Attentional Evaluations

• Exploring medication treatment is possible with proper referral:
o Referral by a qualified therapist. Often, attentional problems can be situational or related to anxiety, depression or some other underlying disorder. Medication should be a recommended additional step AFTERr other treatments have been thoroughly explored. OR
o Referral by a qualified Neuropsychologist who has conducted neuropsychological testing can help in determining the diagnosis.
o Primary Care Physician referral
o Diagnosed treatment and testing as a child, generally under the age of 12.

As a condition of treatment, I require a referral by a qualified therapist with experience in treating attentional disorders these conditions prior to engaging in medication treatments. Therefore, referral by a qualified therapist for attentional assessment and treatment is key.
• Psychological dependence can develop with prescribed attentional medications. Situations where medication must be stopped, or interrupted (illness, pregnancy, medication shortages, prescriber availability, pharmacy or insurance changes, etc) must be anticipated and expected.
• Other strategies must be employed both during and in the absence of medication treatment. These strategies can be behavioral, technological, organizational, etc. and may involve lifestyle changes. Academic or career coaching should also be considered as part of a comprehensive plan for treatment.
• For Students: Studies have shown that using stimulants solely as a study aid does NOT improve a student’s overall academic functioning. Those who misuse stimulants are likely to have LOWER GPAs and more likely to have an alcohol use disorder.
• Feeling more productive after taking a friend’s stimulant is NOT a sign of ADHD. Neither is it a sign that stimulants are the appropriate treatment. A person without ADHD may subjectively FEEL that he or she is functioning better on stimulants even though objectively he or she may NOT be functioning better.
• Stimulants have a high potential for abuse and use can lead to severe psychological and/or physical dependence, sometimes can lead to the development of other substance abuse disorders. Because of this, the FDA has classified stimulants as a Schedule II controlled medication (same schedule as oxycodone and fentanyl).
• If prescribed, stimulants should only be obtained from one clinician. Clients need to attend regular visits with their clinician in order to receive prescriptions (Usually each 30 – 60 days by law).
• Prescribing laws vary from state to state. Prescribing medications to other state pharmacies is often not possible due to licensing restrictions.
• Most states are moving to electronic prescriptions and eliminating paper prescriptions, If prescriptions are called to you’re your pharmacy and post dated for the next month you will have to call the pharmacy to have the prescription filled. Pharmacies will not automatically fill the prescription unless you call to activate the fill request.
• Stimulant prescriptions will not be renewed if lost, stolen, or for spillage. If you are traveling, pharmacies will not refill the prescriptions earlier then the earliest fill date. (usually 30 days)
• Even if you have been prescribed stimulants for the treatment of ADHD, using stimulants for other purposes is considered stimulant abuse. Examples would include the use of stimulants to stay awake to study at night, or recreational use to obtain a high.
• Stimulants should never be combined with alcohol, cannabis or other substances. Combining these with stimulants can prolong time spent engaging in drug or alcohol use, lead to dehydration, seizure, paranoia, psychosis, panic/anxiety attacks or other dangerous consequences.
• Diversion of stimulants to others is illegal (i.e. a felony) and dangerous. There are serious medical risks to sharing stimulants with others. Some people have undiagnosed risk factors, can develop symptoms of mania, psychosis or heart problems that can lead to death.