Stimulants Questions about doctor prescribing adderall for ADHD

[AUEngineer]

Hey guys,

First post here so please bear with me. I am trying my best to not break any forum rules posting this, I also searched and read a few threads about the subject. I hope I am posting this is the correct forum.

My question is, I believe I have adult ADHD- Attentive Type. I take adderall and vyvanse regularly to help me with school. Maybe 2 times a week when I am able to obtain it. Do I have a chance at obtaining a prescription?

I am an engineering student that lives away from home, with good state employee health insurance. I would like to visit a doctor to see if he would prescribe me a stimulant to help. I have a <2.0 GPA and I am a sophmore. I have loads of trouble focusing and paying attention. I am not very outgoing, and I daydream a lot. I not only have trouble at school but at work as a pharmacy technician. I am afraid that I might flunk out of school and I think a stimulant would definantly help me get my life back on track. I also need a prescription so that I don't fail a drug test at work and lose my job.

I think I have narrowed it down to a general physician in town I may set up an appointment with.

Should I mention that I have used adderall/vyvanse before (illegally, without a prescription) and it was beneficial?

Should I skip seeing a GP and go straight to a psychiatrist?

Does insurance normally cover adult ADHD doctor visit/medication?

Should I tell the doctor about previous anxiety and sleep issues (I was prescribed Kpins, ambien, prozac for 6 months) ** I know those are side effects that might make him not prescribe a stimulant

Will my parents be able to tell on their health insurance that I have been seing a doctor or purchasing adhd meds?
*I do not feel comfortable discussing this with my parents, they discovered my doctor visits for anxiety because our previous health insurance didn't cover it and they where billed in full for 4 doctor visits

I come from a very conservative family who believes medication is for being sick, and ADHD is something that can be resolved with punishment.

Notes:
I haven't had any anxiety issues in 8 months, and have a new 'perspective' on life and I don't worry as much.
I am not taking ANY medication.
I resolved my sleep problems with moderate cannabis use and exercise.
I'm not trying to obtain anything for recreational use (although I love the way it feels) I feel that I really need this.


Thanks for any assistance!

 

[AUEngineer]

After reviewing the forum rules I may have broken one asking advice on "obtaining drugs" even though its not for recreational use as much as something I need. Mods feel free to delete my post

My apologies

 

[Captain.Heroin]

You will have to contact the doctor's office and see whether or not they accept the insurance you have.

You should also contact your insurance provider, to see if they want an "authorization code" or not. Some insurance plans will make you jump through a few hoops before getting on ADHD medicine - and as a result they may elect to cover it, or not to cover it.

It's up to you on what type of doctor you want to go see.

 

[Diloadid]

IME you should go see a GP, they can usually refer you onward to a specialist or someone that can better assist your needs if they feel you sincerely suffer from adult ADHD. I think a lot of times doctors look at adults seeking help for attention problems as drug seekers. Hope all works out for you tho.

 

[helium-4]

this thread will be closed probably not to far in the future because we aren't here to help you obtain drugs, for therapeutic reasons or for recreational. Really the only exception here is when it comes to helping individuals find clinics or doctors involved in opioid addiction treatment (basically giving people advice on how to find their way into a detox or maintenance program). This isn't because we don't believe that you should use medications like amphetamines (prodrugs and bupropion included), methylphenidate, atomoxetine, modafinil, SSRI's, SNRI's, tricyclic antidepressants, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (guanfacine, clonidine), etc., it's because...

1.) We are not doctors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists;
2.) We really don't know the first thing about you, your life, and your problems;
3.) For anyone here to actually suggest a medication or how to go about to find your way into becoming prescribed a certain medication is extremely silly, having to do alot with #1 and #2;
4.) Nothing we can say in this thread will have an end result in your doctor not investigating options that he feels may best and throw you exactly what you wish for;
5.) Going to health professionals for their services with expectations or desires of what you'd like to walk out of their with is terrible way to approach this type of situation.
6.) Pharmacological therapy really isn't always the answer, nor are they magic cures. Even with ADHD medication, a persons life may be altered, but not necessarily in the way you were hoping for. Medications are to help make functioning easier but requires hard work and determination to actually show any results. I personally feel before their should be any consideration of medication, alternative routes like therapy with someone who specializes in ADD/ADHD (and related disorders, because many other disorders have similar symptoms and are mistaken as ADD). Also, getting a diagnosis can really help when it comes to the education system, as most colleges/universities offer services/aid to students with disabilities which can make things easier and more manageable. Not to mention that pretty much all medications have side-effects, and a lot of those medications used for ADD/ADHD can to a number on your body and mind.
7.) If you are not doing anything to alter your current life style in a positive direction like by creating healthy habits in all areas of life (exercising regularly, eating healthy and regularly, maintaining a regular and healthy sleep schedule, eliminating drugs and alcohol (they can have a more noticeable impact for people with mental disorders), keeping up with a healthy social life, having hobbies that give you joy and excitement, etc., then medication will not be much of a help, not to mention, they can be very unnecessary. Living a healthy life, creating healthy patterns will do far more to help you if you ADD/ADHD imo than medications, even if medications are used in conjunction with non pharmacological therapy methods.

I'd recommend seeing a therapist or psychologist (someone who can't prescribe medication, as they often jump the gun straight to medications with out even knowing the first thing about you) first to discuss why you feel you have ADD/ADHD, and what they feel could be the right options for you. If medications seem like they could be the right direction with some therapy to go along with their use, then by all means go down that road. Just make sure if medications are suggested as a therapuetic tool that you should begin using, you don't go into a doctor or psychiatrists office with specific medications in mind. Stimulants can be great for some, others they are mediocre, and there are a lot who find their negatives out way the positives by a landslide. There are a lot of medication options out their that have different symptom treatment profiles which should be taken into consideration. Even non-stimulant drugs like guanifacine or clonidine can be very beneficial by themselves or in conjunction with stimulants to help certain symptoms that stimulants don't seem to touch for many. Keep an open mind, because it easy to not get prescribed one of the medications you were hoping for and falsely assume the ones prescribed are rubbish. The mind is a powerful thing, and with out your full devotion to overcoming your mental problems, no medication is going to work. The same goes for therapy. If you expect the sessions to make you better, and don't actually work on what you've discussed in therapy out in the real world, of course therapy isn't going to help. IF you apply yourself day in and day out, you'll see real world results.

With both medications and therapists, you'll find some that just aren't the right fit, and some that are. Dont' be discouraged if it takes a little while before you find what works best for you.

Coming from someone who has severe ADHD and is still struggling to work through my problems to really let the real me become a reality, I sympathize with you, and hope you at least take some of what I said into consideration.

 

[Znegative]

Well, as others have said, this type of thread isn't allowed for reasons already mentioned. OP, I sympathize with your plight, and wish you luck.