this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2025
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ADHD

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Disclaimer: I'm referring the the US medical system, but I imagine people in other countries may encounter similar things.

I cannot be the only one who has had this experience, but all my dealings with the medical industry feel like they were refined by a group of psychologists to exploit the weaknesses of those with ADHD.

The volume of calls, appointments, and paperwork I had to full out to get a diagnosis and prescription for treatment is completely unreasonable to expect someone with poor working memory and attention issues to navigate.

Then, to stay on medication, you need to schedule and make appointments with a psychiatrist every month, for the rest of your life, and if you miss a single one, you will run out of meds (and likely charged a fine), which will make it even harder to remember to make the next one. If you miss too many, that psychiatrist will refuse to see you again and you have to go back to your PCP to get a new referral.

Look, I understand that their time is valuable, but this system couldn't be designed any other way to be more accommodating to people who clinically forget things?!

It's like designing a wheelchair ramp that's actually just stairs that are 3x as steep as the regular stairs. Also, if you fall to the bottom, someone takes your wheelchair until you can climb back up.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Shoutout to ADHDcentral. They tried to make the process as clear and accessible as possible. With automated reminders.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (3 children)

You guys don’t have repeat prescriptions?

I just order mine on an app when I get a reminder and then pick it up from the chemist a few days later when I get a ping.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I have to go in every year to get refills on my epi pens and my migraine meds. I have to have a doctor sign off on those and I don't really know why. I am not on ADHD meds but I imagine that would be the same.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

My old doctor used to require monthly check-ins to get my ADHD meds.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Usa person, i canget auto refills on meds never tried with adhd meds though. The ones that have auro refill have a final refill date and max refill number.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Your use of "chemist" makes me think you're out of the US.

Most ADHD meds in the US are "controlled substances" and that means our doctors can only prescribe up to three months at a time. After three months we have to have a follow-up appointment, then they can prescribe three more months of meds.

Plus the federal government decided that too many people were taking medications like Adderall. So their "solution" was to instate a cap on how much Adderall manufacturers can make. Which means there's now a national shortage of Adderall. And that shortage means folks with ADHD are frequently going without their meds entirely or are forced to call multiple pharmacies in the area to ask who has their meds in stock. (My health insurance through work requires me to use a mail-order pharmacy because it means cost savings for them. But that means I don't have the luxury of shopping around different stores to see who has my meds in stock - at least, not to fill the prescription through insurance and get the lower price. So if the mail order place is out, then I'm screwed.)

Our healthcare system is so fucked.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago

As someone with unmedicated ADHD and a severe heart condition, I feel this rant deep, deep in my soul but more for my heart stuff.

You mean I have to call for follow ups every three months and also remember to fill my multiple medications every month or else I am sent on a death spiral? And you also mean to tell me that I can't take any of the typical ADHD drugs because it might hurt my heart?

Win win.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is why I got off the schedule 1 stuff. There are other options.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not really. I’ve tried some other solutions like antidepressants and they didn’t help because they don’t address the core issue. AFAIK only stimulants are proven to be an effective treatment for ADHD.

Also, that only alleviates one of the problems I mentioned.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Wellbutrin and strattera are both for adhd

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

I've never had a doctor or therapist take me serious. If I had access to the drugs I could self medicated diagnose better.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

I'm extremely happy with the process I've had, but I understand it's very likely not representative of the rest of us here.

By and large, you're right though. My wife has gone through similar struggles and hasn't been medicated for over a year because of it.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I've never seen a psychiatrist - I was diagnosed by a psychologist and prescribed by my general practitioner doctor. My doctor doesn't make me come into the office regularly, I can generally just message him for a refill. I realize I am extremely lucky (not that lucky - I can't seem to tolerate stimulants), but I encourage people to try a different route.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

I think state regulations might vary. Where I am, every three months I HAVE to have an appointment to get a refill prescription for my Adderall. But fortunately my psych is still doing virtual appointments, which is a lot less disruptive to my workday.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've heard it makes reliably getting meds a lot easier if they arent stimulants, so maybe youve got that going for you? 😃

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This was for stimulants, I haven't tried non-stimulants yet, but I am also of a demographic that doesn't arouse suspicion

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I meant shortages, i hear its a nightmare (at least in the US). I've got a little over a month to go for an appointment for an initial evaluation 😞

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It's designed that way, because it has the same effect on everyone. People with ADHD are just starting with a lower capacity for it. The goal is to get as many people as possible to give up on getting what should be theirs in order to "save money". It's the same thing you'll see in certain software when you try to do something they don't like, for example, opening a link in an external browser, or contacting an actual support representative. Suddenly, this app is really poorly designed! It's not a bug, it's a feature

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

"Zocdoc" is a great app to make appointments when possible.

[–] [email protected] 79 points 1 week ago (3 children)

My anxiety, depression, and executive dysfunction prevent me from talking to a therapist and getting a diagnosis. I am so sick of this...

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

CBD gummies have worked miracles for my depression and anxiety. Depending on where you live, maybe give it a try for a week or two and see what happens?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

What dosage are you taking, when, and what type?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I started with a 300mg per bag of 20 (so each gummy would be 20mg each). I would take one a night for a week, every other week (I’d stay sober when with my kids). After a couple of 300, I moved up to 2000 (100mg/gummy).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

These guys work really well.

https://wyldcbd.com/products/raspberry-gummies

They have different flavors, and for me the peach ones work really well

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is the state of U.S. healthcare, homie just prescribed peach flavoring.

I know this is accurate because I also live in this hellhole.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It’s great, isn’t it? I also got laid off at the end of January, lost my health insurance immediately so I had to cancel my gallbladder removal for the next week because I could no longer afford it.

ThE pRiVaTe MaRkEt WiLl SoLvE tHe PrObLeM

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Just hold your breath, it will trickle down any second

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