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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mistermindmasta on April 22, 2012, at 20:25:02
This has probably been asking many times before... but my question has it's own little addition, so I'm asking it here rather than searching through archives.
Here's a little history: So in 2009, I went to my family doctor asking for a wellbutrin Rx saying I thought maybe I was depressed because I was tired and kinda not motivated and procrastinated a lot. He wrote my Rx for wellbutrin and gave me a bunch of samples of provigil and nuvigil. A year later I went back to him (with insurance now!) and requested the Nuvigil, since that was 1,000 times more effective than the Wellbutrin. Keep in mind Ive never had any official diagnosis, I just kind of asked for the wellbutrin and now I was asking for the nuvigil based on the success of the samples he gave me. So anyway, he gave me the prescription, 150mg 1x/day. I've been taking it, with some success (though not a magic bullet) since sept 2011. Its helped me feel more motivated and procrastinate a bit less, though it has not helped with inattention and paying more attention to details, which is kind of what I was hoping for, rather than just the increase in energy and motivation. Another small point to mention - In 2006 (before ever mentioning any issues to the doc), I had some friends that gave me samples of adderall and ritalin for studying and whatnot and they worked super amazingly awesome and that's when I realised maybe I wasn't normal and that maybe all my laziness and irresponsibility wasn't just me making poor choices... maybe I could improve myself through medications. So that's where I got to wanting to take meds. I can tell you for sure that adderall and ritalin both were way better than nuvigil/provigil. I dont think theyre the magic bullet, but I think that theres legitimately something wrong with me and stimulants seemed to fix that. And there's something about adderall and ritalin that really increases my attention to details and focusing that provigil/nuvigil just doesnt accomplish. That's really why Im finding myself wanting to try those again.
So fast forward, now its 2012 and I lost my job and my insurance. Nuvigil w/o insurance is $470 a month!!! So basically theres zero chance of me continuing to take this medicine. So that got me to thinking about other options and I realised that if I went to dr. and got a Rx for ritalin / adderall, I'd have to pay $90 for the doctors visit and after that I could buy generics and spend maybe $30-$50 a month w/o insurance and that would be a solution so the situation AND in fact the adderall / ritalin may be more effective at increasing my motivation and focus than the nuvigil was, which would be another bonus.
I have an appointment with my doctor this tuesday because I want to ask for generic adderall, dexedrine or generic methylphenidate. Do you guys think this will go over smoothly, based on 1.5 yrs of taking nuvigil w/o abusing it? I.E. I was never Dx'd w/ adhd but kind of think I have it, and I want to have to jump through as few hoops as possible to get the medicine that is best for me. My worries are that he will instead suggest some garbage non stimulant or will want me to see a shrink before proceeding, neither of which I want to do because of money issues. He actually has prescribed my dad 5mg daily of methylphenidate for his memory and concentration problems, so I cant imagine he'd really deny me, but based on other peoples experiences, Id like to start out higher than 5mg, like maybe 20mg daily.
Ive done some research and generic methylphenidate is $4 for a 60 day supply at walmart. Thats really what Im looking for. Alternatively, generic adderall is super cheap at places like costco, etc. Do you guys have any hints as far as not coming off as drug seeking or getting around the fact that I havent yet had a diagnoses? I think one of my problems is that in the past I think Ive come off as saying I just want to take something to give me a little boost on some days, but my problems are really much more severe than that... I wont even begin to go into all the details of my procrastination and poor decision making but lets just say I show each and every sign of inattentive add. However, I need to make sure my Dr. knows that.
Alright, well this is getting too long.. All comments welcome, I just am not sure how this will go over and it would be awesome to get a medicine that I already know works, and works better than what Ive already tried (nuvigil, wellbutrin). Thanks!
Posted by Christ_empowered on April 22, 2012, at 20:44:36
In reply to Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 22, 2012, at 20:25:02
I got adderall at a pretty high dose from my family doc back in the day. Just lay it out to your doc: Nuvigil was awesome, but its pricey, maybe a low-to-moderate dose stimulant?
If they say no, they'll probably do *something* for you, like hook you up with free/reduced cost meds or something. Mine would, anyway.
Posted by Mistermindmasta on April 23, 2012, at 14:09:46
In reply to Re: Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Christ_empowered on April 22, 2012, at 20:44:36
What do you mean by high dose? 30mg a day? To me that would be high but idk about anyone else. I'd hole for 15-20mg if it were adderall.
Anyway yeah I think you're right, I'll probably just lay it out like that. There isn't MUCH of a difference in abuseability of nuvigil vs. Traditional stims so I'm hoping he sees that it shouldnt be much of a diff from to the other except for personal variation in response but I already know I respond ( though I wont tell him).
Thanks for the tips!
> I got adderall at a pretty high dose from my family doc back in the day. Just lay it out to your doc: Nuvigil was awesome, but its pricey, maybe a low-to-moderate dose stimulant?
>
> If they say no, they'll probably do *something* for you, like hook you up with free/reduced cost meds or something. Mine would, anyway.
Posted by Christ_empowered on April 23, 2012, at 20:24:05
In reply to Re: Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 23, 2012, at 14:09:46
I was Rx'd 60mgs/day adderall by a family doc.
There are patient assistance programs for some of the newer stimulants, too, if that's an issue for you.
Posted by bleauberry on April 24, 2012, at 4:31:26
In reply to Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 22, 2012, at 20:25:02
Stimulant prescriptions from family docs is fairly routine as far as I know. If the purpose is for depression that is not as routine but is still done. I get ritalin from my family doc and all I had to do was ask to try it. If a doc is hesitant you can ask just for a small amount that is not abusable....then if it goes well and you prove responsible handling of it, getting the prescription renewed shouldn't be a problem.
Posted by Alexei on April 24, 2012, at 10:44:37
In reply to Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 22, 2012, at 20:25:02
Don't forget that these stimulants are scheduled 2 controlled substances. You can have your doc write 3 rx ... 2 of them backdated. You will have 90 days to fill them. That will eliminate monthly dr visits.
Also, don't let this be the first topic of your visit. Talk about other health issues for a good while ... then casually approach the stim topic ...
Posted by Mistermindmasta on April 24, 2012, at 14:05:32
In reply to Re: Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Alexei on April 24, 2012, at 10:44:37
Actually I was wondering if you had to go once a month back to the doc... ThT would be expensive! So thanks for the tips, I'll see i can get them backdated once Ive been taking them a while.
Actually I've been part of this forum for a LONGGGG time... I just haven't posted recently expect for a few messages here and there but I hear ya. :) thx
Don't forget that these stimulants are scheduled 2 controlled substances. You can have your doc write 3 rx ... 2 of them backdated. You will have 90 days to fill them. That will eliminate monthly dr visits.
>
> Also, don't let this be the first topic of your visit. Talk about other health issues for a good while ... then casually approach the stim topic ...
>
>
Posted by Mistermindmasta on April 24, 2012, at 14:12:56
In reply to Re: Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 24, 2012, at 14:05:32
Oops ignore the last part of my message. Ha, I now realize you were referring to the doctors visit haha. But yeah, here's how I imagine it'll go... Doctor: 'so what can I do for ya today??' me: 'well you ha been prescribing me nuvigil for problems I was having with motivation and energy and feeling fOcused but it turns out I lost my insurance from starting new job so the nuvigil would be $470 a month. That's obviously not something I'm interested so in so id like to see if j can get an alternative drug where a generic is available. As I understand it, methylphenidate would be similarto nuvigil in action so I think something like that would be good in generic form or maybe adderall. '
Then I'll mention how walmart has super cheap generic methylphenidate as part of the $4 a month plan and so that would be my best option.
At that point it's a matter of whether he's comfortable giving me stims without a diagnoseS, though he did say ADHD is a possibilty when I saw him a year or so ago.
Posted by phidippus on April 30, 2012, at 22:20:37
In reply to Can you get a stimulant from a family doctor?, posted by Mistermindmasta on April 22, 2012, at 20:25:02
I think you owe it to yourself to findd a neuropsychologist who will work you up. Neuropschologists specialize in ADHD. Get a work up and get precise idea what drugs and what doses are going to work best for you.
Eric
ps. I have ADHD and been all around with it.
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