Med by Pedicatrician vs Psychiatrist? | ADHD Information

Pediatricians are not usually the best choice but you need to work with what is available to you. Your child is going to grow and change (size and puberty) and her med needs will change with her. She will develope after school activities and a social life, she will eventually start driving. Studies have shown that peds tend to under medicate and over medicate at a higher rate than psychiatrists. This is a statistical thing and your ped may be one of the more experienced and may be just fine. You might start out with the ped to get things going and take your time finding a child psychiatrist (that you like and can work with) for the long term. This will also give you a chance to see how the ped seems in this area of medicine. My 2 cents. vickie39128.7453240741A pediatrician CAn prescribe meds, however they often do not have the knowledge about the meds, their side effects etc to do so.I only asked dd's ped once about her meds, and when I realized  that I knew more about them, and what was available I stuck with the psych. It reall yowuld depend on the med you are going to use. i guess.

Do you think an experienced pediatrician can as effectively presribe ADHD medications as a psychiatrist?

Reason: My daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD through multiple evaluations. She has seen a child study team at a major univ, a psychiatrist  and ped neurologist. They all confirmed that she has some amount of ADHD. We did not start her on meds since we wanted to try behavioral modification first. Recently, her psychologist (who she sees weekly) said she wants her to try medication, and we think it is the right time to try it. I spoke to my experienced pediatrician and he prescribed Focalin XR 5 mg.

My daughter's psychologist thinks that I should not be getting this through my ped, but need to take her back to the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is hard to book an appointment with, and I have a much easier time dealing with my pediatrician. I don't feel this is a question of diagnosis-it is only getting the meds right, and I feel that my ped and I can work together with the psychologist to figure this out. Thoughts?

It depends on your comfort level with your pediatrician (ie how long you've known them, the comfort level) I am a firm believer that a Mother is very in tuned to their children and can be a better judge of how their children are doing with meds or anything, for that matter.  YOU know....its your daughter.  What does your gut say?

You'll be able to tell if it's the wrong med or dosage b/c you'll see side effects.  I haven't had a lot of luck with psychiatrists as I have with my physician.  It seems that psychiatrists are so "in and out".  They take you in for 15 minutes and throw a prescription at you.  If you find a Doctor that truly listens, be it psychiatrist or pediatrician, that's what really matters. 

Good luck.