people in recovery advice about meds!

[soberw/adhd]

Everybody out there in the program. Those who now take medication, a couple of questions. How did you approach a psychiatrist about medication? What do you take? I am asking b/c I am a sober adult and I have decided to try taking medicine again. I took it briefly in college before my life fully fell apart and I got sober. I didn't pursue this sooner b/c I didn't fully realize it was an option. When I got sober I thought that is it I have to settle with a life riddle with add and just do my best. I have been reading books and listening to people online who are sober and treating there add with medication with success. My bigest concern now is not relapsing but I am worried about being judged by a doctor as a "drug seeker" Please share your expiriences!
maura

[waywardclam]

First question: What are you afraid of happening here? Sounds to me like you are worried that a shrink will look at you, decide you don't actually need drugs, and then try to prevent you from ever having drugs again for the rest of your life.

Unfortunately, you can't control a shrink, so there is nothing you can do to eliminate that possibility. However, if one shrink denies you on one day, you can always go back to them and ask again, or go to another Dr. later with the same question.

I think a simple, honest approach is your best bet. If you have decided that medication is what you need to try again to cope with your life, your best bet is to present the facts to them and allow them to "come up with" that on their own. Tell them how much trouble you have had trying to cope without meds. You might even ask them if they think there are alternatives, or should you give the meds a try again--but if they try to steer you towards the alternatives, be ready to either document why those alternatives won't work, or to give them an honest "college try" before going back.

This might seem counterproductive towards your actual goal of getting the meds, or even somewhat dishonest, but you are giving them pride and allowing them to be the "expert" who dispenses information to you. More importantly, the decision to drug you comes from THEM, not you--you cannot be "labeled" a drug seeker if it was their idea to put you on them in the first place, right?

"Diplomacy is the art of letting someone have your way." - Daniel Vare

[soberw/adhd]

Your right! I have just been through so many scary shrinks when I was getting sober who would "pollute" me with unessesary drugs trying to medicate my add that I am a little scared of shrinks. Those alternative drugs often made me feel much worse rather than better...I guess it is all a trust issue!

[Wheel1975]

The idea that drugs are part of a solution is probably WRONG for more peope than for whom it is right.

Why do i say this?

While attending KU some of my best friends were in Pharmacy... commonly effectiveness rates for effective drugs run 33% positive, 33% neutral or placebo, and 33% negative side effects of consequence.

66% are helped by drugs, if you include the placebo effect. Help is help, so that is fair, i guess. But for those for whom particular drugs are not a good answer, you can also see that the center 33% might be helped equally by "other" placebo treatments. In that case, drugs specifically are seen to treat less than half of a population well.

Thus, it is fair, if you have other issues with drugs, to look elsewhere. for various reasons, other people avoid drugs and get results that help them....

The impression that drugs help more than they do is wide spread. The inclination to say they don't help at all is an exaggeration. The statement that they don't help some people at all is a true and correct representation of the facts.

Feel free to find your own path.

[joanrdtobe]

Maura: SOME psychiatrists are familiar with alcoholism recovery and THOSE will not judge you to be a drug seeker or any other kind of seeker.....And these doctors do exist.....

They deal with something called "dual diagnosis"....addictions and mental illnesses -- not that ADD is/isn't a mental illness - but for the sake of explanation here......

In fact such a doctor will commend you for getting sober -- and THEN wanting to make your life better by being in recovery from your ADD.....

Talk with your sober friends about this....Are ANY on meds for depression, etc.? They may be able to recommend a doctor....or give you some hints.....

[SObearCAL]

Hi, Maura

I've had no troubles with MDs when it comes to perscriptions. What Joan said has, in fact, been my experience as well: I tell folks that I've been sober for a while, and they're so impressed with that that they have no problem perscribing me a narcotic. It was up to me to make sure that I followed the letter of the law in taking the perscription.

Mostly, though, I've found it like in the last sentence of Dr. Silkworth's letter in "The Doctor's Opinion": "You may absolutely rely on anything they say about themselves".

It's good to see another sober person posting on here

-Christopher

[Matt S.]

my doctor doesn't consider me a "drug seeker" because i did do that w/ different doctors before (benzodiazepines only) and my history of refusing ritalin as a kid plus i haven't ever had a history of addiction to any other stims (except nicotine) and according to him unless the ADDer is a methamphetamine addict or a coke addict there really is no reason to deprive the ADDer proper treatment when they are proven to be clean... i also let him Know not to give me benzo's either