is, the method will be correct. If you give an intravenous drug orally, it will not work. The content of the drug is important, so think of the chemical substance in it as a chemical weapon. Medicines are actually important weapons. When we have a headache, we immediately take painkillers. Nothing may have happened until today, but serious side effects can occur with painkillers and allergy medicines. Sometimes deaths are reported. Therefore, we need to be very careful when using these medicines. The active ingredient in the drug must be a chemical substance suitable for the disease so that it treats the disease. If you use another chemical substance in the treatment of a disease, your disease may worsen or you may be exposed to serious side effects."
Drug doses should be adjusted individually
Stating that drug treatments today are given according to the protocol, that is, the diagnosis of the disease, Eryılmaz said that drug dose settings are also determined according to personal characteristics. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz stated that genetic studies come to the fore here and said, "People receive the same diagnosis. The disease is the same depression, but there is a very quick improvement in Ms. Ayşe, but there is no improvement in Ms. Fatma, or a very low dose given to Ms. Ayşe causes serious side effects, or you give an elephant dose of medicine and you see no effect. There are individual differences like this. We now understand that the reason for these is genetics and genetic studies show us what this is."
Genetic information leads the way
Stating that there have been a lot of genetic studies in the world in the last 10 years, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "These genetic studies are important in terms of both the diagnosis of the disease and the determination of treatment methods. Because a disease can progress differently in everyone. Genetic information can guide us. It can say choose this drug, choose this dose. In other words, it can guide your treatment. This is a great comfort because you do not use unnecessary medication."
Genetic map can be made from blood and saliva samples
Noting that the genetic map of the person can be drawn from blood and saliva samples, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "With this map, it can be understood which drug may be better for the person or at which doses it may be effective. You can take blood or saliva for genetic profiling. Some of this work can be done in our country, but some of it is sent abroad. Sometimes there can be changes in this genetic result. Some environmental factors can change this, for example smoking can affect this data. Sometimes food can affect it. Environmental factors such as these can affect the results of this panel, so we do dual tests. It provides a great comfort in terms of treatment, it means a short-term, more permanent, more predictable treatment, and positive results emerge for both the physician and the patient."
Why are genetic studies important?
Noting that genetic studies are especially used in the treatment of psychiatric diseases, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "Psychiatric diseases are two-way, they usually have a biological aspect, that is, there is a chemical situation. Some of these diseases are brain diseases and some of them are of psychological origin. We make this distinction, first we need to evaluate the person. Genetic studies gain importance especially in resistant cases that do not respond to various treatments. We want this test in cases who have been to other places before but have not received results in treatment. If there is a resistance in the treatment, if there are side effects of the medication, if there is no response from the treatment despite long-term medication use, we want this test. These studies serve as a guide for us."
Personalized treatment is a must for pediatric and elderly patients
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz stated that personalized treatments and genetic studies should be performed in children and elderly patients and said, "We have a guide that is valid all over the world. The guide says that if there is a resistant patient, you should do this test, if the patient is a child, you should do this. Why? Because side effects can be seen much more in children. If it is an elderly patient, you should do it because the side effects increase 7 times more in the elderly. It is also recommended to be done for some drugs that are risky even at very low doses."
Antidepressant on recommendation is very risky
Referring to the drawbacks of using medication on recommendation without consulting a doctor in psychiatric diseases, Eryılmaz said, "It is very risky to use antidepressants on recommendation. People who take the right dose of antidepressants take a great risk. Some antidepressants can cause hypomania. Antidepressants can make a person fall in love. The person becomes more emotional and may like himself/herself even more."
It is necessary to be rational when using medication
Stating that there may be a segment of the society that does not use any medication at all, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "There are people who think that medications are completely harmful and prefer to use herbal medicines or nutritional supplements instead of medication. There is a group that says I can go to bed for three days and get rid of the headache without medication. If medication is necessary, it is necessary to take it. Because if you put the cell in trouble, you will cause other diseases and shorten your life span. Therefore, it is necessary to use medication if necessary. When using medication, it is necessary to be rational, not emotional. Yes, too much of the medicine is harmful, but its absence is also harmful."
