Posted by BrightEyed+Blueberry on July 12, 2008, at 4:45:55
In reply to Re: Dumb and Dumber - Convo w/ Pdoc's 'assistant', posted by undopaminergic on July 7, 2008, at 12:36:42
Here's a suggestion from a friend's success story in finding a pdoc who's been very helpful with treating my friends adult onset add. The pdoc was found through the Amen Clinics (the book by Dr. Daniel? Amen, though I believe the web site has more current listings/referrals) ....easy enough to find the website (amenclinics.com?) Dr. Amen, he wrote that book, um, Change your Brain Change your Life? He did the PBS special you can catch every month or so on the pledge drives....There are several clinics across the US, or at least in California--but my friend actually looked at a referral list in the back of the book (dated 2006-ish? to find what he hoped would be "helpful" pdocs in his area (as opposed to going to the actual clinic, which he wasn't close enough too, and he wanted a local pdoc really, not necessarily brain scans, etc.)
So, you may want to try that route to find a compatible pdoc who works with Adult ADD. His doc funnily enough was listed in the book but not on the current web page list--so there are 2 places to look, the web site, and the book (worth buying- for the list but definitely for the read anyway, i think)
So unless my friend just lucked out - but he had, in addition to past dx of depression and anxiety , a history of substance abuse--specifically with stimulants/xanax (obvious hand-in-hand rship there). My friend now wonders if his depression/anxiety could perhaps have always been/be secondary/in relation to the main problem of ADD--his doctor suggested as much. OF course-- or does it matter-- his adult ADD onset could be from the stimulant substance abuse; the depression and anxiety having always been there, worsened by the abuse..... But again, does it matter the cause of the Adult Onset ADD - is the brain messed up similarly either way? And therefore the meds prescribed would be similar? But more to the point of responding to your email about finding a pdoc....
I can understand how it matters in terms of finding doctors being comfortable prescribing the proper range of ADD meds (from the ahem Wellbutrin to Strattera to the , it seems, more successful Ritalins and Adderals and other amphetamines )to a patient with a dx of Adult onset ADD (+depression/anxiety) who has a history of substance abuse. So doctors who will work with this potential kind of Adult Onset ADD/(+depression/anxiety) patient, seems like they're pretty comfortable and believe in wha t they are doing and are up on the latest research as they have to be-- working with this population - the meds they're given are practically the same ones they've abused/self-medicated? with in the past. They're paid up on their malpractice insurance and sit comfortably on the "cutting edge" of brain scan technology. They're down with the brain and not just reading medication inserts.
So give it a try! His is definitely a more expensive doc, but, worth it to him--after all, it's his brain, it's his life.... it's your life. I'm sure I could quote a commercial here ("and you're worth it" but I think I'll hit the sack.
*Brightness Falls...asleep.
> > I think if you want to discuss things with your P-doc, you will have to make another appointment. My experience has been that most docs really resent it when you expect them to give you help without paying for an appointment.
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> While it's reasonable for a doctor - or any other professional - not to want to spend a lot of time and effort for no compensation, it's also unreasonable to always insist on a formal appointment. E-mail and phone conversations are useful - and sometimes essential - complements that should be offered for a sensible fee.
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> > BTW, not everyone who is a psychiatrist is a psychopharmacological expert--lots of time you see a resident at a university and these kids often don't know squat.
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> Doctors early in their career are one class of health professionals who may not possess the knowledge one would desire or expect, but another class that I find more troublesome is the lazy ones who seem to be in it merely to make a living and appear totally lacking in passion for what should be their field of expertise, but rather do little more than flip the pages of a standard reference book (such as as the PDR or BNF), and who neglect continuing education to the point that they are scarcely more knowledgeable at the time they retire than they were when receiving their medical degree.
poster:BrightEyed+Blueberry
thread:835768
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080706/msgs/839405.html