Want to hear some honest opinions please. This regarding a personal friend of mine and I want to hear some personal experiences or your thoughts or opinions pls. Thanks!
STORY – The girl has chronic pain and takes lots of narcotics a month, Norco and Dilaudid routinely, but has done this for 15+ years. She does not display any type of drug seeking behavior or being an addict, but is dependent on these drugs to function. She keeps her appt every month and takes her medicine as prescribed. She has depressive disorder that set in upon her diagnosis of chronic disease/pain which she is prescribed Wellbutrin SR for X3 yrs now. Now, she has always displayed symptoms of ADHD but recently she has been complaining of "feeling like she is driven by a motor and insomnia". Now I feel like she has had ADHD all of her life and is just now being diagnosed with it. She is 30 yrs old. First her MD started on Straterra, 2 weeks go by and no change. Then onto Concerta, (Ritalin ER type drug) this worked well during the day but she suffered from severe abdominal pain. Then she was changed to Daytrana, (pretty much Ritalin in a patch) but had no effects from this. At this point – her MD went to a medication called "Intuiv" which made her feel lousy but it looks like it is used for ADHD. Now she is started on a medicine called Symbyax. This is really strange for me to understand since it’s not used for ADHD at all.
She definitely has a diagnosis of adult ADHD medically documented so why isn’t her doctor prescribing her the medications that is typically used for adult ADHD?? If the Concerta worked, why wouldn’t her doctor prescribe her a short-acting Ritalin or Adderral or Vyvanse?? I guess I’m confused and really wanting to know if she is being penalized for her narcotic use and if you feel this is hindering the MD’s decision to adequately treat her?? She is not allowed to go see another doctor for her ADHD because she is under a narcotic contract with her MD and seeing another doctor is prohibited – she has already asked….so is she stuck?? She likes her doctor and doesn’t want to change so this isn’t an option. She has random drug screens and has always been in compliance with her medication regimen. She has 3 children and works hard.
So what’s the deal?? Do you think her MD will eventually prescribe her something that is actually used for adult ADHD, which is also a stimulant or a controlled drug, or do you think he’ll continue to prescribe all the anti-depressants until she decides to stop seeking treatment?? He must not be concerned with prescribing controlled drugs because he is the one who prescribes her narcotics every month…..Please no rude answers – my friend really needs help/advice and I’m running out of excuses for her doctor!
Thanks in advance!
Sorry so long, but no other choice!
My friend comes to me after each appt. I am a nurse practioner and I know what I would do if I were her caregiver. But we both decided that it would be best to have her see someone else. To not support her when she is upset would be not being her best friend. I simply wanted other’s personal experiences pls. Thx.
my kid is on meds for adhd. one of the worst things i can think, is changing doctors or involving more than one in his program, in which he is functioning very well, to turn him into a guinea pig.
i do not blame her doctor for holding her under contract. with so many meds, this is too risky with side effects and counteractions and to mess with by involving every tom dick and harry. she has a multiple diagnosis on very strong medications. if she is not happy with her md, then she needs ot leave and find a new one.
she is an adult, its her choice and it really is that simple. if she likes her doctor and her progress so far and refuses to leave, there is nothi,g you can do about it.
in fact, without being too blunt, in the end, its really none of your business. just be her friend when she asks you advice. keep in mind that sometimes too much "offered" advice is outright interference and meddling.
my kid is on meds for adhd. one of the worst things i can think, is changing doctors or involving more than one in his program, in which he is functioning very well, to turn him into a guinea pig.
i do not blame her doctor for holding her under contract. with so many meds, this is too risky with side effects and counteractions and to mess with by involving every tom dick and harry. she has a multiple diagnosis on very strong medications. if she is not happy with her md, then she needs ot leave and find a new one.
she is an adult, its her choice and it really is that simple. if she likes her doctor and her progress so far and refuses to leave, there is nothi,g you can do about it.
in fact, without being too blunt, in the end, its really none of your business. just be her friend when she asks you advice. keep in mind that sometimes too much "offered" advice is outright interference and meddling.
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add to poster: you are commended for your loyalty and your support of your friend. however you are a nurse, not a licensed medical doctor. neither are you remotely trained or qualified to make a diagnosis or prescribe treatment. her md of many years is smart to hold her to contract before every home remedy and alternative drug is dumped on top of her variety of medications by unqualified ppl who believe they have a right to. his contract with her is for her own protection. smart doctor.