[EastDallasGal]

i have always suspected i had adhd. I am 48 yrs old, female and I'm not sure if the symptoms just got worse - i.e. making stupid, careless mistakes, losing things ( i mean losing everything-all the time), trouble concentrating enough to read a book, unable to think clearly, make rash/stupid decisions, etc. My biggest problem is I am not employed and do not have health insurance - well, the insurance that i do have does not cover ADHD. I have been going to my psychiatrist for about 2 years, being treated for depression (which my insurnace does cover). The psychiatrist said he could start treating me for my ADHD, but I would have to pay separately for that. So, I finally got the $150 saved for the first appointment, bought my prescription -Vvyvase - 2 weeks supply over $!50 - i felt nothing different. Then for 2 weeks, prescribed Amphetamine salts, 20 mg. With that, I noticed the big piles in my room were going down, and the calculations that i am suppose to make at work but i never do because they are overwhelming for me, I could do. Still, I was tired all the time. Before medication, I could fall asleep at stop lights, driving down the highway, just long enough to catch myself and try to wake up. I was tired still, but not falling asleep driving.
Now, I have to go to the doctor every month to keep up my prescriptions, which costs $150 every month, plus the cost of my prescriptions. I made it a 2nd month, got Dextroamp 30 mg ER this time. I took yesterday, and i was so tired. I ended up sitting down on the couch and falling asleep for 2 hours in the middle of the afternoon.
Not working, well working part-time, with a low-paying job, how do I keep doing this? I looked for clinical trials in the area. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[sunrise]

I think the sleep issue is pretty important to deal with. I recommend seeing a sleep doctor. You shouldn't be so exhausted, falling asleep like that in the middle of the day and while driving. You may have a medical condition that is causing this, such as low thyroid or sleep apnea. Taking amphetamines will only mask the underlying problem. If you can't see a sleep doctor, see a GP. They can do a basic work-up. I think this is more essential than the ADHD sessions with the pdoc. Get the sleep issue under control, then work on the ADHD. I know it's hard to see a lot of docs when you're without insurance, so just do the priority. Good luck to you.

If you are going to continue taking amphetamines, tell your pdoc you have no insurance so he won't prescribe the non-generic stuff like Vyvanse. There are generic stimulants on the market. Vyvanse is super expensive--I know because I take it.

[Queen of Chaos]

Outside of my family, I consider my greatest blessing on earth to be insurance. My heart honestly breaks for people who don't. My daughter is self-employed and her insurance has a $5,000 deductible. That is one thing I wish this country really could handle better - when someone is sick or injured, the last thing they should have to worry about is financing their care.

I'm on Vyvanse and it has literally changed my life. Even with insurance, my prescription (30 capsules) was $25 a month but the psychiatrist gave me a pamphlet with a card to get a 50% discount off of whatever my co-pay was for one year.

Another thing that might help is Vyvanse is prescribed for other medical/mental conditions - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, depression, etc. and I know Adderal is also. My endocrinologist told me she has many hypothyroid (under active thyroid) patients taking Vyvanse.

Your sleep schedule is probably effecting you more than you realize. For 2 years I took care of two little special needs dogs and I'm not kidding when I say I was up and down all night every night for months on end. I was so caught-up in caring for them I didn't realize what I was doing to myself until I started having every crazy problem on earth.

[Skully]

Your biggest expense is going to be the visit to the pdoc for diagnosis. Most medications that treat ADHD come in generic form. I paid $40 a month for generic Adderall. Most county mental health agencies have a sliding scale fee so you may be eligible for low cost appointments with the pdoc.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by Skully

Your biggest expense is going to be the visit to the pdoc for diagnosis. Most medications that treat ADHD come in generic form. I paid $40 a month for generic Adderall. Most county mental health agencies have a sliding scale fee so you may be eligible for low cost appointments with the pdoc.

I hope it isn't this way everywhere, but in my county, ADHD is not a sufficient diagnosis to qualify for low cost services. You have to have another diagnosis, such as depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar, and others. I remember anxiety also did not qualify. I hope these limitations are just my county and not widespread. (My county and state are really strapped for cash right now so they are increasing limitations.)

[Ambivalent]

[quote=Skully;1984496]Your biggest expense is going to be the visit to the pdoc for diagnosis. Most medications that treat ADHD come in generic form. I paid $40 a month for generic Adderall.

I'd sell my soul for $40/month! Both my son and I are considering the "option" of going on a "drug holiday" because his new 90 day generic Adderal (regular, not XR) Rx would have cost $400! I refilled last month for almost $200. Name brand is in the vicinity of $800/3 months! The pharmacists just shrugged and say there was a price increase. One did take the time to crunch numbers for some different scenarios, but it's still not really affordable. I cut my tabs in half to stretch them, but that's not highly recommended because it's hard to get them even for stability. I don't know what we'll do yet; going back to the doc to explore any (possible) alternatives costs beaucoup bucks too.

[Astridetal]

I agree with the person who said you should see a doctor about your sleeping issues. While stimulants are sometimes prescribed for sleep disorders, another physical cause has to be ruled out first. I hope your insurance will cover that. I'm sorry ADHD is not a sufficient diagnosis for a sliding scale psychiatrist fee.