Who prescribes your/your child’s ADHD medication?

[wendyks]

Pediatrician/physician? Psychiatrist? Neurologist? Others? How about a Physician’s Assistant - the bio looks good. My child needs no other services aside from possible med management at this time. Thanks in advance!

[Onthemove1971]

Wendyks- Great question for everyone to read. When my son was first diagnosed his regular MD started with a number of medications and doses and they just didn't really seem to make much of a difference. He would start on a low dose and then we would raise it and it would not seem to do anything. So we were finally referred to a Pediatric Psychiatrist and this was one of the hardest to accept for me. I really felt like I could not accept that he needed that much help, but things at school were really bad. So as soon as I meet her I was amazed at how many questions she answered and how well she understood our son. She really knew what "newer" medication" he needed and what dose was perfect. The best thing was when I needed something she would call me and speak to me about the issue and she would write me letters of support for the school when there was an issue, I really felt like she understood ADHD and how it impacted my sons life.

So, please please see this type of Specialist they are trained to know the type of medication, when to take it and when it is not the right one how to change it. We had to try a number of different types. Don't give up!

Hope this makes sense. Like ER ( means extended release but my son is very active with sports and has a very high metabolism so it burns off quick)

Good luck!

[wendyks in reply to Onthemove1971]

Ok. That’s what I’m thinking too- they just might have a bigger body of knowledge on this topic. Though at this point, I feel like I’ve researched so much I could just tell my pediatrician what I want! 😉

[Onthemove1971 in reply to wendyks]

Wendyks- I appreciate what you are saying, but they have gone to Medical school. Here are some things that are beyond the average person's knowledge.

Most of the time from what I was told most kids with ADHD ( without a mood disorder) have both impulse and focus issues and therefore it takes at least 2 types of medications and these have to be balanced with certain times of the day. Also some medication act differently when they are short term vs extended release.

I did not want my son to stop his school day to have to take medication so we decided on an extended RX and a short term in the afternoon for tutoring/sports, at night for a longer focus drug that we don't give in the AM because it helps with sleep also. So that if the short acting impacts him there is some help with this second drug.

This right now is how we have "designed" it, there is no way I could have know which drug to pick and how that interacted with the second drug.

To be honest this is probably to 4th or 5th drug we have tried. Pediatricians don't have the time or skill to manage this.

I am so happy that I didn't stop at just a Pediatrician managing my son's medication, again no offence to your research or a general doctor, there are Speciailist for a reason. I feel like as my son changes she will be able to help me deal with whatever comes our way. She is also an advocate for us and has written letters to support us for issues in the school.

Hope this makes sense.

[wendyks in reply to Onthemove1971]

True! And I’m totally kidding. Though I do have a preliminary list of questions that start with “I’ve heard that ....”.

[Pennywink]

We’re in the process of exploring medication right now. As my son was also diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, we see a pediatric neurologist who will probably do the prescribing, as TS is beyond our pediatrician’s area of expertise.

[22789]

Psychiatrists specialize in medication titration.