Military Doctor Predicament - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

jen1008 · 08-22-2006, 02:08 AM

I have had my dx of bpII now for two years. First dx'd through a civilian psych because there was no room at on post doctors. Now that I have switched to military doc, I'm having a very difficult time with getting meds. I have been on Lamictal and Adderall for these 2 years with great results (have tried adding risperdal, trazodone, buspar). I have a very difficult time calming down at night in order to go to sleep. Because of switching doctors so much it is hard to explain why I NEED the adderall for my add. have tried other methods, but going to school full time and working full time I need something that works (adderall works!). I'm not swinging manic or anything, but sometimes it is hard to calm down at night. How can you convince doctors that you need/want something else without them thinking you have a drug problem? I don't have any choice in which doctors I see because it is TriCare(military), I get who I get.

jen1008 · 08-23-2006, 12:11 AM

We PCS'd to Hawaii about a year ago, so going back to my original doc isn't an option.

cagedbird · 08-23-2006, 12:45 AM

I had the same problem as you. I also use Tricare standard,my doc on the provider list took ticare for 4 year's and then droped them. so what I did was still go to him,but get a reciept and send it in to Tricre. They send you almost all the $$$ back. Find a doctor out side your network and just submit you reciets. If your being treated for bipolar,I don't see the problem with giving you meds to get you to sleep,unreal. Good luck

cagedbird

jen1008 · 08-24-2006, 12:07 AM

Sorry, to clarify-
My current doc has no problem with prescribing the adderall, but I am afraid that when I tell him about the sleeping problem he will blame it on the adderall and not prescribe it anymore. I've already switched in the same clinic once because the first one wanted to change me from my lamictal and adderall to only wellbutrin after meeting with me only once! Military doctors have a difficult time giving out scripts for anything that can be abused even slightly. The first time I talked to him about the anxiety/insomnia he gave me trazodone and then buspar because they can't be abused. When they didn't work I just stopped telling him about the problem.

jen1008 · 08-24-2006, 05:24 PM

I have tried absolutely everything OTC that I can. Some doesn't do anything, others make me more drowsy, but my mind is still racing so much that sleep will never happen. Then I get angry/irritated because I can't sleep in addition to everything else. I'm starting to think I will probably just bite the bullet and ask him, things can't get any worse probably. Oh and I don't think he has too much experience with BP-not too common in the military