Did GeneSight DNA test, have COMT Var/Var

[yaesutom]

So could this be why I've needed massive amounts of stimulants (doses)? The doctors don't quite understand I can eat 90mg Adderall and still its not enough.

I decided after years of no stimulants to try stims again, so doctor is going to put me on dexedrine (which i used to take 60mg tabs or spansules at one point). I should have been on Desoxyn. 20mg of that has me going nicely without all the side effects. Also taking Vraylar which is a newer anti-psychotic (has some dopamine agonism, and feels mostly like sugar pill to me to my surprise).

Been doing research on the COMT gene. There's a Met/Met, Met/Var, and Var/Var (depending on what your parents have). Met/Met has highest levels of dopamine and tend to be high energy "go getters" but also get excited at things i would find boring (I find most things boring). I have the version of COMT that eats the most dopamine.

So, I found this page on COMT inhibitors... do you guys think any of these actually work? Or have experience with them.

https://selfhacked.com/2014/12/24/w...heWarrior_G8230Higher_COMT_Lower_Dopamine_Val

Fixes For Higher COMT

If you have higher COMT levels:

Deprenyl to increase dopamine,
Mucuna (AMZN) or Mucuna (IHERB) to increase dopamine,
Tyrosine to increase dopamine,
EGCG/Tea (COMT inhibitor),
Epicatechins/Chocolate (COMT inhibitor),
Luteolin (AMZN) or Luteolin 98% (Ebay)
Fisetin (COMT inhibitor),
Rutin (COMT inhibitor),
Quercetin (COMT inhibitor),
Ferulic Acid (COMT inhibitor),
Hydroxytyrosol (COMT inhibitor),

 

[aced126]

Just a small thing...it's Val/Val, nor Var. Val stands for the amino acid valine.

 

[yaesutom]

Well, its super interesting. I've been wanting to get a more advanced test through one of these private companies (23andme, ancestry.com) there's entire subreddits dedicated to what the genes mean. There's a website called snpedia where you can upload your raw DNA files and they tell you you have a 44% chance of getting parkinsons, etc. They can even recreate your face just by your DNA.

So its all in our DNA. I do not think there's something wrong with me, but I do think I live in a world designed for a different type of person (people who don't get tired after 6 hours of being awake for one)
There was one more gene listed ADRA2A on that page I have a C/G. Well there seems to be too much dopamine in one part, and not enough in another part. There's a list of genes tested, i think something about my opiate system was off I forget what genes though. I do match the var/var "i don't feel much pain or that bad". "Easy going" can be used to describe me. 'indifferent to most things'.

I am genius in some ways, while dumb in others (like artistic expression). Seems i'm better with coming up with ideas while not speeding, but possibly better at executing ideas while on speed.

 

[sekio]

One SNP isn't enough to determine your phenotype and response to drugs, I think.

 

[Jonneh]

These are exciting times with cheap sequencing and all that, but you might want to think more about the bigger picture before you jump into a multi-drug 'treatment' regime. A single drug (adderall, say) affects a broad axis of behaviour (or several axes, if you like) which interacts, or overlaps, with your particular character traits. Such traits are polygenic to a surprising degree, and although the SNP you have identified tells of something statistical, it doesn't get us anywhere near specific prescriptions. These are still best gleaned by looking at things at the behavioural level, and making guesses based on a broad understanding of molecular mechanisms.

 

[bingey]

Did it occur to you that the antipsychotic you were taking might have been inhibiting the amphetamine?

 

[yoyoman]

Did it occur to you that the antipsychotic you were taking might have been inhibiting the amphetamine?

I actually tested it (Vraylar) although I didn't stop for enough days to completely get it out of my system. I've always needed high doses I think i ate 70mg (Dexedine spansules) today and really was only awake for like 4 hours. But you are right maybe i should stop for a week (Vraylar, somewhat of a dopamine agonist partially).

I printed out studies on memantine to bring to my doctor (lot of talk on addforums). Also open to trying things like Daytrana patch, since for the first time in a while insurance will pay for ADHD meds (medicaid, requires preauthorization i hope it covers all ADHD meds).

The ideal situation would be to try to take high doses to get things done just when needed. i do notice a change in personality on them i don't particularly like, but at the same tme i get nothing done.

I may have a sleep disorder/partial narcolepsy also (a diagnosis of that could get me Desoyn).

Recently shaved ny head I thought about building some tdCS kits (or better) see if there's any other way than meds to not feel sleepy all the time.

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

One SNP isn't enough to determine your phenotype and response to drugs, I think.

Exactly. I do not always react the same to certain drugs the way some people do such as how alcohol in low or high amounts can be a stimulant or put me to sleep, as can stimulants; but I have never taken that DNA test mentioned in the original post.