Some help please about doctors who don't want to prescribe stimulants

[Kimcav]

Hi I am am Kimcav and I am new to the boards I was hoping I could get some insights about ADHD and meds that are used to treat them. I was diagonosed about four or five months ago. I went for all the testing and therapy My file was very thourough and so were the recommendations of the neuropsychologist. I was sent to a psychiatrist he put in a recommendation to try a stimulant medication to address the ADHD first. Than possibly an antidepressent along with the simulant because I have a mild case of depression. Well I went to the psychiatrist and she gave me wellbutrin first but I had to many headeaches from taking this medication. So she switched me to lamictal which is for depression it is a mood stablizer. Any way now she is sending me to another psychologist when I asked her why she said she wants to make sure we are on the same page. Now mind you she only met me one time for about 15 minutes just flipping trough my file not really reading it. After taking the wellbutrin for 3 weeks I called and told her it was giving me bad headaches and she says to me stop taking it and start taking the lamictal and I will put a referral in for you to go to the psycologist. Because I think your problems are more your moods and if we can get your moods under control your attention may become better. I don't know where she came up with the idea that it was my moods, it says nothing about that in my file. I feel she just does not want to prescribe me a stimulant. I kind of also get the feeling that she does not believe my diagnosis. I also don't understand how she can come to a conclusion about me when it states nothing in my file about me in the way she described. I am very frustrated I do not feel I am getting the right help. Does anyone have any suggestions or similar problems? Also no where in my file does it say that I am severely depressed and I do not feel that depressed. All my friends describe me as an up beat person. By the way I am 31 years old. Kimcav

[norat]

You're doing the "jumping through hoops" game. You should plan on 6 months of this nonsense until they are ready to give you something that works. It would have been better for you to have known the game first. My own thoughts, the non-stimulants are way harder on the body then amphetamines. People have been trying to find the dirt on amphetamines for 50 years, and are still trying today and there is little. Used in moderation under supervision they work and work well. I suspect you admitted to an addictive nature somewhere along the way or you failed the screening.

You could talk to your family doctor or find a new doctor. But make sure this is what you need. If you have ADD the meds are like a gift from God, if you don't you get addicted to the "up" feeling which leads to problems.

[Kimcav]

Thank you for the information. Did you go through something similar? I have never been addicted to any drugs other than cigerettes. What is the screening process that you said that I may have failed. I am curious to what they do as far as screening you is it certain questions and answers you may give. I appreciate your imput. I have been so stressed out about all of this. I have a friend that is adhd and also takes a stimulant and she said the same thing as you that it does do wonders. I feel they same as you about becoming addicted that if you follow your doctor's advise about how to take it and see them on a some what regular basis that this should not happen to you. And for the fact that this medication is known to work for people like me they should try it. I did research on it and they have been using these medications for years and they are proven to work. Well thank you once again for your reply. KIMCAV

[suzy_Q]

Hi yes it is definately the jumping through hoops game or better yet the process of elimination. We went through allergists, neuropsychologist, pediatrician, psycologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist etc I think you get my drift, before we found a pediatrician who A. listened B. was open minded and C.Cared about my son. It seems most doctors want to eliminate the possibility of other conditions because there really is no standard test for add or adhd. My son was misdiagnosed with three different conditions before we got to the core of the problem. And he is considered mild to moderate adhd! So be patient but most importantly find a doctor you feel comfortable with and trust that is the best thing you can do for yourself, trust your gut. After meeting with a few doctors you can get a feel for who you trust.

We also had a similar meeting with a very well known psychiatrist in our area, she met with him for 15 minutes and diagnosed him with anxiety and put him on zoloft, HORRIBLE experience. but that's another story... The pediatrician we have now met with me for 2.5 hours the first time. He stayed with me until 630pm after the office closed and everyone went home !

Good luck to you and find that doctor that will listen to you! They're out there.

[Kimcav]

Thank you, for the information. I was starting to feel that I was in this alone. All the responses from other people really help me in realizing that I am not alone in this struggle. I will tell you I feel like I am defintely jumping through hoops. I had 8 months of therapy before I was even tested. After that I met with the neruopsycologist for a intial meeting, than I finally got the appointment for the test with the neruopsycologist 3 weeks after intially meeting him. It took about a week or two after that to get his finally report on it. He recommended me to start out with a stimulant medication because he said he found suffient evidense of ADHD. Which than I went to my primary care doctor who could have prescribed the meds but he wanted a psychiatrist to prescribe them first than if I needed refills he wouldn't have a problem refilling them. So than it was off to the psychiatrist at the naval medical hospital. Which took a month to get that appointment. Than when I finally so her I felt that the appointment was rushed and that she really did not want to be there. After that appointment she sent me home with wellbutrin than I called her back two weeks of taking telling her I was having severe headaches. Next thing I know she is prescribing me lamictal and sending me back to a psyhcologist. Which now I have an appointment with him again for the second time on Sept. 28th and he is suppose to give me his final thoughts about my case Than I go back to see her on Sept. 30th. I really don't know what is going to happen. I feel like screaming and saying look I know my own mind and how I am as a person and you are not hearing me. Well any way thank you again for the imput. Sincerely KIMCAV