--- title: Can genetic testing help me find the right ADHD medication? description: "Can genetic testing help determine which ADHD medication is right for a child or an adult? Read what an expert says.\n" slug: genetic-testing-for-adhd-medications author: Elizabeth Harstad, MD, MPH published: '2019-10-16T11:58:59.351Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/3WRDemvHmePpzBEDw133t8/6bc3bb185badc2283d8bccc19341eef0/G1296010562.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/genetic-testing-for-adhd-medications lang: en --- # Can genetic testing help me find the right ADHD medication? **Q. I’ve heard that genetic testing can tell a person which ADHD medication will work best for them and have the fewest side effects. Is that true?** **A. **This is a great question and one that I get asked fairly regularly in my practice. The short answer is that this research is still in its early stages. There isn’t enough evidence yet that genetic testing helps find the right ADHD medication for a child or an adult. Genes may play a role in how a person responds to medication. But it’s not the only factor. Things like age, diet, and other medical conditions can play a role too. Several companies now offer genetic testing to try to help with ADHD medication. Their goal is to help the many kids and adults with ADHD who have to try several doses and types of medication to find the right fit.  It would be great if testing could decrease the need to do things by trial and error. But** **it’s still too early to know if these tests make accurate predictions.  There are some genetic tests on the market that claim to be able to tell which ADHD medication is best for a person. But these reports are often based on data from animal studies or small human studies.  That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics’ [guidelines for treating kids with ADHD](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20192528/81590/Clinical-Practice-Guideline-for-the-Diagnosis?autologincheck=redirected) does not recommend using these tests for kids. The tests aren’t standard practice for treating adults with ADHD either.  These tests are also very expensive and typically are not covered by insurance. ## More on genes and medication Genes are like instructions for how your body should make proteins and other molecules. But genes vary from person to person. And those differences may help explain why two people may respond to the same medication in different ways. But other factors can also play a role. These include a person’s age, sex, diet, other medical conditions, and other medications that person might take. Plus, genes may play more or less of a role, depending on the person and the drug. It’s complicated. e at how genes impact the way medication works in the body. This area of science is called pharmacogenetics. Based on the research, genetic testing is common with certain drugs for cancer and other conditions. ## How to help If you or your child are having a hard time finding the right medication, talk to your health care provider. It may be time to see a specialist.  Some providers may use genetic tests for people who are having an especially tough time finding the right fit. But more research is needed before these tests become a routine part of clinical care for kids or adults with ADHD. Learn [how ADHD medication works in the brain](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-adhd-medication-works) and how to tell [if ADHD medication needs adjusting](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/signs-adhd-medication-needs-fine-tuning). *This article was updated in August 2021. Understood is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical company. * --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Is ADHD genetic? We asked a Harvard scientist](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/is-adhd-genetic) - A leading researcher in genetics and neurodevelopmental disorders gives us the lowdown. Were back with another episode from our Hyperfocus field trip to San Diego. While we were at the APSARD \(American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders\) conference, one of the talks that really pi - [Is ADHD hereditary?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/is-adhd-hereditary) - Yes, ADHD is hereditary. Researchers have been studying the area of genes and ADHD for the past 30 years. Nearly 2,000 studies have been done, with more underway. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and geneticists have worked together to understand what causes ADHD. We know from the research that kids wi - [Hyperfocus: Is ADHD genetic? We asked a Harvard scientist](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/missunderstood/hyperfocus-is-adhd-genetic-we-asked-a-harvard-scientist) - A leading researcher in genetics and neurodevelopmental disorders gives us the lowdown. Were back with another episode from our Hyperfocus field trip to San Diego. While we were at the APSARD \(American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders\) conference, one of the talks that really pi --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/genetic-testing-for-adhd-medications#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/genetic-testing-for-adhd-medications","description":"Can genetic testing help determine which ADHD medication is right for a child or an adult? 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