Not Sure Where this Thread Goes...

[frontbluntt]

Please don't close this thread as I'm not looking for ways around laws, I simply want to know if what I was planning on trying is illegal, as if it is, I will not do it. This is harm reduction.

I feel that I have pretty sever undiagnosed ADHD (I'm a 20 year old male)
However, my current doctor has me on clonazepam due to my OCD, anxiety, and insomnia.
I want to talk to him about ADHD meds, but I have two issues: one is that he will think I'm just another college kid looking for some ADHD meds, and the other, more importantly, is that he will refuse to give me a stimulant when I'm currently taking medicine for insomnia because it's simpy counterintuitive.

Should I just ask anyways to get tested for ADHD? It's not specifically meds I want, I just really want to know if I legitimately have it or not because I'm showing symptoms that are having real adverse effects on my life and grades.

Anyways, my other question was; if I ask him and he turns me down, is it illegal to go get another doctor's opinion and see if he is willing to test me/treat me?

Thank you for any help/information.

Again, PLEASE do not close this as I really need these answers to see if I can possibly get both my insomnia and possible ADHD treated at once or if I essentially need to choose one. The answers to those questions could end up haveing a profound effect on my grades, and, therefore, my life (a student who has gotten enough sleep and can listen to a lecture without blanking out for 30 minutes and missing half the lecture vs a groggy, sleepy student who zones out inadvertently and misses critical notes).

Also, sorry to drag this out, but are these symptoms I should legitimately be concerned about?
-"black out" during lectures. will suddenly realize that i haven't listened to a word of the past twenty minutes even though i really want to learn.
-reading a textbook page five times over and not being able to understand what it says because i can't keep focused on the meaning of what I'm reading
-trying my hardest to listen to a lecture but remembering nothing and absorbing and understanding nothing and eventually catching myself daydreaming

Thank you so much anyone who takes the time to read this!
I am really stressing out.
And again, PLEASE do not close this. Maybe just edit it or move it but I am really looking for some help here.
Were my symptoms I listed symptoms of something serious like ADHD or just something everyone has to live with all the time?

Edit: AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A "HELP ME GET DRUGS FROM THE DOCTOR" at all, I am just concerned I am having untreated ADHD that is affecting my school and future and I feel trapped when thinking about seeking help.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

You can just tell your doctor that you have been reading about ADHD, believe you might have some of the symptoms and wish to be tested for ADHD. Don't just go in asking to be prescribed a drug, doctors tend not to like that and we are not here to help you get drugs from a doctor. We don't normally allow legal questions, but your question seems reasonable and has a very easy answer: of course it's ok and legal to go get another doctor's opinion and see if he is willing to test/treat you, just as it would be with any other potential health condition.

However, all of the symptoms you listed can be side effects of clonazepam. I would consider that as a possibility. Instead of going in like "I think I have ADHD" I would just start by telling your doctor all your symptoms and see what he has to say about possible causes.

If you have anxiety and insomnia your concern that your doctor may not wish to prescribe you stimulants is valid, because stimulants can worsen those symptoms. If you in fact, as you said, do not have an agenda to get prescribed specific drugs and simply want the best care then you should listen to your doctor's advice regarding the potential side effects of any medications and what course of treatment would be best instead of worrying that he won't want to prescribe you certain drugs.

 

[Jackeh]

Were these symptoms present before or after you started medication for OCD?

 

[pasha]

If you're absolutely sure you have AD(H)D, adult AD(H)D, which means either predominantly the inattentive or the hyperactive type, get a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or even a magnetic resonance imagine (MRI) which can give you an absolutely definite diagnosis.

-----------------------------

I would suggest however you speak to your doctor first, I think your over thinking things, just describe to him your symptoms with honesty, don't be nervous, shy, or afraid, be confident. Doctors can smell blood, if they sense a hint of nervousness they automatically assume the worst. Nonetheless, doctors tend to hand out ADHD medications fairly easily so you have nothing to worry about if you're accurate in your self-diagnosis.

-----------------------------

I would also consider Swimmingdancer's solid advice, as the drugs you're taking could definitely be instigating a lot of what you're feeling.

 

[frontbluntt]

They were definitely present before taking clonazepam, probably worse actually since I was getting no sleep, thereby making it that much harder to stay focused and alert in class.
But these days I still can't even follow a professor's lecture, like I can't even listen to a whole sentence without my mind wandering off.
I just feel as though I've waited too long to bring this up with my regular doctor, so I would have better chances not looking like I'm just trying to procure drugs with a second doctor. Would they not even find out about each other?
I want to get legitimately tested and not written off as some college kid looking for Adderal.
I was thinking I should maybe go straight to a psychiatrist, don't they deal with this sort of thing?

 

[thesameoldfears]

You can just tell your doctor that you have been reading about ADHD, believe you might have some of the symptoms and wish to be tested for ADHD. Don't just go in asking to be prescribed a drug, doctors tend not to like that and we are not here to help you get drugs from a doctor. We don't normally allow legal questions, but your question seems reasonable and has a very easy answer: of course it's ok and legal to go get another doctor's opinion and see if he is willing to test/treat you, just as it would be with any other potential health condition.

However, all of the symptoms you listed can be side effects of clonazepam. I would consider that as a possibility. Instead of going in like "I think I have ADHD" I would just start by telling your doctor all your symptoms and see what he has to say about possible causes.

If you have anxiety and insomnia your concern that your doctor may not wish to prescribe you stimulants is valid, because stimulants can worsen those symptoms. If you in fact, as you said, do not have an agenda to get prescribed specific drugs and simply want the best care then you should listen to your doctor's advice regarding the potential side effects of any medications and what course of treatment would be best instead of worrying that he won't want to prescribe you certain drugs.

This. Don't go in being like "I have adhd and I think I should get adderall". Doctor's do not respond well to this sort of thing. If you are not just seeking a stimulant, go in and be open and honest and see what he says. Stimulants can definitely make both anxiety and insomnia worse.

As far as "doctor shopping", I think that would only be an issue if you try to get the same script from multiple doctors. However I wouldn't try to hide your doctors from each other or lie about what current meds you're taking. If you're truly just seeking help, you need to be honest so you can get the best diagnoses and treatment available to you.

 

[pasha]

They were definitely present before taking clonazepam, probably worse actually since I was getting no sleep, thereby making it that much harder to stay focused and alert in class.
But these days I still can't even follow a professor's lecture, like I can't even listen to a whole sentence without my mind wandering off.
I just feel as though I've waited too long to bring this up with my regular doctor, so I would have better chances not looking like I'm just trying to procure drugs with a second doctor. Would they not even find out about each other?
I want to get legitimately tested and not written off as some college kid looking for Adderal.
I was thinking I should maybe go straight to a psychiatrist, don't they deal with this sort of thing?

Don't ask questions about doctor shopping, that will definitely get your thread closed.

To your other questions, I told you how to get it legitimately tested. Just try the conventional route of being honest with your doctor, if that doesn't pan out, see a specialist psychiatrist (ADHD is their field), if that doesn't work, get an fMRI which will put any doubts to bed. There's no such thing as waiting too long, doctors have become extremely aware in regards to adult ADHD.

Pharmacologically though, benzodiazepines shut down nor-epinephrine which controls attention, focus, and memory. So even if you did have pre-existing condition, your not doing yourself a favor with benzodiazepines.

 

[frontbluntt]

Don't ask questions about doctor shopping, that will definitely get your thread closed.

To your other questions, I told you how to get it legitimately tested. Just try the conventional route of being honest with your doctor, if that doesn't pan out, see a specialist psychiatrist (ADHD is their field), if that doesn't work, get an fMRI which will put any doubts to bed. There's no such thing as waiting too long, doctors have become extremely aware in regards to adult ADHD.

Pharmacologically though, benzodiazepines shut down nor-epinephrine which controls attention, focus, and memory. So even if you did have pre-existing condition, your not doing yourself a favor with benzodiazepines.

"Doctor shopping" is not my main focus here, I appologize.
And I only take the clonazepam right before getting in bed, I don't think it has any influence on me during my conscious hours. I also don't take it every day, just on days where it's imperative I get a good night's sleep (pretty much every weekday)

 

[frontbluntt]

edit: nvm this post