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Misc Should I tell my doctor I'm self medicating?

G

Gnarles Bronson

Greenlighter
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
21
***Not sure if this is acceptable use, so I apologize if it's not.***

So, short story short: I'm in university for my 8th year (not consecutively) and am fairly convinced I legitimately have add (though who knows, right?) A friend of mine has been giving me some addys off her script, which help.

I'm going to the University clinic tomorrow, and was wondering if it would be in my best harm reducing interest or not to tell my doctor that I'm self medicating. I've heard that doctors are more likely to give scripts if you are self medicating (so that they can better control your use or something), but I don't want to wind up on a list, or suicide watch, or have red flags on my medical record, or kicked to the curb or whatever. Basically I want to take the best course of action which would result in me getting help.

Thanks if you have suggestions.
 
I wouldnt say shit about using the drugs. I would simply ask to be tested for add answer the test honestly and go from there. I think I stayed within the rules with that reply right?
 
Is it breaking rules to tell him what to say? As to your question I would not say your self medicating. I mean tell the truth. Give him your info if you got ADD he will be able to tell. I mean don't just say im self medicating. Maybe you explain that you smoke weed because it helps you focus, or maybe you explain how you find your self using substances to help calm you down let him judge what is what. Thats his job.
 
I agree with all the answers you've been given, OP, but I think they represent the limits of what we can tell you to do or not do without this becoming a sourcing thread. As has been suggested, be honest about what you experience in terms of having trouble concentrating on your work and troubles with your focus in daily living.

I would suggest not mentioning anything that might potentially get you in trouble. Begin with the basics - and honesty is always the foundation of the basics.

~ vaya
 
I've heard that doctors are more likely to give scripts if you are self medicating
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that's highly subjective and the dr's who do console you are in the minority or most likely ORT (opioid replacement therapy) based. you're likely to send off all the wrong signals if you go in saying you've been taking *this drug* for *this problem* and you want a prescription for it.

be honest with your doc and describe your symptoms.

Is it breaking rules to tell him what to say?
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yes.
 
You're not more likely to get a prescription by confessing to self-medicating. In my experience that is the best way to not get a prescription - sure, the doctor will refer you to an addiction centre, but he's unlikely to simply assume management of a drug problem himself. That's not a GP's job.

In general it is best to be honest with doctors. But I think this case is an exception: if you are honest about your amphetamine use, the doctor will probably just label you immediately as an addict. This is probably a reasonable thing to do, given that people can't just medicate themselves. But it would create difficulties for you.

If I were you, I would stop taking the amphetamine about a week before the appointment. That way you would be dealing with whatever your symptoms are when you have the appointment. Ask to be assessed for ADD/ADHD - don't mention drugs! A lot of doctors will show you the door if you do that. I'm not trying to help you score drugs - it sounds like this isn't your aim anyway - I'm just thinking about the best way to get genuinely and impartially assessed.
 
Also, and importantly - mentioning drugs doesn't tell a doctor anything about the nature of your problem (because you're a layperson and don't know how to diagnose). The best case scenario would involve you getting a script on the basis of drug addiction; even then it would probably not be because the doctor is convinced by your self-diagnosis. But most likely self-medication would just lead to the view that you are a drug user. I think this is probably logical.
 
Perhaps you could submit to a drug test and show him you are only using ADD meds? If you don't want to or can't do that, you have to decide if you can trust your doctor with this type of information.
 
suessmayr said:
In general it is best to be honest with doctors. But I think this case is an exception: if you are honest about your amphetamine use, the doctor will probably just label you immediately as an addict. This is probably a reasonable thing to do, given that people can't just medicate themselves. But it would create difficulties for you.
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Well-put, and this is what I was driving at; don't be honest about your illicit drug use, but be honest about the psychiatric difficulties you are having that are harming your abilities in academics.

~ vaya
 
You think a doctor is going to sit back and say "well he's been abusing amphetamines, so I'll just make it easy on him and write him a script."? Tell him your symptoms of ADD/ADHD, but nothing of illicit drug use. You'll be sorry if you do. But you could sneak in a comment about how you were scripted Adderall when you were in high school, but stopped after a while.
 
Don't mention the self-medication - take the test, and if you test positive for ADD, you'll have no problem getting medication for it. You might have to go through a month of having something like Strattera which most people don't find useful (but if you do, it's got a better long term sideffect profile than stimulants, so it _is_ worth trying).
 
Alex000 said:
But you could sneak in a comment about how you were scripted Adderall when you were in high school, but stopped after a while.
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LOL this thread really treads the fine line between acceptable and unacceptable. I know you had good intentions, Alex000, but this is pretty much a comment that suggests to the OP how to manipulate the doctor into prescribing the drug. Which would be against the rules.
Just a friendly suggestion of my own, I would edit out that part of your post :)

~ vaya
 
I think it depends on what your self medicating with. If its something illegal, many doctors will frown upon it and might tell you what you dont want to hear and maybe GTFO---->

I have told my doctors about all my herbal supplements that are legal and he doesn't frown upon it, just tells me to be careful and any weird reactions get to the ER and also let him know. Honesty is important, but, in this case, your best bet is to go in "dumb" but honest. IE: You think you have a prob and its affecting your quality of life and you would like to get examined....
 
I don't think doctors can actually prescribe amphetamine anyway. At least not where I am. You need to see a shrink (psychiatrist). And there is no fucking way a psychiatrist would prescribe amphetamine simply because you find it effective or have a habit; they will need to satisfy themselves that you have the right symptoms.

And even if you have the right symptoms - they will not prescribe if you have been self-medicating. That is technically drug abuse, and medical professionals are not allowed to prescribe drugs of addiction to people who have abused drugs. Of course, some of them will, but most would not want to risk their license.
 
if you are asking this question, perhaps you are most likely concerned - therefore, tell you practioner so that you may talk about it and discuss it, it might ease your worry.

if your doc will not like your confession, it is a good idea to pitch to him to the side and find another one [if thats possible of course...easier said than done actually]
 
If you want your doctor to prescribe you adderall, the last thing you should do is tell him the name of the drug you want and that youve already been getting it illegally. This is the number one red flag that causes doctors to label you a drug seeking individual and will cause him to never prescribe you anything worth using. If you feel like you have ADD/ADHD go do the test they give at your doctors office, if you have it even a little bit theyll give you what you need
 
Hahaha Charles Bronson....what a funny guy


I went to the doctor yesterday and left with a script for 10mg adderall xr(which he said we will bump up to 20 or more if needed)..
They gave me paperwork since its a new doctor that ive never been too before, and on the paperwork it asked if you use illegal drugs(yes) and i marked NO!

Then they give you a test like 6 pages to see if you have adhd..take it, answer accordingly, then you have a snowballs chance in hell at getting a script but always remember..
"play the system, dont let it play YOU!"
 
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