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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Comp on September 21, 1998, at 23:16:55
Hello, thanks in advance for all of your help.
Especial thanks goes to Toby, I can not thank you
enough for all you have done for me. Well, I had a
problem with my Psychologist's receptionist. She
failed to report the side effects of Adderol and when
I ran out of the medication, she failed to give the
doctor the message. When I confronted her, she gave
me an I don't care attitude. I tried another
psychologist and he did not want to prescribe Adderol
to me because he said that adults should not be taking
stimulants. They are meant only for children. I did
not want to go back to him. So I am left without a
psych and without medication. Was looking around the
yellow pages and I found that Pchycologist treated
and sometimes specialized in ADD or ADHD. I am kinda
desperate to get help as I am confused and I don't need
confusion. Not more than I already have. Thanks for
everything in advanced, Comp.
Posted by Toby on September 24, 1998, at 11:20:38
In reply to Psychologist or Phychiatrist? For ADD, posted by Comp on September 21, 1998, at 23:16:55
I hope you got some relief from the side effects you were experiencing before. If so, and the Adderall was really doing some good, there is no reason for you to not have the medication. There are psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in ADD but I don't know how you would find that out other than calling their offices. If you live near a teaching hospital, one that trains medical students and residents, the psychiatry or neurology departments would be a good place to try. They will be up to date on all the new medications, combinations of treatments, etc and will not be as skeptical of trying treatments that may be off label (i.e., not FDA approved). That psychologist (are you sure it wasn't a psychiatrist?) was correct that stimulants aren't approved in adults but that's because the company is not going to spend the money to get another FDA approval for the label when their patent doesn't have that much longer anyway. But stimulants are used all the time in adults for depression, narcolepsy, and now ADD. So try a teaching hospital if one is near to you, otherwise, just call around for a doctor that treats a lot of ADD. There are many options for treatment besides the stimulants and two of the newer ones are antidepressants: Effexor and Wellbutrin (I like Wellbutrin a little better). Also, there is Cylert (no abuse potential, once a day dosing) and some of the old antidepressants (imipramine) and some blood pressure meds that work right well: guanfacine and clonidine. One of those options may work better for you if you continue to have some of the same blunting feelings that the Adderall was causing (if I remember what you said correctly). good luck.
Posted by alan on September 25, 1998, at 9:55:36
In reply to Re: Psychologist or Phychiatrist? For ADD, posted by Toby on September 24, 1998, at 11:20:38
> I hope you got some relief from the side effects you were experiencing before. If so, and the Adderall was really doing some good, there is no reason for you to not have the medication. There are psychiatrists and psychologists who specialize in ADD but I don't know how you would find that out other than calling their offices. If you live near a teaching hospital, one that trains medical students and residents, the psychiatry or neurology departments would be a good place to try. They will be up to date on all the new medications, combinations of treatments, etc and will not be as skeptical of trying treatments that may be off label (i.e., not FDA approved). That psychologist (are you sure it wasn't a psychiatrist?) was correct that stimulants aren't approved in adults but that's because the company is not going to spend the money to get another FDA approval for the label when their patent doesn't have that much longer anyway. But stimulants are used all the time in adults for depression, narcolepsy, and now ADD. So try a teaching hospital if one is near to you, otherwise, just call around for a doctor that treats a lot of ADD. There are many options for treatment besides the stimulants and two of the newer ones are antidepressants: Effexor and Wellbutrin (I like Wellbutrin a little better). Also, there is Cylert (no abuse potential, once a day dosing) and some of the old antidepressants (imipramine) and some blood pressure meds that work right well: guanfacine and clonidine. One of those options may work better for you if you continue to have some of the same blunting feelings that the Adderall was causing (if I remember what you said correctly). good luck.
This may be as good a place as any to point out that clinical psychologists are not, in effect, just psychiatrists who can't prescribe, perhaps because they flunked chemistry and calculus as undergrads. (SOME are just that, of course. As some MDs couldn't hack advanced experimental methodology.) Psychologists have--or ought to have--special skills and conceptual resources which can be of special value; in cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example. Ideally, the psychologists and psychiatrists should accept a reasonable diviion of labor, and advise patients accordingly. And patients should try to determine what they need, and from whom, of course with proper profesional advice.
Posted by Dora on January 29, 2000, at 3:35:25
In reply to Psychologist or Phychiatrist? For ADD, posted by Comp on September 21, 1998, at 23:16:55
Hello, well i was wondering if by e-mailing u I could get some help, but is it only for add? Please reply soon...
Dora
> Hello, thanks in advance for all of your help.
> Especial thanks goes to Toby, I can not thank you
> enough for all you have done for me. Well, I had a
> problem with my Psychologist's receptionist. She
> failed to report the side effects of Adderol and when
> I ran out of the medication, she failed to give the
> doctor the message. When I confronted her, she gave
> me an I don't care attitude. I tried another
> psychologist and he did not want to prescribe Adderol
> to me because he said that adults should not be taking
> stimulants. They are meant only for children. I did
> not want to go back to him. So I am left without a
> psych and without medication. Was looking around the
> yellow pages and I found that Pchycologist treated
> and sometimes specialized in ADD or ADHD. I am kinda
> desperate to get help as I am confused and I don't need
> confusion. Not more than I already have. Thanks for
> everything in advanced, Comp.
Posted by Noa on January 29, 2000, at 3:45:01
In reply to Re: Psychologist or Phychiatrist? For ADD, posted by Dora on January 29, 2000, at 3:35:25
A psychiatrist can prescribe medication. Some also provide therapy.
A psychologist might do some evaluation to understand the ADHD better, or to rule out another learning problem, and can provide therapy, but cannot prescribe medication.
Often, you can work with both.
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