So my psychologist talked to me and had me do the tova test. The test came back positive so he decided to start me on Ritalin, a small dose, which didn't do anything. We upped it but I was always forgetting to take my doses and it was giving me headachs.

I got him to switch me to Concerta to help minimize the headachs and so I would have meds through the day. I haven't noticed anything but being more sleepy and headachs.

Unfortunatly my insurance dosent cover my psych doc and since I got married my income went way up so I dont qualify for a sliding scale, they wanted 3700.00 a year...yea right. So I had to go to my GP which I had only seen once. Be he seemed nice and willing to work with me.....

So I saw my GP today, I feel like the only reason he wanted me to come see him for my medications is to take me off the Concerta. He switched me to Strattra. Which I don't mind cause you never know what might work. But then I asked him his philosphy on medications.....

He said that if the Strattera didn't work he would try antidepressents.:mad: UMMM NO, I have tryed prozac, paxil, effexor, wellbutrin, and a few other I don't remember...They did nothing but maybe help me not bite my nails for the first week or so.
I tryed to explain to him my problems but he just didn't seem to want to listen really. He said that excessive talking is not a problem and mean nothing. Ok fine, but it's like he ignored everything else I said.
I mean really what he said to me was I need to write things down before I move to something else. well duh! Its remeber to write it down before hand or to even look at the notes....

I's just frustrating that the doc didn't really listen to me. He seemed to ignore my diagnosis from my psych doc also. I believe he thinks it's depression like all the other doctors, I know it's not. Why do they treat you like your stupid and don't understand whats going on?:mad:
Now I'm gonna have to find a new doc. One that at least will listen and work with me.

They think your stupid because they spent the better part of a decade if not more in college...at least that's my idea on them. My job is quite the same way...we know what works...we've seen it and done it before, but corporate would rather use their statisticians to tell them how it realllly is....you know even though those people have NO idea what we do...they just look at numbers all day.

I hope you find a doctor who will listen to you...they are hard to come by it seems.

I understand they have been to college ect. but he didn't indicate to me this is something he deals with alot.
The doc also told me that Straterra would'nt make me tired, and it may not, but I have seen posts here about how it made them tired.
I also told him that I forgot to take it for about 5 days and how I felt the same with and without meds. He told me since they are long acting they stay in your system. Ok yes, but I doubt a pill I took thursday at 7am would last till friday at 7am, thats after the weekend, 5 days total. I could be wrong of course.
I suppose his answers didn't instill confidence in me.

Good GP's are hard to come by. They all get into the "I know what is best for you" frame of mind and don't listen to what you have to say. Jerks. I sure hope you can find a doc that will listen to and help you out. I tried Straterra and it gave me bad headaches and stomach aches. I hated the med. Hope it works better for you!

Isn't California a mental health parity state? I'm shocked that a health insurance plan can refuse to allow any of its members to see a psychiatrist.

My insurance dose allow me to see a psychiatrist, just not the one I had. The closest one in my network is an hours drive which is a pain and with gas prices is kinda expensive.
I will never take Strattera again though. Worst med ever. Took it at night like I was instructed and it kept me up all night and day, I was awake for like 36 hours or something and it made my heart beat fast and hard. My chest hurt the next day also.

I go to a GP who doesn't believe I have ADD, but he accepts the psychiatrists diagnosis as he referred me there. He still wants to believe I am bipolar, but I am not. He made me take strattera for a month. I took it and felt like I was watching myself as a movie. I got him to give me adderall xr, even though I wanted adderall that isn't extended release.

He told me his reasoning for the strattera was because it made it easier to fill at the pharmacy. Strattera can just be called in to the pharmacy. But with Adderall, I have to call every month for a hand written prescription, wait 2 days, pick it up, go to Walgreens, wait 4 hours for insurance clearance, and then I can get my medicine. It usually ends up taking me a week to find the time to get it all done and not forget, so I am unmedicated then. Sucks.

Go to another GP?

I hate it also when doctors cut it and interrupt you when you are describing something

Why do they treat you like your stupid and don't understand whats going on

In my opinion it is because the doctor doesn't want to admit to his own lack of knowledge about adult ADD.

Mine straight up told me he didn't. I'm glad he did though.

Honesty is my personal favorite unfortunately in our law suite happy environment many medical professionals do not feel conferrable in admitting a lack of knowledge. In this case the doctor probably feels safe with non-narcotic choices but becomes uncomfortable with the schedule two medications due to the possibility of DEA scrutiny

Honesty is my personal favorite unfortunately in our law suite happy environment many medical professionals do not feel conferrable in admitting a lack of knowledge. In this case the doctor probably feels safe with non-narcotic choices but becomes uncomfortable with the schedule two medications due to the possibility of DEA scrutinyA few months ago I went to my doctor to tell him that I tried adderall a few times and it really helped with my ability to concentrate. In the past he's given me antidepressants and antianxiety meds but those never helped. He seemed too scared to give me any stimulants so he refered me to a psychiatrist. His first attempt was strattera and he told me that my doctor didn't want to risk going to jail so that's why I didn't get adderall. But on my second visit to the psychiatrist, he agreed to give me a prescription to concerta on the condition that I get random drug testing. I think he's doing this for two reasons. The first is that I probably gave the impression that I'm a drug addict looking for a fix because I didn't hide the fact that I used adderall a few times (he asked me if I used speed or cocaine, too.. which I never did). The second reason is that he said he feels more comfortable giving stimulants to children because the parents can lock away the pills. But, as he said, you can't do the same for adults.

I use Adderall a few times a day, too - that's how it's supposed to be used. It's short-acting. If your doctor thinks that's a sign of trouble, he's got to review pharmacology.

The second reason is that he said he feels more comfortable giving stimulants to children because the parents can lock away the pills. But, as he said, you can't do the same for adults.See here's the thing the parents could be taking the child meds and just say the meds are working and keep them for themselves, just because the child isnt abusing dosent mean someone else in the family isnt. So I really think it's a flawed logic there are always ways to get drugs.

I will be getting a new GP. Luckly I found out an old GP who went through all the antidepressents with me is in my network. The doc assistant who I saw told me he had ADD and he was the one who suggested it to me. So I may have a shot. Other wise I will have to drive an hour to a psych doc.

Concerta made me sleepy, I really don't see why anyone would want to abuse it. Takes all kinds I suppose.

See here's the thing the parents could be taking the child meds and just say the meds are working and keep them for themselves, just because the child isnt abusing dosent mean someone else in the family isnt. So I really think it's a flawed logic there are always ways to get drugs.I see the flaw, too. However, I see his point. If you have an irresponsible adult, he's going to abuse the drugs whether it's his drugs or his child's drugs. If, however, you have an irresponsible child and the drugs are locked away, it's almost impossible for the child to abuse the drugs. And I'm sure that a child with ADHD might slip up and say his mom takes his pills sometimes :p

I see his point also, teens could easily abuse them or start selling them to make some cash on the side.
I just don't like the fact that as an adult they almost assume you will abuse them. I personally have never had an interest in drugs. Let alone abuse them. I still have 1-2 weeks left of Concerta in my drawer at home. I suppose I could take them to feel sleepy.

I understand people do abuse drugs but its probably easier and possably cheaper to get them off the street then from a doctor. It was not easy getting my doc to give me the ADHD diadnosis.

I found that my GP didn't understand and she admitted it. She suggested the psychiatrist because he would have more information on what works and what doesn't. You might have a conversation with the psychiatrist that is local and see if he can send your GP his recommendations on medications.

The other option which I always like is to 1. Keep my journal of what works and what doesn't. 2. Do as much research about the different drugs out there.

For example - my Psychiatrist prescribed Vyvanse which isn't technically approved for adults, but it has the benefits of a stimulant, minimal side effects, and very long lasting if you eat food with it. My GP didn't even know it was available.
When i talk to my psychiatrist I take my reaction journal with me so I can answer any questions accurately.

My Psych let me know that if I wanted he would write some notes up for my doc, or even work with him. The Doc I saw I think just dosent believe in ADD.

I just now have to get the motivation up to go to a new doc.