NEW* how often do you have checkups???? | ADHD Information

Usually the doctor sees you quite a bit during the time you are finding an effective med and dose. Then it slows down to maintenance and writing prescriptions. What med are you on. The controlled substances (stimulants written on the blue prescription paper) do not get to have refills and you need to get new prescriptions from the doctor (thats part of the control).ive been on the meds for a week and a few days and i was wondering if i should make an apointment w my doc, and how often do we need to go to them about our add n meds?  i dont have any refils so im asuming i need to go there , im gonna call, but i wanted to see how often others had to go in the beginging etc

Ideally monthly - which is why you only can get 1 month in the US before you need to go back in. DEMAND a full checkup for the first while!!! After that if you feel physically comfortable you can drop back a bit.  But don't ignore your body.

In a perfect scenario you should really get a psychiatrist to handle both your meds/physical checkup and your therapy.  You should get therapy at least bimonthly - more if you can - so that you learn new ways to cope.

 

We had to go monthly when we tried strattera on our son. We had trouble affording the copays for the dr./med. I prefer natural stuff over meds anyhow. This is why I love our allergist he is about Natural stuff also. as an adult,i see my psy every 6 weeks.We see DD's psych every 2 weeks . Even during med checks  and maintenance, appts every 2 weeks.It really depends on your stage in treatment, as well as your doctor. I've been on meds for a few years, so dosage is good, etc. I see my doc every 6 months. Each time, he gives me two 3-month rx slips for my adderall.my bf gose to the doc every 6 months but thats jst for all hes checks on white blood cells etc like u have to to make sure the meds aint effecting it but he has been diagnosed for yrs when he was younger he whent much moreFor our son that was just dx'ed with ADHD we have to go back in 4 weeks from the date of visit and then she said every 3 months unless there becomes a issue with the medication...I do have to call in every month for his script to be written because it is Adderall XR and can't be written with refills. I saw my doc every week for 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks until I felt good at the current dose of concerta I take.  Now I see him one time a month!!!  i have an apointment for a check up. then they said as long as i feel good i wont need to go back much. i dont wanna pay co pays for visits and pills every month so hopefully i wont have to go for a couple months after this visit. i have add, not a big bank account lol

What type of meds are you on???  I like to go at least once a month since I am on a stimulant and don't want to damage anything important!!!

I get an EKG every month and pee in a cup and talk to the doc.  I think it is important to go once in a month or so to make sure all is well and bounce things off your doc.  Mine likes to ask a lot of questions and actually gives me advice and doesn't make me feel like an idiot!!!!  It doesn't cost a lot for these maintenance visits for me. 

Just don't compromise on your health to save money would be my only advice!!!! 

LCdc,

I would bet that the monthly ekg and urine test are part of the study you are on. Do you have a copy of the consent form you signed? It would have the medical monitoring information (tests and frequency) for the study listed in it somewhere. How long is the study for?

My daughter just had an ekg prior to starting meds to make sure she had no underlying heart problems that meds would make worse, or that would put her at increased risk with stimulants.

My daughter has a thorough checkup every year, a lenthy visit every 3 months, and an in-depth phone call every month when she calls to renew her prescription.   We are in more constant contact when we change medicines or doses.

I don't say anything to request an EKG, they just tell me to do it!!!  It may be that part of what I agreed to was that they could use my information in a study of Concerta and maybe they have to monitor the EKG which is a 12-lead thing that monitors your heart rythm.  They also monitor my blood pressure and I talk to the doc about what is going on in my head and if I am having any physical issues.

I never asked them why I have to pee in a cup?    The 1/2 hour to hour I spend with the doc is talking about things like hyperness, impulsiveness, things going on at work, family, how fire season was, whatever!!!  The doc tells me if I am thinking about stuff logically or if I am out in left field.  He has helped me to realize that some of the issues I was dealing with were controllable with medication and with changing some of my behaviors. 

 

Hey LCdc,

I was wondering what you say to the doctor or the person who sets up the appointment that you want to go through with a EKG checkup. do you just ask them that you want to go through a EKG? and what all does that show and whats the process that they go through for the checkup?? my doctor has never offered me any kind of tests of any kind. just another basic 2 minute talk with the doctor and I'm out.

Every 2 weeks because I just started the meds - then it will be every 4 weeks.