medication | ADHD Information

I think that it varies from state to state.  I live in Iowa, and my daughter and I only have to see the doctor once every three months for Adderall XR.  However, the prescriptions must be written and hand-delivered to the pharmacy before the prescriptions can be refilled.  We can only get a one month supply, and I am not certain if this is due to state laws or due to our insurance (or possibly both). [QUOTE=steppingstone] I think that it varies from state to state.  I live in
Iowa, and my daughter and I only have to see the doctor once every three
months for Adderall XR.  However, the prescriptions must be written and
hand-delivered to the pharmacy before the prescriptions can be refilled.  We
can only get a one month supply, and I am not certain if this is due to state
laws or due to our insurance (or possibly both).[/QUOTE]
I think that it might be a law for the entire U.S.A. because it is considered a
controlled substance everywherre because so many people abuse it.Our pediatrician makes us come in each month for a regular appt. The
receptionist explained to me that it was because it takes so long to fill out
the special prescription.

It bothers me too that I have to pay for a doctors appt every month, along
with the amount we pay after insurance for the medicine. Plus, paying for
the visits to see the psychologist isn't cheap. It's crazy!   After insurance
pays, we are paying about for each office visit, for medication, and
about 0 for the psychologist. It doesn't seem like much when you think
of it monthly. But, when you think of it in 6 month or yearly increments,
you're talking a lot of money.

It's very frustrating when you think about it.    [QUOTE=gdad]

I have to go monthly since it is a contolled substance

[/QUOTE]
same hereOur doc can only write one month at a time but she will write a new prescription each month and either send it to us or have us pick it up...we don't have to have an office visit.We have always gotten a 3 month supply and we went back to the Dr. last week and he uped her mill.  We tried it for 7 days and it is working.  He told me to call his nurse and let her know how it is working and he would write the RX for the new mill.  I went to the clinic to pick it up and it was for only one month.   I asked the nurse about it and she told me they could no longer do it for the 3 months.  I said I have to bring her every month to get her meds.  She said yes.  That is crazy.  Now I have to pay for a Dr. visit and meds every month.  Our insurance will only fill them for a month but the Dr. would go ahead and give me RX for 3 so I did not have to come back.  I am going to talk to him about this when we  go back next month.  If she is doing good we should not have to see him every month.   I think they are just wanting the office visit.It depends on the doctor, the insurance, which med(s) and where you are on dosing the med(s). While starting a new med or optimizing the dose, it could be quite often until you get the meds correct (some of this may be done by phone). You start at a low dose and watch for side effects, then increase until you get an effective dose. The stimulants take very little time to see how they are working (or not) while Strattera can take 6-8 weeks). Once you have the correct dose and are on maintenance, you go less often. My insurance will cover 2 months of the controlled meds at one time (my doctor says that 3 months is the longest he has seen an insurance cover), so we will eventially get to every 2 months for new scripts. We have had a lax summer schedule because with school, we cannot optimize, but we did find what looks like a good start. This weekend we restart Concerta and will start the optimization stage. Good luck.I was told when we tried medacine the  vists are necessary to watch their weight/blood pressure. We get scrpts for a 3 mos supply which I send to a mail order prescription. Since ds, almost 18,  has been seeing this dr for 8 years he has appts every 6 mos and we can do  phone  consulttations w/ his nurse who communicates with the dr.

When he was younger he had it was more frequent visits...every three mos unless he was trying out a new med which meant every two weeks, monthly or every two months.
[QUOTE=ivanhoe] I was told when we tried medacine the  vists are
necessary to watch their weight/blood pressure. [/QUOTE]

What's funny about that is every time we go to our pediatrician, they never
weigh him or check his blood pressure. And, I don't have to bring my son
with me to the appt. They said they would let me know when I need to bring
him. But, that it would be every 3-6 months.How often do you have to take your children to the Dr. to get the medication refilled?    

I have to go monthly since it is a contolled substance