Adderall

[Jocelyn336]

First question: How far in advance does your doctor write your prescription to be filled?

When you have five left? One left?

Second question: Have you switched to another stimulant because of the Adderall shortage and if so what is working for you?

[STEM_Dad]

I was only on Adderall for a few months. I was living in Idaho at the time. My doctor was able to write me prescriptions for three consecutive months (each dated when the prescription was valid). (While I was going through my initial Adderall trials, my doctor's office started using a secure electronic system which let him send Adderall prescription orders directly to the pharmacy... offering a faster alternative to the traditional written prescription. I believe they are just not allowed to phone in or fax in a prescription for a controlled substance.)

I think it's okay to contact the doctors office when you have less than a week's supply left. From a patient's perspective, you ought to be able to contact your doctor anytime.

As I understand the regulations on "controlled substances", such as Adderall, the limitation is on how often the doctor can prescribe it and how often a pharmacy can issue it to the patient; and that the patient is supposed to be able to get a 30 day supply on the medication at a time.

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I now take a generic of Strattera (atomoxetine). It's a non-stimulant, so much less restrictions. (My doctor can prescribe a 90 day supply, or refills for more than 3 months at a time.) Atomoxetine acts on norepinephrine, in the prefrontal cortex, I believe. Stimulants like Adderall act on dopamine availability or dopamine receptors.

There are other stimulants which act on dopamine in the brain, similar to how Adderall does, but the are also controlled substances, so they would have the same month-to-month prescription requirements.

Other non-stimulant medications which may treat ADHD well include Wellbutrin (bupropion), Intuniv (Guanfacine), and also one of the newest medications to be approved to treat ADHD... Quelbree (Viloxazine).

~~~~~

I only have experience with Adderall XR (which helped me somewhat), and atomoxetine (which helps me a lot more). My diagnosis is Predominantly Inattentive ADHD.

[BlessedLady in reply to STEM_Dad]

You are correct. Schedule II drugs have to be faxed.or written. They cannot be called in. The doctor and the pharmacy must use DEA approved equipment for transmission

[wtfadhd]

Hey Jocelyn- i have lived in both Colorado and NY in my 10 yrs taking Addy. Both states have very very diff rules. In NY where I am now, my doc electronically sends refill to the pharmacy and i have to do a zoom call with her every 3 months.

I change my dosage depending on whats going on in my life. sometimes i even go for long stretches without it. i just experienced my first shortage a couple months ago and so my doc called in 15’s and 5’s both xr- bc my reg dose right now is 20 xr. i normally suck at math but i figured that math out real quick😂.

addy works for me and so that seemed like the better route vs trying to recreate the wheel n try other meds. i have a medication phobia bc i hate big pharma- id be more inclined to buy drugs off the streets than put something approved by FDA into my body lol, but i have zero side effects from addy anymore so im okayish taking it.

good luck❤️

[Redpanda5]

Hi,

Timing.

I usually call my children’s doctor when they have 1 week left in their stimulants. This gives enough lead time for the doctor to get the request placed at the pharmacy and for the pharmacy to get it filled at the 30 day mark.

Always fill prescriptions you have.

This was the best thing we ever did. We have not switched to a different stimulant due to the shortage. For us, we had been continuing to refill our son’s short acting Adderall every month (he would take it on evenings when he had a lot of homework - so not every day) so we had a stockpile over time. Thankfully we had hung onto it because our daughter was switched to the short acting Adderall during the shortage so therefore had what she needed. Our doctor has always told us to fill the prescriptions we have. We appreciated his foresight.

Different strengths.

We are coming to the end of the stockpile so now, before I call the doctor for a refill, I call around to see what pharmacy has Adderall. Sometimes they have it but in the wrong strength, but they will cut them for you if the doctor directs them to.

[Natural_Born_Carrie]

One or 5 days after your last one. Whichever. It's all a fvcking joke. But I guarantee you this will not go on much longer.

The narcissist drs addicted to human suffering will be fired and punished as they so beg for. Their sadistic nature will stop NOW. Or as soon as we can make it happen. Hey I haven't had A D D E R A L L L for 5+ days myself while dumb fucking professionals play hot potato with my file as they simultaneously gaslight me that I do not suffer concussions, or suffer brutality such as twisting my neck 360 degrees or break my back by gang rape of 7 big black browns players. Or hey my dad's a murderer too and a huge child sex slave ring is in my beautiful quaint lil townie OLMSTED FALLS OHIO 44135. CHIO

[Natural_Born_Carrie in reply to Natural_Born_Carrie]

C A I O im dumb

[Knitting20projects]

Typically our insurance won’t allow refills until we have 7 days’ worth left. This is for mine or our son’s medicine. We can get 30 days of a stimulant (local pharmacy pick up only) & 90 days of my son’s long acting guanfacine (mail order). —-USA