Has anyone heard of or had genome sequencing done to find out your tolerance to seizure medications or which ones would be most effective?
Yes, genetic testing is being used to help guide epilepsy treatment decisions. Some people with epilepsy are now getting genetic tests that can help doctors choose the most appropriate Show Full Answer
Has anyone heard of or had genome sequencing done to find out your tolerance to seizure medications or which ones would be most effective?
Yes, genetic testing is being used to help guide epilepsy treatment decisions. Some people with epilepsy are now getting genetic tests that can help doctors choose the most appropriate anti-seizure medications and adjust treatment plans.
Genetic information can reveal whether certain medications might not work as well for you, or if they could cause worse side effects based on specific genetic mutations related to your epilepsy. This type of testing is particularly helpful for people with harder-to-treat cases.
A MyEpilepsyTeam member shared a powerful example: after years on certain medications, their son with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome received genetic testing. Based on the results, the doctor recommended a new treatment that changed everything. "Since we changed him to the correct medicine, he went from having 3-4 seizures a DAY to 1-2 a MONTH," they wrote. "Still not completely gone but HUGE improvement."
The tests typically use DNA from a blood sample or saliva sample. Types of genetic tests include epilepsy gene panels, chromosome microarrays, and whole-exome sequencing.
Blood tests can also monitor how well your body absorbs epilepsy medications, which helps doctors adjust dosing if needed.
If you're interested in genetic testing, talk with your neurologist about whether it might be helpful for your specific situation.
January 1
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