[shortnsouthern]

i am BP and ADD, i had been on lithium, adderall, and trazadone for around 4 yrs. all has been prescribed by this one doctor. It was time for my lithium levels to be checked and i went to a walk-in clinic instead of a lab like i was used to doing.(They do not do lab work at my doc's) The doctor at this clinic did a urine test on me and marijuana was in my system. This was not ordered by my doctor however she sent the results to him anyway. When he saw this he immediately stopped my adderall stating that he could no longer prescribe a controlled substance to someone that tested positive for illegal drugs. I explained to him that it was a bad choice on my part no doubt, and expressed how he knew me and that it was not a habit of mine in fact a cousin had brought it to a family Christmas gathering! Even though he has known me for yrs he said he would prescribe Strattera, but that my ADD was not what he focused on, my BP was more what he was concerned about. This is a Psych/Behavioral Facility too!! i told him after being finally diagnosed w/ ADD and started on Adderall (actually 1st time was 4 treatment resistant depression) it had been a life saver for me! It helped me fight the BP, by focusing, by slowing down half of the run away trains of thought, by helping me utilize the self-help techniques i have learned. Now, a month in a half later, im in a BP depression from the depths of the deep dark!! He mentioned the Straterra however im afraid, because it is an anti-depressant and i've been known to go manic on anti-dep's. Even though a mania right now sounds kinda nice. Crazy but true in my head!! Any suggestions???????????? (im clean by all means of any marijuana)

[Meta]

Hi short. I can relate to your distress on several levels. I ended up withdrawing from generic ritalin because I couldn't get to get it filled recently because of the national shortage. I was like a statue for all of January. Could hardly move or function. Mentally&physically. I was fluish and fuzzy and had 2 courses of antibiotics for sinus infections. I am BPII or III with ADD. I saw my doctor last week and told him i did not want the ritalin again because i always felt sort of feverish on it. He gave me a script for Strattera which I am reluctant to take despite my ADD because worried about tripping my hypomania and precipitating deep depression which is the usual course of my bipolar progression. Re: the unauthorized drug testing:

Last year when at my doctor's office, it turned out unbeknownst to me that he included testing for illegal drugs with my regular blood work. It was clean but I felt violated. Is testing for illegal drugs permitted by law without permission? What's with the so- called stepped up medical privacy acts. Idk.
Ambivalent suggestion for you :agree to wkly drug testing to get adderall back? Maybe doctor will go for it? Seems wrong to have to endure additonal invasions of privacy to counteract the initial invasion of privacy by the lab. Hope it works out for you