Pharmacogenomic Testing in Florida: Find the Right Psychiatric Medication Faster
Individualized Treatments
Have you tried psychiatric medication — only to find it didn't work, caused unwanted side effects, or took months of adjusting before things got better? You're not alone. What many people don't realize is that your genes play a major role in how your body processes medication. At Refresh Psychiatry, we offer pharmacogenomic testing to take the guesswork out of finding the right medication for you.
​What Is Pharmacogenomic Testing?
Pharmacogenomics is the science of how your individual genetic makeup affects your response to medications. A simple cheek swab can reveal how your body metabolizes specific psychiatric drugs — whether you process them too quickly, too slowly, or just right.
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This matters because two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different responses to the same medication. Your genes are often the reason why. The FDA maintains a Table of Pharmacogenetic Associations — a regularly updated resource that lists gene-drug pairs with sufficient scientific evidence to guide prescribing decisions. Psychiatry is one of the areas with the highest number of medications included on that list.
Why It Matters for Psychiatric Medications
Psychiatric medications — antidepressants, mood stabilizers, stimulants, anti-anxiety medications, and antipsychotics — are largely processed through specific liver enzymes controlled by your genes. Two enzymes in particular, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, metabolize the majority of commonly prescribed psychiatric medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants. Genetic variants in these pathways are extremely common — research suggests that roughly half of people carry at least one meaningful variation affecting how they process these drugs.
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The Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) has developed peer-reviewed, evidence-based prescribing guidelines for over a dozen antidepressants, several antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and ADHD medications — guidelines that practicing clinicians can use to translate your genetic results into actionable prescribing decisions.
Pharmacogenomic testing can help identify:
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Medications your body may metabolize too quickly (reducing effectiveness)
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Medications your body may process too slowly (increasing side effect risk)
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Drug-gene interactions that could affect your safety
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Which medication classes are more likely to be a good fit for your unique biology
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This is precision psychiatry — and it's one of the most meaningful advances in mental health care in recent years.
Who Can Benefit from Pharmacogenomic Testing?
Pharmacogenomic testing is particularly valuable if you:
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Have tried one or more psychiatric medications without success
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Experienced unexpected or significant side effects from medication
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Are newly starting psychiatric medication and want to minimize trial-and-error
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Have a family history of poor medication response
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Are taking multiple medications and want to reduce interaction risk
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Have a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, or PTSD
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A 2024 Mayo Clinic presentation at the American Pharmacists Association annual meeting highlighted that pharmacogenomic testing is especially beneficial in psychiatric settings, where medications carry a high number of FDA-recognized gene-drug interactions and where trial-and-error prescribing is unfortunately still common.
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How the Testing Process Works at Refresh Psychiatry​
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Getting tested is simple and non-invasive:
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Discuss with your provider — Your Refresh Psychiatry clinician will determine if pharmacogenomic testing is appropriate for your situation during your psychiatric evaluation or medication management visit.
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Cheek swab collection — A simple swab of the inside of your cheek collects your DNA sample. No blood draw required.
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Lab analysis — Your sample is sent to a certified laboratory and analyzed for genetic variants relevant to psychiatric medication metabolism.
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Results review — Your provider reviews your results with you and uses them to guide medication selection or adjustments.
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Results are typically available within a few days to a week, and can inform your medication management plan going forward.
Who Can Benefit from Pharmacogenomic Testing?
​
Pharmacogenomic testing is particularly valuable if you:
-
Have tried one or more psychiatric medications without success
-
Experienced unexpected or significant side effects from medication
-
Are newly starting psychiatric medication and want to minimize trial-and-error
-
Have a family history of poor medication response
-
Are taking multiple medications and want to reduce interaction risk
-
Have a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, or PTSD
​
A 2024 Mayo Clinic presentation at the American Pharmacists Association annual meeting highlighted that pharmacogenomic testing is especially beneficial in psychiatric settings, where medications carry a high number of FDA-recognized gene-drug interactions and where trial-and-error prescribing is unfortunately still common.
​
How the Testing Process Works at Refresh Psychiatry
​
Getting tested is simple and non-invasive:
-
Discuss with your provider — Your Refresh Psychiatry clinician will determine if pharmacogenomic testing is appropriate for your situation during your psychiatric evaluation or medication management visit.
-
Cheek swab collection — A simple swab of the inside of your cheek collects your DNA sample. No blood draw required.
-
Lab analysis — Your sample is sent to a certified laboratory and analyzed for genetic variants relevant to psychiatric medication metabolism.
-
Results review — Your provider reviews your results with you and uses them to guide medication selection or adjustments.
​
Results are typically available within a few days to a week, and can inform your medication management plan going forward.
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Does Insurance Cover Pharmacogenomic Testing?
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Coverage varies by plan. Many major insurers we work with — including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Oscar Health — may cover pharmacogenomic testing when it is clinically indicated. Visit our insurance and fees page to learn more about your coverage options, or call our office and we'll help you navigate it before you proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Is pharmacogenomic testing the same as a DNA ancestry test? No. Pharmacogenomic testing specifically analyzes genetic variants that affect how your body metabolizes medications — particularly the liver enzymes responsible for processing psychiatric drugs. It does not test for ancestry, disease risk, or traits unrelated to medication response. You can learn more about how the FDA distinguishes pharmacogenomic tests from direct-to-consumer genetic products.
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Q: Will my genetic results change over time? No. Your DNA does not change, so pharmacogenomic test results are a one-time snapshot that remains valid for life. As new medications are developed, the same genetic data can be referenced again.
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Q: Can pharmacogenomic testing tell me exactly which medication to take? Not exactly — but it provides powerful clinical guidance. According to CPIC guidelines, your provider uses your genetic results alongside your full clinical picture (symptoms, diagnosis, health history, other medications) to make the most informed recommendation possible. It significantly narrows the field of options and reduces unnecessary trial-and-error.
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Q: Is the cheek swab painful or invasive? Not at all. The swab is a simple, painless collection from the inside of your cheek. It takes seconds and requires no needles or blood draws.
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Q: How soon will I get my results? Most results are returned within a few business days to one week from the time the lab receives your sample.
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Q: Is pharmacogenomic testing evidence-based? Yes. It is supported by a growing body of clinical research and endorsed by organizations including CPIC, the FDA, and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). A 2024 peer-reviewed study in Translational Psychiatry systematically reviewed pharmacogenomic evidence in psychiatry across major conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Prescribing guidelines from CPIC currently cover more than 14 antidepressants, 7 antipsychotics, 3 mood stabilizers, and 1 ADHD medication.
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Ready to Take a More Personalized Approach to Your Psychiatric Care?
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You don't have to go through months of medication trial and error. Refresh Psychiatry's providers can integrate pharmacogenomic testing into your psychiatric care — helping you find the right medication with greater confidence and fewer setbacks.
We serve patients across Florida with in-person offices in Davie, Pembroke Pines, Coconut Creek, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Miami, Orlando, Winter Park, Coral Springs, and Vero Beach — plus telepsychiatry.
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Call us at (954) 603-4081 or book an appointment online to get started.
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