Can I Request a Higher Dose of My ADHD Medicine?

1 Comments:

• Posted by EricE - Aug 12 2009 @ 11:26 AM
  See an ADHD-friendly psychiatrist
  I personally think that people in this situation should consider seeing a psychiatrist (an M.D.) who's knowledgeable about ADHD...but this can be tricky. My own psychiatrist seemed very in tune with ADHD but even he had some weaknesses that I had to account for. For example, he said that it was OK not to take my meds (Adderall) on the weekends, or at other periods when concentration wasn't crucial. What I learned, however, is that the Adderall actually relieves stress as I am able to concentrate better...even when it's about little things, so I take it daily. I am sure people would be concerned about the cost of seeing a psychiatrist. Check with your employer and find out if the EAP (emplyee assistance program - most employers with a benefits package have them) and see what it says. Mine allowed for 12 psychiatrist visits per year, which was plenty to experiment with dosage by going back monthly for a few months, until we found the sweet spot. In my own case, I found that switching to the extended release, rather than taking a couple of pills at different times in the day, helped a great deal. Currently, having gotten my records from my psychiatrist, my "regular" M.D. - a General Practitioner, just requires me to see him once per quarter to check in, and writes the prescription (remember - the stimulant drugs require a written prescription, every time) the other 2 months, making the expense manageable. And, don't be afraid to see a second opinion. Doctors are human with varying levels of expertise, so find someone you click with and ask them about their experience in treating ADHD, and then keep reading and researching.