GeneSight Testing in Salt Lake City and Provo at Beehive Behavioral Health

Genetics and your medicine

Utah has a long history with genetics, from family history research to major genomics work at the University of Utah. Many patients here are already curious about what their DNA says. GeneSight, a test from Salt Lake City-based Myriad Genetics, looks at genes that affect how your body handles many psychiatric medicines.

A cheek swab is analyzed for variations in genes such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, which control liver enzymes that break down medicines, along with other genes linked to medication response. The report groups common medicines by how your genes are likely to interact with them.

When it makes sense

GeneSight is most helpful when:

• You have tried two or more medicines for depression or anxiety without good results
• You had strong side effects at standard doses
• You take several medicines and interactions are a concern
• A family member had a notable response, good or bad, to certain medicines

For someone just starting treatment, standard choices often work well without testing.

What research shows

In the GUIDED trial, patients whose providers used GeneSight results had higher response and remission rates, although the study did not meet its main measure of overall symptom improvement. Guidelines from the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium support adjusting certain antidepressants based on CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 results. That makes testing a useful guide, not a guarantee.

What it cannot tell you

GeneSight does not diagnose any condition, and it does not say which medicine will definitely work for you. Your history, symptoms, other health needs, and values still lead the decision. Your provider pairs the results with a full psychiatric evaluation.

For families who have tried a lot

Some families on the Wasatch Front have watched a loved one cycle through medicine after medicine. That trial and error is exhausting. When the history suggests genetics may be a factor, testing can bring some clarity and help your provider make the next step more informed.

Step by step

• Your provider decides with you whether testing is a good fit
• A quick, painless cheek swab is collected
• The lab analyzes the sample
• Your provider explains the results and how they change your options

Because your genes do not change, results can guide future choices too.

Teens and adults

We see patients 15 and older. For teens who have struggled with side effects, testing can be part of a careful plan that includes parents in the conversation.

A simple example

Picture someone who had severe side effects on two antidepressants at normal doses. Their report might show they process certain medicines very slowly, which can raise blood levels. That could lead their provider to choose a different medicine or start lower. It does not make the decision alone, but it can explain a frustrating history.

Your genetic information

Results become part of your medical record and are used by your care team to guide medication choices. If you have questions about how your genetic information is used, your provider can explain.

Questions to ask first

Ask your provider how results would change your current plan and which medicines are being considered next. Testing makes the most sense when the answer could shift a real decision, such as which antidepressant to try or whether to start at a lower dose.

Family history matters too

If a parent or sibling did especially well or poorly on a medicine, share that. Family experience and genetic results together can give your provider a clearer starting point.

Not a substitute for follow-up

Even with results in hand, every medicine still needs a real-world trial and follow-up visits. The report narrows the options and flags likely problems; your experience on the medicine is what confirms the choice.

Getting started

GeneSight is ordered as part of your care with us. Talk with your provider about it at 222 S Main St in Salt Lake City or 180 N University Ave in Provo, and continue through medication management. Become a patient to begin.