HomeProvider StoriesTaking away the hurt Taking away the hurt November 9, 2020 Robin Miller, Internist, MD, MHSOregon I became interested in integrative medicine more than 25 years ago when I began my medical practice in Medford, Ore. The definition of integrative medicine is a healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies. The pressures and financial limitations of traditional medicine often didn’t allow me to spend the time and resources I wanted to with my patients. I strongly believe that traditional medicine is important for good health, but I also believe in the benefits of complementary therapies. So, in 2003, I received my fellowship in integrative medicine from the acclaimed University of Arizona and began the process of opening my practice, Triune Integrative Medicine, in 2006. One of the tools we use at Triune is the GeneSight test. I’ve helped countless patients with the information it gives me and my colleagues. Taking Away the Hurt The trouble with trial-and-error prescribing – and there are many problems with it – is that it hurts. It hurts patients mentally, spiritually, and financially. I don’t want my patients to hurt. I don’t want them to spend a lot of time and money trying to find a therapy that helps them. So, I’m happy to turn to the GeneSight test for added information. For me, the thing that sets the GeneSight test apart from other genetic tests like it is the algorithm. A lot of medications go through more than one enzyme pathway – some go through as many as five different pathways. It’s not just a single gene or multigene issue – its more complex than that. I’ve seen how GeneSight has given me more accurate insight into a patient’s unique genetic composition. In fact, I believe in the GeneSight test so much that I included it in my book, Healed: Health and Wellness for the 21st Century: We are all born with a unique makeup of genes that code our DNA. They code for everything, our sex, our appearance and how our body works. Genes also code for the enzymes, the things that break down drugs in our liver. Many medications are metabolized there. There is an entire system of enzymes called Cytochrome P450 that do the work. The gene test that I do with a simple cheek swab, called GeneSight, determines the unique way the major enzymes of the liver metabolize the drugs that go through this system. It looks at the individual enzyme activity but also multiple enzymes’ activity that may all impact how we metabolize a certain drug. This test has been literally a lifesaver for many. There is no way to look at someone and tell if a drug is going be harmful for them. By looking at how things are metabolized, I have a much better idea. … It is amazing how many people were getting sick from the medications that were supposed to be helping them get better. I had one patient who was on so many medications she wasn’t metabolizing that when I stopped them all, she felt normal again. That is what was making her sick. … I highly recommend you have this test done if you are on antidepressants or contemplating going on them. Saving Your Patients Trouble I believe that providers should consider giving their patients the GeneSight test. If you check the PDR (Physician Desk Reference), the metabolism rates and enzyme pathways of the drugs are there. The GeneSight test gives healthcare providers insight to your patient’s unique metabolism. I tell my colleagues all the time that the GeneSight test will save your patients trouble. You will save yourself time by not seeing everyone over and over again trying to find a medication that helps your patients without horrible side effects. Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... Read more Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more
Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... Read more
Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more