I tested "green" for a medication, but it doesn't seem to work well for me – why might this be?

When a drug is categorized as “green” (use as directed) for an individual, it means that we have not detected any of the genetic variations in your cheek swab sample that we test for that are known to impact response to that medication. Using a medication that is categorized as “green” for an individual increases the likelihood of that medication working for you, but it does not guarantee success.

A drug being categorized as “green” DOES NOT mean that it is a “good drug”/superior to other drugs in general. All drugs come with potential risks and/or side effects. Other (non-genetic) factors also influence drug responses (age, overall health/organ function/comorbid conditions, drug-drug interactions, etc). In other words, taking pharmacogenetic insights into consideration when choosing a treatment plan increases the probability of a good outcome, but can not guarantee a good outcome.

It is also important to note that some gene variants are very rare (occurring in less than 5 out of 1000 people). Due to their low frequency in the population, it can take longer for researchers to identify how these variants affect drug response. New gene-drug discoveries are being rapidly discovered and it is possible that a drug that is categorized as “green” for an individual genetic profile today may become “yellow” or even “red” in the future. Inagene reports are automatically updated every 6 months to reflect new research and recommendations, at no charge.