Pharmacogenetics and ADHD: Retrospective study reveals positive results

ADHD: 30% failure rate for psychostimulants

Although most patients treated for ADHD respond well to first-line medications (psychostimulants based on methylphenidate or amphetamine), 30% are refractory to initial treatments and require several trials to find a suitable one. ¹ Designed to provide the doctor with a tool to reduce trial and error, the ADHD Pharma profile identifies medications that are potentially incompatible or may require specific dose adjustments.

Results of retrospective study

Recently, a retrospective study conducted by BiogeniQ demonstrated a relationship between the clinical experience of participants and pharmacogenetic testing. To measure this correlation, each participant provided their prescription history, which was then compared to their pharmacogenetic test result (ADHD Pharma profile). Patients reported the medications they had taken, which drugs were discontinued, and any dose adjustments that were made. Every time a patient’s pharmacogenetic report indicated a risk of incompatibility for a particular medication used, the drug had either been discontinued, been used in combination with a second drug, received a dose adjustment, or been reported as inappropriate due to its lack of effectiveness or the presence of side effects.

The relationship found in the study between an individual’s prescription history and his or her pharmacogenetic test result demonstrates that the ADHD Pharma profile can identify which medications to avoid, which will require dose adjustments and which should be used in combination with other drugs. In a clinical setting where a doctor has no tools to guide his or her choice of treatment, the ADHD Pharma profile can prove helpful, especially for patients being treated through trial and error. Not only can the result provide valuable information on the reason for the treatment failure, but it can also guide the choice of treatment. By making a more informed decision, the doctor can use this pharmacogenetic test to reduce the period of trial and error.

When medications cause side effects or are ineffective, it is not only a waste of time but can also cost a child with learning difficulties the entire school year. This new study supports the use of pharmacogenetics for the treatment of ADHD, particularly for patients whose initial treatments do not work.

The preliminary study was conducted by the team at BiogeniQ and is available here. Do you have questions about the study? Contact BiogeniQ’s Scientific Director, Michel Cameron at mcameron@biron.com.

1. Budur et al. (2005) Non-Stimulant Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Psychiatry 2(7): 4-48.