For Patients

What does personalized medicine mean for me?

Your DNA might affect how your body responds to certain medicines. Through our MyRx program, you can have your DNA tested, and we can make recommendations on which medicines might work best for you. This is known as pharmacogenetic testing, and UF Health is one of the leading pharmacogenetic testing centers in the nation.

Through our testing and recommendations, you could see improvements in medicine management for a many common conditions:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Heartburn
• Cholesterol control
• Heart health

Your results will tell us that certain medications:

• May work better for you
• Need a different dose
• Might have fewer side effects

What is pharmacogenetic testing?

Pharmacogenetic testing is a way for doctors to learn how your genes affect your reaction to medicine. Genes are parts of DNA from your parents that give you special traits like height or eye color. They also play a role in whether a medicine will work well for you or cause side effects. With this testing, doctors can make better choices about which medicines and doses will help you the most.

What implications will my genetic results have on my insurance coverage or employment?

The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, or GINA, and the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, are two federal laws that prohibits insurance providers and employers from denying patients coverage or eligibility for health insurance or employment based on genetic results. GINA does not apply to the military, when an employer has fewer than 15 employees, or to disability, long-term care or life insurance benefits. For more information on how to protect your genetic information, please visit genome.gov.

How testing works

MyRx uses a simple swab to collect cheek cells containing a sample of your DNA. We will provide instructions on how to provide your sample.

Watch this brief video to see how to complete the at-home test kit

What do the results mean?

If you take a test before starting a new medicine, it can show if the medicine is likely to work well for you or if there is a risk of serious side effects. Tests taken before and during treatment can also help find the right dose.

After your visit, your doctor will receive a consultation note with personalized recommendations to match your DNA to the medication that works best for you. If you have any questions, please talk to your doctor about the results.

How do genes affect medication response?

Tiny differences in your DNA can have a huge impact on your body and how it works. On the outside, your DNA determines how you look, like your eye color or your height. On the inside, DNA provides a recipe for all your organs and tissues, like your heart, lungs and muscles, even the smallest proteins or enzymes that your body makes. These proteins and enzymes determine how your body works.

Some proteins in the liver, such as those called the CYP450 enzymes, are very important in predicting how your body will respond to a medication. Tiny differences in your DNA can cause you to have too much, or too little, liver enzyme activity. This can result in a medication not working as well or a higher chance of side effects.

In most people, liver enzymes work just as we would expect, leading to a normal medication response. Based on genetic test results, we can more precisely determine how you respond to a medication and decide if you need a higher or lower dose or a different medication.

We will consult with your doctors if we have any recommended changes to your medications.

Which medications are impacted by pharmacogenetics?*

Anxiety and depression

• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Celexa (citalopram)
• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Luvox (fluvoxamine)
• Effexor (venlafaxine)
• Trintellix (vortioxetine)
• Elavil (amitriptyline)
• Anafranil (clomipramine)
• Silenor (doxepin)
• Tofranil (imipramine)
• Surmontil (trimipramine)
• Pamelor (nortriptyline)
• Norpramin (desipramine)

ADHD

• Strattera (atomoxetine)
• Adderall (amphetamine)
• Qelbree (viloxazine)

Antipsychotics

• Abilify (aripiprazole)
• Risperdal (risperidone)
• Rexulti (Brexpiprazole)
• Fanapt (Iloperidone)
• Haldol (Haloperidol)
• Clozaril (Clozapine)
• Trilafon (Perphenazine)
• Orap (Pimozide)
• Mellaril (Thioridazine)

Pain

• Tylenol #3 (codeine)
• Ultram (tramadol)
• Norco (Hydrocodone)
• OxyContin (oxycodone)
• Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen)
• Celebrex (celecoxib)
• Mobic (meloxicam)
• Ocufen (flurbiprofen)
• Feldene (piroxicam)

Stomach health

• Prilosec (omeprazole)
• Protonix (pantoprazole)
• Prevacid (lansoprazole)
• Dexilant (dexlansoprazole)
• Nexium (esomeprazole)
• Zofran (ondansetron)

Cholesterol control

• Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Crestor (rosuvastatin)
• Pravachol (pravastatin)
• Zocor (simvastatin)
• Altoprev (lovastatin)
• Livalo (pitavastatin)
• Lescol (fluvastatin)

Heart health

• Plavix (clopidogrel)
• Coumadin, Jantoven (warfarin)
• Toprol XL (metoprolol)

Transplant

• Prograf (tacrolimus)

Seizures

• Dilantin (phenytoin)

Fungal infections

• Vfend (voriconazole)

Breast cancer

• Soltamox (tamoxifen)

*Not a comprehensive list

UF Health patients

Sample collection options

• UF Health patients have the option to go directly to a lab-draw station to provide a blood sample.
• You may also opt to receive a convenient at-home test kit for a $20 shipping and handling fee.
• Register and get started

Non-UF Health patients

Sample collection options

• If you are not a UF Health patient, you may request a convenient at-home test kit for a $20 shipping and handling fee.
• Register and get started today
• Your results will be faxed directly to your doctor as well as available in the MyRx patient portal for you to view, download, and bring to any other doctors that prescribe you medications.

Patient portal

If you are already an existing MyRx patient, log back into the portal to view your order and after-visit summary.