Know which medications are right for you
Pillcheck provides a medication response test that uncovers how effectively medications work with your body and helps limit potential adverse side effects.Why Pillcheck?
A way to wellbeing that’s safer, smarter and faster.
Find the right medication
Share your Pillcheck report with healthcare practitioners for insight into which medications work best for you and at what dosage. This helps determine the safest and most effective prescription, saving you time, worry and money. Over 50% of Pillcheck users have had their prescriptions modified based on their test results.
Source: J. Papastergiou et al., Innovative Canadian Pharmacogenomic Screening Initiative in Community Pharmacy (ICANPIC) Study (2016, in press).
Feel confident about your prescription
Pillcheck includes a personalized report complemented by a Pharmacist Opinion Letter to further inform your doctor’s recommendations—based on your inherited metabolic profile.
Source: Spear BB, Heath-Chiozzi M, Huff J. Clinical application of pharmacogenetics. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 2001 May;7(5):201-204.
Good for today, good for tomorrow
You don’t need to be on any medications to benefit from Pillcheck. Since your DNA stays the same, the test results can answer your medication questions for the future.
Source: Bush WS et al., Genetic variation among 82 pharmacogenes: The PGRNseq data from the eMERGE network. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2016 Aug;100(2):160-9.
The psychiatrist was very open to learning from the report. Her take was that it is better than guessing or going on past experience with others.
How It works
Help your doctor optimize your medications in four steps.
Pillcheck tests your DNA's compatibility with more than 75 commonly prescribed medications.
1. Order your Pillcheck kit
If you’ve heard about us through your provider, simply order your Pillcheck kit using the link they have provided. Otherwise, place an order here.
2. Submit your sample
Collecting your sample is easy - swab your cheek and send it back. To enable the personalized pharmacist's review of your medications, please provide a list of prescriptions. We’ll take care of the rest.
3. Receive your report
In 8-12 business days, you’ll receive access to your Pillcheck report and an Opinion Letter from a PGx-trained pharmacist outlining personalized recommendations for your current and future medications.
4. Share your report with your healthcare practitioners
Log into our secure Pillcheck portal to provide access to your healthcare provider.
The information provided…is extremely valuable. Based on the findings and recommendations, I will be scheduling an appointment with my family physician.
FAQ
Have questions? We’re happy to help.
Q: What is Pillcheck?
A: Variations in your DNA determine the way you process medications—whether you will benefit from taking a medication, or if it may potentially cause negative side effects. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is the study of inherited genetic makeup that affects your response to medications. Pillcheck identifies these variations to assess whether a medication is likely to be safe and effective and provides optimal dosage recommendations. Your report will list your body’s predicted response to all Pillcheck-covered medications and can be regularly updated.Q: Why should a PGx-trained pharmacist review my Pillcheck report?
A: To get the most out of Pillcheck, we recommend a review by a PGx-trained pharmacist, who will write a Pharmacist’s Opinion Letter for your prescribing doctor. To facilitate this process, please provide us with a list of your medications. You may also share your report with a pharmacist of your choice.Q: Should I continue my medications while waiting for my test results?
A: You should continue taking your medications as prescribed, unless your doctor suggests otherwise.Q: Which medications does Pillcheck cover?
A: Pillcheck covers more than 75 commonly prescribed medications in several treatment areas, including cardiac and gastrointestinal conditions, mental health, pain management and oncology. Genetic testing for medications treating these conditions is recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada, Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC), and Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG). View a full list of covered medications here.Q: My medications are not on Pillcheck. Why should I order it?
A: Pillcheck provides proactive insights for your future medication needs even if your current prescriptions are not included. With Pillcheck, healthcare practitioners can better select medications matching your pharmacogenetic profile.Q: How much does Pillcheck cost?
A: The Pillcheck medication optimization service costs $500 (plus applicable taxes). Check with your employer to see if it is a covered benefit in your plan. Pillcheck is a permitted Health Spending Account claim and is also an eligible expense for income tax deduction.
Q: How does the process work?
A: The test is easy and painless. The kit consists of a swab, which looks like an oversized Q-tip, that you rub against the inner surfaces of both cheeks to collect a sample of cheek cells. DNA taken from cheek cells is just as viable as DNA from a blood sample. You only need to ensure that you do not eat, drink or smoke for at least one hour before collecting the sample. When your report is ready, you will receive a link to our secure website portal, where you can download it. You can share it with healthcare practitioners of your choice.Q: Why do I need to sign the consent form?
A: Pillcheck analyzes specific genes involved in drug metabolism—only a very small part of your DNA. Your informed consent is required for all tests that involve DNA collection in order to ensure that you understand the procedure and its limitations.
