Health - SWIM,ADD and Ritalin

[Snakey]

SWIM recently was informed that he has ADD when in a foreign country by another doctor, and was given Ritalin in order to cope with it.

Back in the UK SWIM does not have a prescription and is meeting with his doctor tomorrow in order to try and obtain a prescription. SWIM tried alternatives to Ritalin such as making changes to his diet and supplements however his ADD was still very prominent.

SWIM wants to speak with his doctor to explain and help him understand that he needs a Ritalin prescription, however he feels he may find it difficult to express himself to his doctor and that his doctor may not give him his prescription.

Does anyone know how SWIM can express his issues (he suffers from expressing himself due to his ADD) to his doctor in order to convince him it is the right way forward for his mental health?

[Vandyk1]

Hi Snakey

SWIM went to her doctor two months ago to advise her that she thought she had ADD. The doctor advised that she would have to make a referral to see an add specialist first. In view of this, SWIM thinks your friend may have to do the same before he is given any sort of prescription.

SWIM suggest that he make a note of all the areas where ADD has an affect and how he thinks that Ritalin would readdress the balance. SWIM has a real problem with concentration and focusing and believes that a stimulant like Ritalin would help. SWIM has noticed that other stimulants such as speed & coffee help with focus ect, however both of these are not useful with everyday functioning.

SWIM would be very interested to hear how you get on and would be interested in providing any advice ect.

[Snakey]

Hi Vandyk

SWIM is seeing the doctor tomorrow, and would like to know how could he describe this to the doctor, should he write down on a piece of a paper a paragraph of how he is feeling and his thoughts and show the doctor? How would he explain to his doctor his ADD? Would it cost on the NHS to see an ADD specialist? and also does anyone know how much it costs per month for a prescription for Ritalin?

Thank you

[psyche]

My advice is just go there with open mind and explain some of the things you are having difficulty with and answer the questions the doctor has. Making notes beforehand would only be useful as a single words or short sentences; you would have to explain them to the doctor yourself, not read directly from the paper.

[Vandyk1]

agree with Psyche. If it helps you to rememer, SWIM would make a list of all the things that you struggle with and then you talk around them with your doctor. For example, you could explain that you find it difficult to sit down and do periods of work without getting distracted and leaving it. Thats one of SWIM's main problems. This then creates a number of other issues, because SWIM does not keep on top of important stuff and tends to start things without finishing them. Thats the classic ADD approach. Although SWIM has not be diagonsed get, she know she's definatley has it as she has to see a therapist when she was eight. Ideally she should have been disagnosed then.

SWIM would also suggest considering the reasons why you think you need Ritalin and how you can explain this to the doctor. From what SWIM can gather, Ritalin helps people focus and concentrate and thats the point you should be getting across. SWIM doesnt think there is a charge for a specialist, however she is unsure what the costs are for ritalin. Check this site out for further details. adduk. Cant post linl.

Good luck with it and let SWIM know you get on.

[Snakey]

SWIM just got back from the doctors,SWIM explained to the doctor that when given Ritalin it helped him focus on a task of extended periods of time, he also explained how SWIM mother was told about ADHD in his early years (around 10) SWIMs doctor said she would do some research for him and probably consider refer him to a Psychiatrist. SWIMs doctor asked a few questions concerning whether he did get into trouble at his school due to his behaviour (lack of concentration and misbehaviour) SWIM replied he has done in the past and has had ADHD mentioned to him while he has been in school.

However, she did mention that she is unsure about prescribing ritalin or concerta as they may not be available on the NHS, she explained she would call back SWIM concerning this issue. She also mentioned some other treatments which were not drug-based and thought they may be considered before giving a prescription of any certain drugs, SWIM is happy to consider these options yet highly doubts these may work for him and would like to persereve with his doctor to see what treatments may work for him. SWIM will keep updates about whats going on.

[Snakey]

Update: SWIMs doctor still hasn't called him, what shall SWIM do? Arrange another appointment with his doctor or what?

[staples]

Originally Posted by Snakey

However, she did mention that she is unsure about prescribing ritalin or concerta as they may not be available on the NHS, she explained she would call back SWIM concerning this issue.

I'm confused, after saying this, you've continued in this thread about how SWIY hopes to be prescribed methylphenidate soon. Is SWIY not concerned about whether or not the NHS will cover the prescription? It doesn't seem like it, so why does that stop the doctor from prescribing it?

I'm not from the UK so maybe I don't understand how things work over there; here, a doctor might warn the patient that some health insurance companies may not cover certain prescriptions, then the patient might ask about other, cheaper options, or the patient might accept that he may have to pay for the medication himself. I don't understand why the doctor would make this decision for SWIY...

[Potter]

Yes call the doctor back. It might also be helpful if the foreign doctor would forward their medical records to your doctor.

[Snakey]

SWIM has no contact with the foreign doctor since this was in an African country. However, SWIM got a phone call from the doctor and due to his malaria tablets he took while in africa swim needs to wait another 6 weeks before the doctor can do anything.

[Potter]

that's odd to say the least... My first thought is that the malaria tablets are rather mind altering in them selves, and can cause their own set of problems, but then again, when the Doktor was given a script for those, nothing was said in regards to the Doktor's amphetamine script...

Weird, but at least they didn't shut you down.

I'm going to start a thread in "other drugs" on the night terrors and other issues with malaria pills if you have anything to add

[Snakey]

Originally Posted by Potter

that's odd to say the least... My first thought is that the malaria tablets are rather mind altering in them selves, and can cause their own set of problems, but then again, when the Doktor was given a script for those, nothing was said in regards to the Doktor's amphetamine script...

Weird, but at least they didn't shut you down.

I'm going to start a thread in "other drugs" on the night terrors and other issues with malaria pills if you have anything to add

Yes but SWIMs doctor said that before she can take further action i need to wait for the malaria tablets to fully leave my body, she mentioned meeting with a specialist which is about 30miles from SWIM but said i will have to take an appointment in 6weeks, fingers crossed in september (around the 24th) SWIM will have a ritalin prescription and will be able to get on in life, until then, swim will have to suffer.

oh and swim would also like to say that malaria tablets are horrible to your mind.

[Vandyk1]

useful to hear how you got on at the doctors. Swim would suggest that you call her back asap. Swim is still waiting on her referral to come through and is going to call her GP to see what progress has been made. Will keep you updated on any progress.

[Makesmefeelbig]

I would like to add that, generally speaking, European countries are a lot more sceptical about ADD/ADHD in adults than other parts of the world (I'm assuming you're an adult due to the forum rules), so you're naturally going to find it tricky to get a Ritalin prescription.

SWIM used to buy Ritalin off a guy at school who was diagnosed, but he was the stereotype (ginger, hyperactive)... The point is, now that SWIM thinks back, that guy didn't seem to get a "prescribed amount" of tablets every month, rather he just always had "a load of Ritalin around".

So SWIY's doctor could be right about an NHS prescription being unavailable- the system could work differently in Ritalin's case. SWIM has no references so cannot confirm but has a strong hunch that SWIYs doctor is right. So rather than a prescription, SWIY could get something like a "license" to purchase Ritalin for a relatively cheap price from pharmacies.

[Snakey]

SWIMs doctor will probably realise that ritalin/concerta can be prescribed on the NHS as it says so on its website. However, swim needs a reference to a physchiatrist first to diagnose him before she is able to actually supply a prescription to ritalin, i guess swim has to wait first for the malaria drugs to leave his body before he can go any further with his doctor.