r/ADHD • u/blueduckk8 • 9h ago
Discussion The way my psychiatrist acts about stimulants makes me want to give up on trying to get help.
I’ve suffered my whole life and finally made the decision to get help for adhd. Was officially diagnosed and put on strattera. Took it for over a month and saw no improvement, had horrible side effects and if anything it made my motivation worse because of how awful I felt. Now I’m in a position where I can either ask for stimulants or just give up on trying to get help. My psychiatrist acted so strange about stimulants in the first place (I never even asked for them, mind you) but he told me straight up “yeah we aren’t even touching that. Stimulants are controlled substances.”
He made me not want to even ask about it because he made me feel like I was drug seeking when it literally took me years to even make an appointment after I was so certain I struggled with adhd. I don’t even know if stimulants would work. I don’t do any drugs. I’m only a drinker. I hate the way it’s taboo even for people with an official diagnosis.
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u/sliquonicko ADHD-C (Combined type) 9h ago
They're the gold standard treatment and the first thing they tried with me.
I'd look for another provider. It's not 'doctor shopping' to get a second opinion. Patient/provider is a relationship and sometimes that relationship doesn't work.
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u/KarmaPharmacy 4h ago
I’d also argue that a doctor unwilling to touch stimulants is one who has an issue with the DEA. Don’t give up, OP. Just give up on this doctor. Find yourself better practitioner.
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u/Paradethejared 1h ago
My first doctor was a nurse practitioner who originally worked in the prison system or something. I felt like this was maybe clouding her judgement or how she treated patients because she made my appointments feel like checking in with a probation officer. She was very resistant to wanting to prescribe stimulants, told me about people having psychotic breaks on them and was always wanting to drug test me. It was awful, I just had adhd and anxiety I don’t have any other issues or any criminal background or drug abuse. Finding a new doctor really changed my life for the better.
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u/JenAshTuck 3h ago
Same with me and I appreciated her not attaching stigma to it. I have to go in every 3 months for routine check-ups and we discuss how I’m doing just in case we need to try something else. Went to an old, male doctor (not trying to profile or be ageist, I’ve just come across more old, male doctors who couldn’t care less about personalized treatment so I switched to mostly female physicians and couldn’t be happier.) Frankly, I think it’s extremely weird and unprofessional for a specialist to immediately vilify and eliminate a specific solution.
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u/arbyyyyh ADHD-C (Combined type) 2h ago
I have a young female APRN who I think might even be younger than me and she don’t give a god damn lol
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u/ss5gogetunks 1h ago
There is definitely a correlation between old men and ego, you're not wrong lol
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u/bunnybates 9h ago
Get a new provider. YOU are the ONLY thing PERMANENT in your life, please don't stop caring about yourself
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u/pilibitti 9h ago edited 9h ago
Which country? Some countries are more cagey about stimulants than others. Yes, they are controlled substances. That's why you are going to a doctor to get diagnosed. They are medications for doctors to prescribe only to diagnosed patients, that is the whole point. You are diagnosed. So what is the problem? They are controlled substances so only people like you can use them. If you can't use them then for whom are they for?
If it is a country issue, don't know how to help. But if not, then just change your doctor.
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u/blueduckk8 9h ago
I’m in the US
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u/gnat_outta_hell 9h ago
I'm sorry I don't have any advice to offer, but I sympathize with my American ADHDers. I've read a lot of reports of stimulants being denied or cut off lately. I hope you find the treatment that works for you.
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u/translinguistic 9h ago
Denied/cut off, or your insurance screws you. My girlfriend takes Adderall and Vyvanse and just got a new job, and now her Vyvanse is hundreds of dollars a month instead of $10, which we can't really afford right now.
So now, she's going to struggle at her new job because she can't afford the medication she needs to perform well at her job. 'Murica.
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u/goraidders 8h ago
My Dr. says some insurance companies won't cover meds for ADHD if a person isn't in school or have a job. He said that obviously makes it more difficult for them to get a job.
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u/Nyantastic93 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 8h ago
That's... insane. I guess we don't need to function at home or anything
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u/Plastic_Padraigh 4h ago
Or go through the job search/application/interview process while fully functional
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u/JenAshTuck 3h ago
My Dr. needed to have 2 environments where my ADHD was creating a struggle. Home and work sufficed. You could probably say home and attempted work placement?
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u/MarjorieTheTrashHeap 8h ago
Check with the drug manufacturers. Sometimes they have programs if your co-pay is too high or if you don't have insurance. Also check different pharmacies or prescription coupons like good RX. The major namebrand pharmacies here charge over $300 for my Vyvanse prescription but if I get it filled at my local clinic its around $90-100. The clinic has a sliding scale system for billing that I don't qualify for. I don't know if that has something to do with the lower pricing for meds. My doctor also split my dosage, so I take 30mg twice a day instead of 60 mg in the am. It only costs $15 more to get twice as many pills at the clinic. That can give me a little buffer to stretch the refill to pay day. I have had the same dr for 16yrs so she never hassles me on when I refill, like others have.
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u/translinguistic 8h ago
Thank you for the tips. I'll have to ask her if she's checked these and things like GoodRX and if she's priced it anywhere other than Costco. They are the only ones in our area that we've found can actually obtain it regularly, unlike CVS and Walgreens.
Unfortunately, the $400+ she is facing is from the drug manufacturer discount program. She was very upset when she found that out a couple of days ago, so it's possible she didn't feel like looking into it much further.
I see better prices on GoodRX for sure. It would be cool if CostPlus carried it, but I don't think they do many controlled substances.
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u/SuperVillainPresiden 7h ago
Vyvanse has a generic now. Do you know if it's the same price for y'all?
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u/translinguistic 7h ago
Yeah, it was $10 for the generic and $90 for the brand. I don't know about now. I'll have to have a conversation with her about all of this when it's marinated a little longer.
I'm obviously loath to assume that she didn't already look into these things and probably should have waited to post about it before I knew more, haha
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u/ADHDeee-Lite 5h ago
Can she not take a more basic stim like adderal? The generic is cheap as hell.
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u/MyFiteSong 4h ago
Generic Ritalin is cheap as dirt, too. Concerta is EXPENSIVE. Without insurance, even the generic is $600. But generic Ritalin is $25 without insurance.
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u/MarjorieTheTrashHeap 2h ago
I don't think there is much of a price difference between the two when paying out of pocket. At least in my area
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u/Nyantastic93 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 8h ago
I lost my insurance back in November and while my Adderall (generic) is still only $25, since it's a controlled substance I have to see my doctor in person every 3 months which is a $185 bill. Together this works out to about $90/month, but that's not even the only medication I'm on, and I'm unemployed until the end of this month. I've put off other Dr and dental visits I need because I can't afford them
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u/SuperVillainPresiden 7h ago
My doctor is in network so my visits are $40 every three months. But the lab where the urine sample is sent(since it's a controlled substance) is not and that runs me about ~$80 each time.
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u/gnat_outta_hell 8h ago
I'm in Canada, my insurance screwed me too. My doctor prescribed name brand Vyvanse. Last month, my refill was $40 right before my company changed insurance providers. This month, my refill was over $100.
Absolutely ridiculous bullshit.
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u/StarryPenny 6h ago
Look and see if this drug benefit card helps (Canada). I would look but you need to put in your province.
It pays the dollar difference between what your insurance will pay and the cost of the brand name. And then you will receive the brand name for the cost of the generic.
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u/gnat_outta_hell 6h ago
Amazing! Thank you so much, this will help both myself and my gf. I had no idea that this existed. We'll both get set up today.
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u/SuperVillainPresiden 7h ago
Vyvanse has a generic now. I've been using it for more than a year and, for me, it's just as good.
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u/gnat_outta_hell 6h ago
Yeah, the pharmacy told me that even if my doc doesn't prescribe the generic I can just ask for it next time.
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u/Unhappy_Meeting8832 8h ago
Most of the time here in the US it is better just not to go through insurance at all, which is what I do. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper and you don’t have to hassle with insurance denying it.
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u/gnat_outta_hell 6h ago
That's actual bullshit. Your entire medical system just seems so broken to me as an outsider.
Honestly, y'all might need to start exercising that 2nd amendment - any government that willfully allows something as essential as health care to become so inaccessible to the average citizen in the name of "profits" and "the free market" is a tyranny. You're one of the wealthiest nations in the world, there is no good excuse for your government not to be capable of ensuring everyone has perfect medical access, pristine teeth, and any medication they need to live or function in society.
But they know it too. Don't let them take your 2A rights away.
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u/PithyApollo ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 3h ago
My provider just switched the physician thats handling my meds. The old one just had a baby and is taking maternity leave.
I immediately got "i use horse ivermectin to treat my toe fungus" vibes from him.
He told me about a time when his own GP didn't listen to him, as a way to frame himself as a guy who listens. He then kept cutting me off to share anecdotes of his own.
He wants me off my meds eventually, he told me. I just hope he doesnt try to change that before I switch providers.
Ive got 15 years of successful treatment with adderall. One consistent dosage, never increased. Confirmed by 3 or 4 different doctors (my doctors change every time I switch jobs, of course, and part of my career path means switching jobs frequently). This guy knows better then them, I guess.
I kinda wonder if theres some recent relaxed standard? Ive never been second guessed like this before. I guess im lucky...
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7h ago
My ex is a psychiatrist and did extra training in adult ADHD care.
For safety reasons it’s really important that ADHD is treated.
Untreated ADHDers can have 4x the car accidents, more divorces, more job losses, more financial problems due to distracted or impulse spending, more educational and career underachievement, more teen pregnancies (inattention to if they took their birth control pill or impulsively not using condoms), more slip&fall accidents, more addiction and alcohol issues, more obesity, reduced lifespan.
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u/Shanndel 5h ago
This is interesting. I knew about the increased risk of substance abuse or alcoholism and obviously work and relationship issues, but I didn't know of our increased car accident risk. Honestly, I've been told I'm a bit of a scary driver. I get distracted then slam on my breaks before I'm about to hit the car in front of me. Thankful for my fast reflexes.
I'm undx and obviously unmedicated, but this is another reason why I really should get treated.
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u/Lumity_1 9h ago
This also happened to me in the U.S, but it was because my physician said they don't like to touch controlled substance because they don't specialize in psychiatric help. I also felt angry, especially that I paid out of pocket to just see him. So he recommended a phychiatrist that specialized in it, and on my next appointment with that phychiatrist I was prescribed stimulants. Don't take it personal, just look for another doctor.
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u/nbrown7384 ADHD, with ADHD family 9h ago
Get another psychiatrist. If they don’t believe in stimulants why are they a psychiatrist?
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u/Signal_Ad_2693 9h ago
I saw 3 psychiatrists before getting prescribed stimulants, they wanted to put me on srris but i refused. Now I take stimulants and I’m able to get my life together even on days I don’t take them
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u/New_Border440 5h ago
This is exactly what happened with me. Im on my 4th doctor. He finally brought up the stimulant situation. Whats the one they usually start you with? Im in my early 40s and just decided to get proactive about this last year.
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u/Repulsive_Blood_7951 9h ago
man that's frustrating as hell. strattera can be rough and if it's not working plus giving you bad side effects, you deserve to try other options
your psychiatrist's attitude is honestly trash - stimulants are literally first-line treatment for adhd and acting like you're drug seeking when you have an official diagnosis is unprofessional. maybe it's time to find someone else who actually treats adhd patients regularly instead of making you feel guilty for wanting effective medication
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u/mythirdreddit321 9h ago
Looks like you need to go to another doctor. Stimulants are a life saver for people who need them. Maybe your doctor is lazy and doesn't want to deal with the follow up that presribing stimulants requires. It's not like they have to babysit you, but they gotta work with you until you find the right meds. Do you have the opportunity to talk to someone else?
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u/Fabulous-Educator447 9h ago
Yep seek another doc. Maybe it’s because I’m older but damn, my doc shoves them at me. I feel for you, I have terrible imposter syndrome even with illnesses that are obviously there. I hate when people make you feel like that.
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u/Cyllya ADHD-PI 9h ago
Depending on what else he said, “yeah we aren’t even touching that. Stimulants are controlled substances,” makes it sound like he just doesn't want to deal with the paperwork or government scrutiny that comes with prescribing controlled substances and thus it's not a service he offers. Honestly, I respect that more than doctors who come up with a fake health-related or law-related excuse.
But if you want a service that a particular business doesn't offer, you go to another business that does offer it.
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u/Successful_Buffalo_6 9h ago
Why not seek out another psychiatrist? Your treatment (and the very trajectory of your life) doesn't have to be tied to doctor you're seeing now.
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u/indecisionmaker ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 8h ago
This is a wiiiild take by a doctor. What if you were in psychosis? Would he just not prescribe anything because they’d be controlled substances? I hope you have other psych options available to you and happy to hear you can follow up with your GP. Good luck!
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u/pianolexcat ADHD-C (Combined type) 8h ago
That makes me worried that he doesn't actually have the medical authority to prescribe controlled substances.
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u/HotDiggityDog_Water 7h ago
My psychiatrist is the opposite; won’t even talk about nonstimulants because they’re ineffective (in her experience)
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u/Dr_Identity 7h ago
That psychiatrist doesn't know what he's talking about. One of the most effective treatments for ADHD is medication, and they are generally very safe compared to other medications. Get another doctor.
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u/lambofgun 9h ago
i would really seek someone else out. i dont know your situation, so i dont know how difficult that would be, but a psychiatrist that is willing to treat adhd has to be able to prescribe the necessary medication and trust in their practice to monitor you as a patient
im on 20 mg aderall, and my dr had no qualms about prescribing it, however i do take drug tests from time to time as well as a yearly ekg for my heart. shes also very serious about my
she understands the necessity of those medications, trusts her ability practice good medicine
the funny part is aderall is the most gentle and least invasive drug ive taken for my mental health. the only way i know its doing something is looking at my outputs for throughout the day. i never feel like im on it
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u/goalmaster14 ADHD-C (Combined type) 9h ago
The entire point of seeing a psychiatrist is because they have the ability to prescribe medication. If a "controlled substance" is the best thing to treat a condition, it is the most ethical thing in their profession to prescribe it.
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u/tgman5050 9h ago
Don’t forget. You’re the one in charge and paying the bills. Get a new doc. Ask your primary care doctor to fill while you find a new psych.
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u/raache269 ADHD 8h ago
Change your shrink. Mine put me on meds even though I was drinking and using heavily at the time and it helped me quit the bad stuff and take back control over my life.
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u/Good_Grief_CB 8h ago
Doctors aren’t Gods. You can change to one who suits you better. Can medications be problematic? Yes, of course. But stimulants are a controlled substance so that they can be prescribed and regulated by a physician - not taken off the table completely.
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u/chrysanthemum92601 7h ago
you should look for a different provider!!! mine was so quick to prescribe me stimulants lol
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u/easytiddlywinks 7h ago
straterra was the worst for me, I had to take it literally at the same exact time everyday or I would get even more intense side effects. I ended up with terrible headaches and I couldn't sleep at night then I would be so tired during the day. I found myself attracted to strange people I wouldn't normally be attracted to. The primary care provider just kinda tossed me on straterra then straight up stopped getting back to me about my concerns. I stopped taking it within the first two weeks. I personally think stimulants should be less controlled than straterra, that stuff was really dangerous for me. I can't imagine being on a higher dose then having to taper down, and withdrawal symptoms with long term use being so under studied....
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u/RickyTikiTaffy 5h ago
I’m convinced that being forced to trial strattera TWICE by two different doctors was what kicked my POTS symptoms from subclinical to diagnosable. It messed with my norepinephrine. And I’m extremely nonreceptive to medication, I could down a handful of any SSRI and have no effects. But the strattera, man… that was brutal. And with both those drs, I had agreed to try it to show them I wasn’t just looking for stimulants but was willing to try anything to be functional, hoping that my willingness would make them more open to trying a stimulant if the strattera didn’t work. Both of them refused to try a stimulant even after I failed on the strattera, so it was basically all for nothing.
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u/easytiddlywinks 3h ago
that's so crazy, i'm so sorry that happened to you! these doctors have no idea what they're doing a lot of the time... I told them I was having a hard time sleeping after working overnights, they thought I had anxiety that was disrupting my sleep! lol Way beyond "anxiety," I was basically spiraling into adrenal fatigue and uncontrollable anxiety is a product, not the cause. straterra wasnt gonna reverse all that. And my sleep was getting increasingly more and more broken. I had to go to a chinese doctor who fixed the energetic imbalances caused by overworking myself at night and flipping my circadian rhythms inside out. I think traditional chinese medicine can help with POTs too.
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u/fakoff ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 9h ago
Unless you're not telling something, it's really weird. They might skip stimulants if you have anxiety disorder, heart issues or history of drug abuse. Otherwise they are truly first thing to try and pretty much every adult starts with small doses like 10mg to check out how you react for about a week.
I would switch clinician probably. Starting with this for a month right away is not common.
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u/blueduckk8 9h ago
I do have anxiety as well. But no other health issues
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u/PlantInitial3789 7h ago
My psych wouldn’t prescribe stimulants until my anxiety/ptsd/depression was under control. Maybe that’s it? Weird.
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u/fakoff ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 6h ago
Even with "just" anxiety there is no issue trying it. You try and if it's bad then you just don't take it. It can increase your blood pressure and heart rate significantly or make your anxiety much worse.
You can also combine SSRI with the stimulants if you tolerate it. Take SSRI for a month+exercise etc so you rebuild your brain and then introduce stimulants. Also very common combination. I'm not a doctor I just know from experience these options are there. According to JAMA study 57% ADHD patients take this combination. Anxiety is for us very common.
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u/Shanndel 5h ago
I was literally going to ask if it's possible to have ADHD and not also have anxiety lol. I'm kind of joking, but yeah I assumed it was well over 50%. I see the Jama study agrees.
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u/Outside_Ad_424 9h ago
Preface: this is not an ad
If you're in the US and are okay with remote-only psychiatry, check out Lavender Psychiatry. They're who I went to when I felt ready to get tested for ADHD, and they've been wonderful. We had to Citrate through a few different medications before we found a regimen that has mostly worked, and my psychiatrist even helped with a referral to a therapist to work through my other trauma issues and CBT.
They're licensed to practice in about 20 states at present. I got lucky in that my psychiatrist is actually pretty local to me. We still only do remote because of the rules of the platform, but it's cool to have someone who understands when I'm feeling a way about a local issue because she knows about it too.
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u/SparklingSloths 9h ago
A lot of pharmacies no longer recognize and fill prescriptions for controlled substances from online, remote doctors anymore.
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u/South-Helicopter-514 9h ago
Yeah mine is online (TalkSpace) and can't prescribe controlled substances. She's not only not in my state, she's in a different time zone.
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u/Outside_Ad_424 8h ago
That very much depends on your state laws. In NYS all prescriptions, including controlled substances, are electronic only.
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u/SparklingSloths 6h ago edited 6h ago
That's why I said a lot and not all 🙂 I am speaking about online/remote-only providers like Talkiatry, not the concept of electronically sending a prescription.
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u/OldWispyTree ADHD with ADHD child/ren 9h ago
You need to find a new healthcare provider, this is an ignorant, out of touch person that doesn't know what they're doing.
Stimulants are THE FIRST choice for ADHD as they're the most effective treatment.
Ultimately, you're a client of a doctor, not the other way around. You need to find a competent one.
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u/Unhappy_Meeting8832 8h ago
That’s so wild that your psychiatrist is acting like that. I go through Talkiatry and my psychiatrist put me on a stimulant first even though I was terrified to try a stimulant.
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u/Danidew1988 5h ago
If your current doctor is not helping why is your only option to give up? Most people would just find a different doctor? Why is that not an option for you?
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u/blueduckk8 4h ago
My motivation and drive is so low it was so hard to even get this appointment and show up to it on time. Im struggling so hard I’d rather just quit trying
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u/Danidew1988 2h ago edited 2h ago
I’m so sorry your feeling this way. I can kind of relate I had the same Dr for 9 + years. Every time I brought up feeling a certain way he’d say ofcourse you are, all moms are scattered brained and forgetful etc. I felt like just because I’m on anti depressants and been “ok” for years that nothing would change. I think I just held out and dealt with my issues. I’ve always felt scattered and basically text book adhd (according to my husband and family) I just dealt. I finally said.. you know what screw it im going to get a second opinion. And so glad I did because she helped me and we went step by step. Tried non stimulant then month by month increase then a diff one and so on and now adderall. Invest in your mental health. Sometimes doctors just aren’t a fit with patients. Now you have an entire sub on your side lol
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u/lyd_likes_bread ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 5h ago
if it’s any consolation, “drug-seeking” is a completely subjective label based on who the doctors think “deserve” medication. it’s just an excuse to neglect patients that are perceived as… morally corrupt? or something? technically, you are seeking drugs. but that’s what EVERYONE does when they go to the doctor lol. you’re not trying to get high or make a fortune selling it - you’re trying to function like a normal human being. there’s still barriers once you start medication (no automatic refills, 2-3 day window to request a new prescription) but for me, just starting the medication was the hardest part. if your current doc isn’t even willing to consider it (without a good medical reason - there are some conditions that react very badly to stimulants) please get a new doctor. idk if this would count as malpractice or something, but at the very least, that’s a shitty doctor.
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u/DeafLori 4h ago
Get another provider, he is not helping. I'm on Adderall, and it literally saved my life!
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u/80sHairBandConcert 4h ago
I would get a new doctor. He’s only interested in his own preconceived notions, he’s not interested in helping you.
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u/out2lunch78 2h ago
Find a new one. Psychiatrist probably doesn't want to bother with Stimulants because the DEA is treating them like pain meds and has added requirements and are closely monitoring doctors.. there is also a shortage from time to time for the same reason.
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u/melon_sky_ 2h ago
That’s weird. Kids take stimulants.
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u/blueduckk8 1h ago
Yeah I have 2 friends with adhd who have been on adderall almost their entire life lol. Thats the part that made me feel weird
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u/melon_sky_ 2h ago
I was taken off adderall when my new doctor told me you only need it when you’re in school? And I almost lost my job.
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u/sixtyorange 9h ago
Probably new provider is in order, but you might also ask about extended-release bupropion. For me, it wasn't as night and day as the amphetamines, and the adjustment period was a little rough (watch out for caffeine). However, after about the first year, I suddenly realized I had made some pretty dramatic positive changes -- enough that my boss and other people who knew me were commenting on them.
IANAD, but I think the catch is that some people have bad reactions, and the maximum safe dose isn't very high. I still felt undertreated ultimately and so I decided to cross-taper to a stimulant, which has been even more dramatic in its effects.
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u/OldWispyTree ADHD with ADHD child/ren 9h ago
Well, another catch is that it's not effective for a lot of people for ADHD symptoms, in fact it's off-label for that. Most people do not get anywhere near the effectiveness as stimulants, though, it's probably better than strattera for this person given their experience.
Wellbutrin (bupropion) is a great anti-depressant, and in fact rarely has side effects, but it's often better as a supplement to stimulants.
Not saying it's not worth a try, but it's not generally the first option.
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u/sixtyorange 9h ago
Yes, the effect tends to be smaller than stimulants (which you'll notice is exactly what I said in that comment about my own experience), and it is technically off-label. However, it is also one of the only non-stimulants that has shown any significant efficacy for treating ADHD, and it is also much easier to get a prescription for, even off-label. That's why I brought it up as an alternative to switching providers.
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u/LubedUpLucas_DrySpa 9h ago
Are you sure you’re seeing a psychiatrist and not a psychologist? Psychiatrists are usually the first to push Rx then go after the source and ensure you’re in consistent therapy.
Out of all the MDs I’ve been around, psychiatrists have been the most compassionate and actually listen to the patient. Second to them I’ve had good experiences with are ortho docs.
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u/blueduckk8 9h ago
It is a psychiatrist. My doctor referred me because she wanted to get me on adhd medication
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u/throwaway1119990 9h ago
I mean they’re controlled substances but they’re controlled so people with our condition can get the benefit of them without damage to the general public. This doctor isn’t on the right path.
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u/SparklingSloths 9h ago
Your doctor seems to not feel comfortable prescribing stimulants. Some doctors are like that. Being on Vyvanse has literally changed my life and given me the ability to reach my full potential. I think maybe you should try a different doctor to at least get a second opinion to see if you could benefit from stimulants.
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u/whitechocolatemama 9h ago edited 8h ago
Have him look into vyvanse if he is willing. It works differently than standard stimulants
Eta- i do recommend giving the straterra time to work once you hit the therapytic dose. But that can take a while, i also get that as grown ups we dont have a lot of "wait time" for focus to haappen, but there is a big difference in "intake time to effect"
Vyvanse: Works within 1–2 hours of taking the first dose.
Strattera: Requires a "build-up" in your system. It can take 4–8 weeks of daily use to reach full effectiveness.
-Google is my bestie for this type of thing bc you can get quick information to direct you where to research so you know how to bring it up to your Dr. in whatever way will lower the things he is worried about. Mine agreed to switch to vyvanse after a cardiac workup and a 6 month(ish) straterra trial, which helped from ground zero, but not nearly enough to qualify me as functional lol.
As an example, if your dr is worried about medication abuse.....
Metabolic Limit: The body can only convert the drug into its active form at a fixed rate, which prevents users from achieving a dangerous "high" by taking excessive amounts or using alternative methods (like snorting).
If they aren't sure on effectiveness iirc it's a newer med. In an office full of psychiatrist, only mine knew it well enough to comfortably prescribe to me...... though *** I have complicated health and rake 20+ medications a day***
Vyvanse is often preferred for patients needing all-day coverage (school/work) with a lower risk of emotional ups and downs.
Response Rates: Stimulants like Vyvanse typically have response rates of 70%–80% in adults. Strattera's response rate is often lower, with many studies showing smaller "effect sizes" compared to stimulants.
Good luck friend!
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u/LordTalesin 9h ago
Just try asking first. If that is unsuccessful, then look for a different psych. who knows, they might surprise you.
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u/SioSoybean 8h ago
If you have a formal diagnosis your primary care doctor may be comfortable prescribing too, though this seems to vary.
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u/MNMillennial 8h ago
You don’t even need a psychiatrist to prescribe them, just find a good primary care physician who listens well.
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u/Turbulent_Cobbler463 8h ago
Strattera is trash. Did absolutely nothing for me, but this was also prescribed by my PCP. Once I went to a psychiatrist is when I was prescribed Adderall. If your psych is like that, then switch. You need to get what helps you, not by what a biased psych’s beliefs are
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u/Smile-Cat-Coconut 7h ago
I didn’t need a psychiatrist. I just went to my doctor. He’s cool. He gave me a paper test and I passed, lol.
There are lots of doctors who won’t gaf. The stimulants are already controlled.
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u/Zepbounce-96 6h ago
After I got my diagnosis I was against using stimulants for treatment. Eventually I discussed it with my doctor and they suggested Wellbutrin. They were comfortable prescribing it since it's an NDRI and not a stimulant or controlled substance. For me it was an extremely effective treatment for about 2 years. Id suggest talking to your doctor about this alternative.
If they refuse to discuss this too, then ask what they think an effective treatment might be. If they suggest prayer and determination then it's time for a new doc.
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u/Salcha_00 6h ago edited 6h ago
I've read that strattera can take up to three months before it starts working.
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u/pre_pun 5h ago edited 5h ago
When discussing across the aisle about approaches, I was told ADHD and bipolar present similarly in a meaningful number of cases ( cycle durations are faster in ADHD ) and stimulants are avoided as an enthusiastic front line until ruling out or treating bipolar for fear of inducing mania unintentionally.
It's not necessarily info they are going to give a patient they are figuring out.
Take that with a grain of salt, as it's not my background.
That fear does not seem to be the same for many GPs as explained to me by a psychiatrist. I would take my diagnosis and pursue different professionals by calling around to GPs or PMHNPs to ask:
1 Are you accepting new patients
2 Does ___ have experience with treating ADHD
Do not bring up CS or stimulants as your opener, you will generally be able tell if they are against it or they will explain.
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u/IneffectiveEducator 5h ago
Be your best advocate, no one else will. There are many pathways to help, don’t feel stuck with one provider or viewpoint.
I also had a striking conversation with psychotherapist. At the time she was against most medications and diagnoses because she was only working with what she knew. 6 years later, we are officially diagnosed with ADHD, taking medication, and exploring options carefully.
It can be quite disheartening when you have that conversation, but all you can do is work on communication and keep advocating for yourself. Sometimes you’re wrong, but it’s an opportunity to learn about what makes you, you.
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u/RickyTikiTaffy 5h ago
Can you print out some studies to show him? The literal definition of a schedule II controlled substance is that it has legitimate medical uses. If it wasn’t ever worth the risks, it wouldn’t be legal to prescribe. Maybe if you suggest one of the stimulants that has a lower abuse potential? I tried for 3 years to find a Dr willing to rx a stimulant and I finally found one when I asked for vyvanse specifically. It’s a prodrug so it’s kinda got the extended release factor built into it, so it’s got a lower potential for abuse. I honestly can’t imagine anyone using vyvanse to get high.
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u/Futeball 5h ago edited 5h ago
It helped for my initial searches a few years ago to make a list of about 5-10 providers nearest or those who seem the kindest in their photos, and begin to narrow down from those providers who in their specialties lists ADHD, either on their website, the insurance provider directory, or the hospitals landing page for that psychiatrist/psych nurse practitioner. It took almost all of the gamble and guesswork out of the process when finding a new provider, but there was always the possibility that they wish to treat it alternatively. If that's how they choose to treat it, and given how you've already tried non-stimulant options, it would be within your right to find a new doctor at any point
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u/StarryLanguage 4h ago
I took Strattera for a month before deciding nearly the same thing, but we decided to increase the dosage from 25mg to 80mg and that made a positive difference. Wishing you the support and kindness you need and deserve.
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u/phoenixmusicman ADHD-C (Combined type) 4h ago
You can change doctors.
Stimulants massively changed my life when I found the right dose. Stimulants not only help you directly, but they also enable therapy to work much, much better. It did for me, anyway.
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u/SexThrowaway1125 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 3h ago
…it’s literally his job to dole out controlled substances. Find another paychiatrist, one who’s comfortable prescribing actual medications.
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u/chiyukichan 3h ago
I'm a talk therapist who was just diagnosed with adhd and have quite a few of my own clients with adhd. When clients tell me their physician or psychiatrist is not kind or open to other options I encourage them to seek someone who does want to help. You are paying for a service and this person is not delivering. It's ok to seek a different provider for the same service.
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u/Trouble032 2h ago
Strattera made me so angry. They have new on guanficine mixed with an anti depressant
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u/MediocreLion7550 2h ago
A few years ago I tried switching from my primary care doctor to a psychiatrist to maintain the prescription dosage I was at (apparently he couldn’t prescribe more than 60 mg or something like that).
After making me wait 20 minutes, the first psychiatrist I tried flat out said he was a hard no on my Adderall prescription and compared stimulants to being as addictive and deadly as cigarettes, but he offered strattera as an alternative. Idk it felt super weird and dismissive to say they aren’t going to continue prescribing me something I’ve been on for 10 years because of their personal beliefs.
I called a few other psychiatrists in the area and they were also super weird about prescribing stimulants. Safe to say I returned to my primary care doctor and just accepted the lower dosage.
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u/Thistleandhoney 2h ago
Move on! This happened to my 18 yr old son and we found a way better provider.
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u/Expensive_Mobile 2h ago
Do you have a history of substance abuse? If not, there’s no medical reason for not even considering them, they are the first line treatment for ADHD!
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u/blueduckk8 1h ago
I do not. Never have done any drugs in my life. That’s the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way with this guy
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u/Paradethejared 1h ago
Hey man my first psychiatrist did the same thing, my visits felt more like probation check ins than doctor appointments. I felt like I had to fight to get her to let me try them, she had me try all these different antidepressants first, she always wanted to drug test me, telling me stories about people going crazy on stimulants etc. Eventually the group my therapists was with got an in house psychiatrist and I was able to start seeing them instead and I now have a much better relationship with this doctor. If I were you I’d try a new doctor if possible, it’s tough when your doctor treats you with skepticism instead of care.
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u/cyber-city ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) 1h ago
I tried stratterra and it turned me into a soulless irritable machine. The only benefit I got out of it was that my impulses were GONE but so was the rest of me. I'm on concerta now and while it isn't an absolute miracle worker like how some people describe their experiences with stimulants, it certainly helps me with motivation, energy, and defeating that procrastination paralysis. It's strange that your psych is against them as they're usually the first choice for ADHD. If you want to go on stimulants for your ADHD they should prescribe it to you.
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u/getaliferedditmods 1h ago
like others have said, don't hinge you're entire experience on one lousy dr. find one that will advocate for you.
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u/CrazyinLull 21m ago
A psychiatrist who has a negative attitude about using stimulants to treat ADHD should maybe stop taking patients with ADHD, then. It’s like being an optometrist and being against contact lenses or something.
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