Medication | ADHD Information

Hey there everybody.  I just got back from my counselor's office and I asked her if she thought I should try some ADD medication.  Her answer?  "Absolutely!"  She suggested that I ask my Dr. for some samples to see which one works best.  Since I see my Dr. next week, great timing.  Now I just have to hope that she even HAS samples to give me.  Most Drs. have that kind of stuff, yes?  My hope is that some medication might help shut my brain up for a while.  It goes constantly.  All day, all night.  Thought processes fill my days and dreams fill my nights.  No wonder why I'm so exhausted.  So, hopefully some medication will help with that.  My counselor said that the effect would be almost instant (as soon as the med gets into my blood stream).  Do you all find this to be the case? 

Any comments are welcome. 
I went to the doctor yesterday.  She's willing to treat me but I don't think my insurance company will cover it due to the exclusions in coverage through my employer.  I'm going to call insurance company this morning to see.  Next step will be to approach employer and put this situation out there:  "if I have two health professionals saying I need a medication on this (excluded) list, what are my options?"  but my insurance company may be able to help.  I don't know.  I've gone 35 years undiagnosed (diagnosed as a kid) and just as long without meds and struggled ever since.  now that I have a counselor who believes me and a doctor who will listen and treat me, I've run into a wall.  just very frustrating.  and depressing.  i'm very skeptical about those "free medication" websites.  besides, I don't qualify.  I fall into that gray area of the under-insured.  anyone else with this dilemma?  I really need some support and direction.  Please??  Anyone??


There's a sticky at the top of the Medications forum on assistance programs to help w/ getting medication.  I hope you find something that helps you!  BTW, I'd say there's no chance of getting a sample of a stimulant b/c it's a controlled substance, but maybe they do samples of Strattera?  Also, look around online.  I saw a pop-up ad somewhere that Concerta is offering a rebate for a free trial, and some other meds have things like this, too.  Good luck!I don't qualify for assistance programs because I make just enough too much money and I have insurance with a prescription drug plan.  Why is it when you do all the right things, you get screwed but when you screw up, you get all the right things?  If I were poor and on public assistance, I would totally qualify.  Maybe I should quit my job and go on welfare. 

I am so despondent over this.  I guess my only option is Parity Law.  Which I know little about but have no choice but to learn.

Ritalin is available in a generic.  Maybe that one would be affordable?

Also, look whether your insurance offers a mail order option.  I pay much less for my meds through mail order.  Even controlled substances can be ordered through mail order.  You just can't get refills; you need a new prescription each time. 

If you have mail order and it's like mine, you pay a copay.  I get 90 days worth of meds for the copay, so make sure the dr. writes the prescription for 90 days if this is the route you'll be going.

Interesting.  My Dr. said that controlled substances could NOT be mailed.  She told me that she could do 90 days at a time as well.

My sister pointed out something very useful.  When you get a diagnosis for a condition, you do whatever is necessary to treat it to make life better.  It's not a want - but a need.  So, medication for ADD is essentially a need.  The choice to take it is still a want but it'll make my life better.  She also said that she lets her Dr. and the insurance company figure everything out.  Sounds like I have another important call to the doctor to make. 

I'm still going to look into the parity law in case the medication route dead ends.
Well, I have the conclusive results.  Insurance will not pay for ADD medications.  So, now, if I want to even try them, I'm on my own.  This really sucks.  How do you all cope/pay for these things? 

I hear people talk about getting things through the mail and for real cheap and all but I am skeptical of mail order and real cheap (am I really getting what I'm paying for?). 

I'm going to check with local pharmacies to see how much they charge and determine somehow how I'm going to pay for this.  After a 3% paycut at work too.

This just really sucks and i just want to whine.  Thanks for listening.
The co-pay really stinks on ADHD Meds. There are some cheaper generic in the Ritalin Family. I know because I don't qualify for assistance either and paid a fortune for my sons meds this year (new insurance)Yeah, I was able to find Ritalin for like at Costco in the generic form.  It looks like that's my only option at the moment.  Hope it works!

Why won't insurance cover adhd meds?  That's crazy! 

Re mail order companies, I also was leery at first.  However, this isn't like ordering meds from another country.  These are all US-made meds.  They come from the same source as when I get them at the retail pharmacy.