Pharmacist w/ ADD--I feel your pain! | ADHD Information
Hey guys...I am a 38 yo pharmacist in NYC who has been recently been diagnosed with mild ADD. I am currently on 30 mg immediate release Adderall spread out in 3 doses. Though I have always been "super pharmacist" af far as speed and accuracy go, I have always had some temper and "loss of focus" issues. Well Adderall has pretty much eliminated ALOT of the bad while retaining the good. I have been consistently "happy" at work for the first time in years.
While searching for info on various ADD message boards, I have noticed that there is always a thread about the fustrations of filling stimulant Rxs at a pharmacy....being made to feel like a "crack-head"...being turned away ("we don't have it")..etc. I will be the first to admit that there are some bad pharmacists out there just like any profession. But in general, pharmacy schools don't really address ADHD/ADD....and though I graduated almost 15 years ago, i don't (yet) consider myself "old-school". But basically we were taught that Schedule II stimulant use is appropriate in children under 16 (ADHD) or in narcolepsy (pretty much treated with modafinil (Provigil) these days). Anyway, any Rx outside of this is often suspected as abuse.
Another problem that mainly exists in the big cities is a crystal meth crisis which is partially fuelled by the overprescibing of Adderall by general practitioners. It is easier to turn Adderall into crystal meth than the pseudoephedrine (sudafed) that is often used.
Basically, I would recommend trying to develop a good relationship with a particular pharmacist at one pharmacy. We may seem overworked (we are) and underpaid (no comment), but most are very nice and knowledgeable and can easily detect if someone is up to no good after a short conversation. Once you have discussed your condition and regimen, be sure he mentions the situation to the other pharmacists on staff for those times when he is away. Hope this helps a bit...and I will try to answer any pharmacy-related questions.
DJ
Hi ApothNYC and welcome.
Very helpful post. I was on Strattera but may be going on Adderall XR. It is often abused, I know of many people who obtain it that don't have ADD. That makes me mad! They make it difficult for people who really need it and give us an unnecessary bad label (as if we all don't live with ENOUGH bad labels, let's just add "junkie" to the pile!)
But this is very informative and good to know. There is a general lack of good information on ADHD and I think with a little help from those afflicted by it, that can be decreased.
Cheekydeeky
Welcome ApothNYC! Can I call you Apoth for short? 
I have been going to the same pharmacy for years and, until recently, had a good relationship with the one pharmacist. But now they are a 24 hour pharmacy and they rotate shifts so you never know who you are going to see on any given day.
When I got my first Adderall prescription 3 weeks ago, the tech was someone I had never seen. As soon as she saw what it was for, she said "oh, let me make sure we have this." Yeah right, I thought to myself. She whispered with the Pharmacist (who I had never seen) and I believe she "ok'd" it.
I don't know, I just didn't like the feeling I got. Like I was being looked at as suspect. Or maybe just paranoia on my part. 
And I, as I'm sure everyone else here, really appreciate your offer for answering our questions here!