Well, my entire journey to getting correct treatment for my ADHD has thus far been a complete joke. I have almost lost all faith in the medical community, which is quite unfortunate. For the past 6 months, I have been trying non stop (dealing with one psychiatrist, two GP's, and a psychologist that specializes in adhd) to find a doctor who can actually help me.

I don't understand the problem, im not a complicated case, I have straight up ADHD - no other outstanding issues (depression, ocd etc). So far, my GP's and my psychiatrist have both been too afraid to actually treat me with the correct medication. The psychiatrist is stuck in the 50's, doesn't believe that people at my age (21) who have made it into university can actually have ADHD. He ended up treating me for depression/anxiety. Those medications did nothing for me, except calm my hyperactivity down just a little bit. I was told by my psyciatrist to go find somone who specializes in ADHD so I can be evaluated and treated. After 4 months of non stop looking, I was unable to find a psychiatrist who would be willing to take me in. They either take people up to 18 or people older then 25.

As a last resort, I did see a psycholigist who evaluated me and tested me for ADHD, I scored in all catagories (innattentive, impulsive, hyperactive). She ended up writing me a letter of my diagnosis, outlining her medical opinion...that I should be medicated. After her and I both looking for a psychiatrist (even the 6 in her OFFICE were not accepting new patients) I decided to take the letter to my family doctor and ask him for help. He ended up giving me strattera 4 weeks ago. The strattera has made me miserable, it's made me feel hazy, tired, cranky...just like it has to many other people who have tried it. Well, two weeks ago I went back to see him to ask him to switch. He refused, and said he didn't think stimulant meds were safe (meanwhile, he didn't realize the strattera made me feel more depressed, hopeless and empty then any other time in my entire life). I also had some of the more severe side effects (increased heart rate, heart palipatations, and even becoming an emotional wreck at the drop of a dime) He put me on a lower dose 25mg which I am taking today. Each day, I feel that annoyingly dibilitating "stoned" feeling of strattera. I cannot concentrate any better, and my thoughts are slow and unorganized. I truely do not feel like myself at all. About a week ago, I figured that I would try a 40 mg for 2-3 days, to see if perhaps my body was still adjusting to the strattera. Well, go figure, within 5-6 hours my side effects were back, except this time with blurred vision. Back to 25mg I went!

I am currently in the process of waiting on a refferal from him to a psychiatrist who will actually give me the proper meds I need. However, it's been two weeks! I spent months and months looking with my mother (my mom is a Nurse Practitioner). I feel completely helpless. Since the strattera, I have not been able to attend class. I am just in limbo, literally waiting for the past month to finally stop being messed around. I really have no idea what to do. If anyone has had any similar stories, or is able to provide any suggestions I would be more then thankful.



Regards,

Tim

sounds rough

limbo is an alright place to be i guess. its not good, but not bad. i guess its so-so.

Well, my entire journey to getting correct treatment for my ADHD has thus far been a complete joke. I have almost lost all faith in the medical community, which is quite unfortunate. For the past 6 months, I have been trying non stop (dealing with one psychiatrist, two GP's, and a psychologist that specializes in adhd) to find a doctor who can actually help me.

I agree that it is very hard to find the right doctor. I think you are doing everything right. Sometimes it seems like you can't get there from here no matter how much you try. It is a good thing you are persistant.

It seems like your Mom or you psychologist should be able to help find someone, but I know you have worked that angle.

It seems to me when I watch some shows on TV like "Mystery Diagnosis," I see more people who are looking for their own diagnosis (and finding it!") The internet has been a huge help to finding answers. It also has exposed some people in the medical field who aren't looking for solutions, only a quick fix with the latest samples the pharmaceutical rep has dropped off.

I have had Doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists treating separate symptoms of depression and anxiety for nearly 30 years. I only recently decided to ask the question "What if all this is related?" And I think it is all related, but I got the "My patient with ADHD can't keep a job for more that 2 weeks and has been married 7 times," story from my doctor.

I see on this site that there are medical doctors who are Harvard grads who are ADHD. And medication is incredibly helpful for ADHD. So what is the problem? Social stigma related to the prescriptions, I guess. Much easier to write a prescription for each new symptom. Which seem to increase with age for us ADHD'ers.

Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

It must be a difficult situation for you Tim

I hope it improves sooner than later.

I've been in your shoes!!! Yes! IT IS TERRIBLE - and it shouldn't be like this!! I truly am sorry for what you are going through, and I hope you find someone very soon. (I've currently found someone - FINALLY - willing to prescribe me Adderall, which has worked the best. Only problem is, I believe that I've been prescribed a sub-therapeutic dose. My doctor told me that 20 mgs is a HUGE dose. :rolleyes: )

Sue

I had problems finding a doctor to dx my adhd. Then I had problems finding a doc to treat my adhd once I was diagnosed.

I was initially on wellbutrin only but it was not working very well for me and upping the dose caused problems with anger and anxiety. We tried strattera and I had really bad side effects at only 12 mg/day.

My doc then put me on tenex and it virtually erased my hyperactivity, but I still had attention problems, so the doc added a small dose of wellbutrin once a day and my attention improved a lot.

I think the wellbutrin is causing problems with anxiety, so we might have to try a small dose of a stimulant instead, but I suspect that it won't be any better than what I presently have in terms of attention and anxiety level.

The doctors like to try the non-stimulant meds first. If none of those work, then they try the stimulants.

Frankly, I think that being on schedule 2 meds is a major hassle. It's too bad the best meds for adhd are such a pita to doctors and patients when it comes to prescriibing.


ME :D

Thanks for all the kind replies everyone. Things are actually much better now, my landlady actually gave me her dads number (he is a GP) and I went and saw him. He gave me 20mg of Ritalin S.R. 2x per day and 1mg of Ativan as needed. I must say, I feel like a completely new me. I have done a complete 180 in just a matter of days, and have gotten myself back in school and on the road to being caught up. Everything is just so much better, my organizatonal habits, relationships between family/girlfriend/friends. Suprisingly I have minimal side effects from the ritalin, just a little bit of insomnia (nothing new) and a bit of jaw clenching. The Ativan works well when I find myself getting frustrated, but I am kind of worried that I may become addicted to it, as I do know that is a possibility. I have been thinking that maybe something like Wellbutrin may help take the edge off and keep my moods a little more consistant.


I go back to see him this Tuesday to check in with him, I think I may try to get one more dose for the late afternoon/evening as I do have massive amounts of work to catch up on. Thanks again for the support, I am glad to be on the road to getting my life back in order :)

wellbutrin can exacerbate anxiety. There is a precaution about anxiety attacks in the wellbutrin fact sheet.
I'm starting to think that part of my anxiety issues are due to wellbutrin.

ME :D

Timmtc, what good news about finding help. There are several threads about Wellbutrin or bupropion in the forums. Wellbutrin is also used to decrease anxiety while someone quits smoking.

I do poorly on Wellbutrin, I do poorly on most antidepressants period. All I take is the Adderall and I have Xanax prescribed as needed. . . I don't take it as often as needed because I don't like any thing that bonks my bounce. I want to bounce in the right direction not feel like the humanoid version of the blob. . . despite the fact I have had Xanax prescribed to me over three years I am far from addicted to it. I normally have to get a refill because the pills have begun disinagrated into a powder. . .hard to tell how much a dose is being taken when it gets all powdery ! I take one maybe two a month!!