Wednesday, February 18, 2009 LARRY asks

Q: Aftter over 6 years successful therapy for adult ADHD with Adderall, I moved to another city....

and was forced, due to the controls on the substance, which I can certainly understand, I was forced to see another psychiatrist, who not only decreased that medication by 66% daily (leaving me agian an ADHD basket case), but also decreased another med which I have been taken for the same length of time due to panic disorder/angoraphobia, and completely removed the third medication, which was given for chronic depression. This has left me in quite a turmoil. For all these years I have been a well-adjusted, highly-functional member of normalized society (I am an engineer with a grad degree, and have made numerous contributions within my field, my church and my community....so it's pretty obvious, as evidenced by my med records that I have NEVER ONCE abused any of my medications...he has copies of those records, documented by two of the most renowned practioners (one a professor at KUMED).

This all began around Dec 15 08, and I find myself falling back into the same manifested sympthoms, depression, anxiety/panic, and total ability to retain my focus long enough to even read a technical journal (quite necessary for a EE/SW engineer, should he not wish to live off welfare).

MY question, why would this Doctor abruptly change a regimine that has produced such profound results and has given back to me a 'quality of normal life'.???? Even we engineers are mostly wise enough to understand the concept that 'if it isn't broken, DO NOT FIX IT'.....I don't understand, but feel myself spiraling down into the black abyss, which I was pulled from so long ago....Is is EGO? Can't be money! Ignorance, or merely poor medical judgement?

I beg of you, please help me....I don't want to return to being a useless veggie, and a ward of the state....any assistant, very appreciated.

Kinest Regards,

Larry

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Answers (3)

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide

2/18/09 8:56pm

Larry

It sounds as if you and this new psychiatrist are not a good mix. I would suggest looking for a new doctor, one that you feel comfortable with and is willing to listen to you and to your previous doctor.

There is an article on the site that outlines a number of different ways to find a health care professional in your area.

Some websites that offer directories of medical professionals that treat ADHD are:

CHADD (Children and Adults with AD/HD) Professional Directory

Attention Deficit Disorder Association Directory

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources National Directory

ADD Consults Professional Directory

National Center for Girls and Women with ADHD Professional Directory

Besides these sites, the article offers other ideas to help you.

I hope this helps and please let us know how everything is going.

Eileen

KIVY

8/ 4/11 3:49pm

HI LARRY,

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE THIS WAS ADDRESSED. YOU MAY NEVER SEE THIS REPLY BUT HERE GOES. I TOO HAVE THE CONDITIONS YOU DETAILED. SO I CAN EASILY RELATE TO THE PROBLEMS YOU ENCOUNTERED WHEN YOU MOVED. NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE SAME CONDITIONS, BUT DUE TO MY HUSBANDS WORK HAVE RELOCATED SEVERAL TIMES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FROM WEST TO EAST COAST.

THIS MIGHT BE TO DIRECT BUT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE YOU ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER DOCTORS, AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE JUST IDOTS. THE FASTER YOU FIND SOMEONE THAT IS WILLING TO LISTEN, REVIEW YOUR SYMPTOMS, AND WILL CONSULT WITH FORMER DOCTORS THE BETTER YOUR LIFE WILL BE. HOPEFULLY THIS IS LONG RESOLVED BUT FOR THOSE OUT THERE THAT DO COME UP AGAINST THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION THAT WILL NOT LISTEN, EXPOSE YOU TO LIFE ENDANGERING MEDICATION CHANGES BY AUTOMATICLY STOPPING OR COMPLETELY CHANGING MEDICATIONS, THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE AND HEALTHY TO BOOT!

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PROFESSION YOU ARE DEALING WITH BODY MECHANICS. JUST LIKE HAVING YOUR CAR SERVICED THEY ARE TRAINED BUT NOT ALWAYS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO. REMEMBER THEY ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE WE ARE. SOME DRS. ARE EXCEPTIONAL. OTHERS DOCTORS LACK THE SKILL TO OPEN A DOOR. THE SECOND ARE USUALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE A GOD SYNDROME AND ENJOY HAVE COMPLETE CONTROLL OVER THIER PATIENTS.

I HAVE BEEN LITERLLY THROUGH HELL DUE TO THE DOCTORS I HAVE HAD REFERED TO ME WHEN MOVING TO DIFFERENT STATES. THE HAVE JEOPARDIZED MY HEALTH, LEFT ME WITHOUT MEDICATION. I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOISED INCORRECTLY. SUDDENLY DECIDED TO CHANGE OR REFUSED TO FILL PERSCRIPTIONS I HAVE BEEN ON FOR YEARS.

BE READY TO BE TREATED AS IF YOU LIE ABOUT EVERYTHING AND ARE SEAKING DRUGS. SHOULD YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF ABUSING DRUGS THIS WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE. WHEN YOU HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL HISTORY THAT IS CONFIRMED BY MY PREVIOUS DOCTORS THAT CAN BE VERIFIED THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS BEHAVIOR AND IS UNPROFESSIONAL. THIS DOCTOR IS DANGEROUS LEAVE HIS OFFICE AND NEVER GO BACK.

MAKE SURE YOUR CURRENT DOCTOR KNOWS YOU ARE RELOCATING.

THEY SHOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH A PERSCRIPTION THAT CAN BE FILLED AND WILL KEEP YOU HEALTHY, ON TREATMENT UNTIL YOU CAN FIND A COMPETENT DOCTOR. SORRY TO SAY, IT MIGHT TAKE GOING THROUGH MANY BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT THE ONE WHO TAKES PRIDE IN HIS JOB AND CARE OF HIS PATIENTS. IN TODAYS WORLD IT WILL BE A SEARCH. EVERY STATE HAS DIFFERENT RULES. YOU WILL HAVE TO GET USE TO THIER WAY, WHICH WILL PROBABLY CONFUSE YOU IF YOU HAVE TAKEN ANY CLASS II DRUGS IN THE PAST. TRAINED TO FOLLOW STRICK RULES OF FILLING THEM ONLY TO FIND OUT IT IS HANDLED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN A NEW STATE. GOOD LUCK TO ALL! REMEMBER, YOU HIRED THE DOCTOR....YOU CAN FIRE THEM TOO. IF IT DOES NOT QUACK IT IS PROBABLY NOT THE DUCK YOU WANT! FIND ANOTHER ONE! THE GOOD ONES ARE OUT THERE BUT THE SEARCH CAN BE LONG!

Colonelt

5/10/12 10:32am

Your situation sounds very familiar. Ask your doctor about Vyvanse. Like you, I have been managing my ADHD very well for several years on Adderall, 20 mg twice daily, but the med became scarse to unavailable for several months. I asked my pharmacist about an alternative and he suggested Vyvanse. My doc wrote a script for time release Vyvanse 40 mg once a day. I also take low dose Lexapro 10mg once daily.

I am pleased with the med change, the overall physical effect is almost imperceptable by comparison with Adderall, much better in my view, probably because of the time release mechanism. I tried to go for weeks without any meds, and found myself in the middle of 10 projects started but none completed. My energy level dropped during that time and I was much less productive. I feel better than ever now, focused, productive and resting well at night. Good luck!

Tom

Q: Aftter over 6 years successful therapy for adult ADHD with Adderall, I moved to another city....

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