Posted by Leonardo on March 5, 2001, at 8:27:29
In reply to Re: Adult ADHD - getting stimulants prescribed (UK » Leonardo, posted by JahL on March 4, 2001, at 13:38:33
Hi Jah
Well finding out how to get the appointment was not that easy! As you may recall my previos Pdoc was trying everything else first, and I'm not sure that he would have prescribed stims in the end anyway. My GP refused to prescibe without a specialist diagnosis, not surprising I guess. I found the NHS waiting list at the Maudesley hospital in London was 14 months! There is a London clinic called Integrated Neurocare (Dr G Hosking), which charges £775 for a comprehensive diagnosis, but my insurance wouldn't pay. So eventually I found the Bristol Priority Clinic (Dr P Cosgrove) who charges £250 for a diagnosis in a 1.5 hour consultation, and no problem with prescibing stims if diagnosed. Follow ups are by phone.
I had the choice of Ritalin or dex, I'm trying dex, but I think I can switch if it doesn't pan out. He is trying to get Adderall imported, but hasn't got it yet. He is keen on starting at a low dose and working up gradually, and also knows that a 'good' response is not necessarily the best achievable. I think he prefers to exhaust the possibilities of the first trial by upping the dose as far as possible before switching though.
What did you try, did you find a winner? Do you think you have ADD/ADHD or something else?
> Hi Leonardo.
>
> Glad to see you're finally getting the treatment you're due. I'm amazed it was that easy. B4 I flew 2 the US to get stims, my UK pdoc referred me 2 an adult ADD clinic (in Cambridge). The letter I received from them (after *6* weeks) was accompanied by a 15 page questionare. I was told I would also be expected to undergo extensive psychometric testing & various interviews. If after all this, it was decided that I was ADD, I would be given a *single* dose of 1 med, the implication being that a non-reaction means you don't have ADD (!?!). I declined.
>
> My US pdoc recommends test-driving as many stims as possible, to find the one that gives the best results. Why settle for good when you can have great? Something 2 think about.
>
> Anyway, sounds like you've found a good'un-keepahold of him! Good luck with the trial,
>
> Jah.
poster:Leonardo
thread:52294
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010302/msgs/55603.html