Post by jacob13 on May 24, 2020 16:14:23 GMT
Hi all,
This is probably a long shot, but I need help and hopefully somebody else knows about this. For context, I'm male and based in the North West / Greater Manchester area.
I was recently diagnosed with combined ADHD via private consultation with the ADHD Centre. I'm quite confident that prescription stimulants will be highly beneficial for me; I'm a programmer and just need support to treat the inattentive / hyperactivity symptoms so I can sit down and get my work done, especially while working at home having all these extra distractions. For about 2 years I've used cannabis for insomnia and I mentioned this to the psychiatrist. It was actually really effective at treating both the insomnia and my hyperactivity, however it did worsen the inattentive symptoms, especially forgetfulness. On the recommendation of Dr. K at the ADHD Centre I've abstained from cannabis for 3 weeks now; he told me that I would need to test clean from THC before he'd be willing to prescribe stimulants.
Here's the problem: it's coming up only 30 days abstained and I'm still testing positive for THC, and I've read stories of heavy users needing up to 3 months to clear their system of the drug entirely. If you're interested in details, that's because small amounts of THC dissolve into your fat and are gradually released into your body. I'm obviously not getting high being 3 weeks sober, but it takes a really long time to test clean, more so than nearly any other drug. During this time my mood has been really unstable and my sleep inconsistent, very similar to how I was before I started using it. I just want to start my ADHD meds - hyperactivity and insomnia have gotten much worse since quitting, but I have no interest in using cannabis anymore because it just doesn't treat inattentive symptoms of ADHD enough to be consistently productive.
I've been off work furloughed until now. I've explained to my work that I am starting a new medication. But this delay is really frustrating me; I want to start a very low dose of Elvanse / Dexedrine and titrate from there. I've a good understanding of tolerance and the pharmacological effects of these drugs and a strong desire not to abuse them. I just want to work and have purpose again but I can't commit to full time work knowing how unproductive I am without any kind of medication. The truth is, even though I'm going to continue abstaining from cannabis and am glad that the Doctor's recommendation gave me the push I needed to give it up, THC and Amphetamine are not known to interact dangerously, so all this delay over tiny trace amounts of THC in my blood just feels like a prohibitive measure that is preventing me, a diagnosed ADHD patient, from accessing the medication that I need.
Too long, didn't read? The bottom line is, I just want to start treatment and get back to work ASAP. I'm looking if I can take my diagnosis elsewhere to another doctor that won't force me to pass a THC test before giving me a prescription for Elvanse, if that is possible. Does anybody in the North West know of any doctors that might do this, or that are OK to get in touch with me before paying for an appointment?
This is probably a long shot, but I need help and hopefully somebody else knows about this. For context, I'm male and based in the North West / Greater Manchester area.
I was recently diagnosed with combined ADHD via private consultation with the ADHD Centre. I'm quite confident that prescription stimulants will be highly beneficial for me; I'm a programmer and just need support to treat the inattentive / hyperactivity symptoms so I can sit down and get my work done, especially while working at home having all these extra distractions. For about 2 years I've used cannabis for insomnia and I mentioned this to the psychiatrist. It was actually really effective at treating both the insomnia and my hyperactivity, however it did worsen the inattentive symptoms, especially forgetfulness. On the recommendation of Dr. K at the ADHD Centre I've abstained from cannabis for 3 weeks now; he told me that I would need to test clean from THC before he'd be willing to prescribe stimulants.
Here's the problem: it's coming up only 30 days abstained and I'm still testing positive for THC, and I've read stories of heavy users needing up to 3 months to clear their system of the drug entirely. If you're interested in details, that's because small amounts of THC dissolve into your fat and are gradually released into your body. I'm obviously not getting high being 3 weeks sober, but it takes a really long time to test clean, more so than nearly any other drug. During this time my mood has been really unstable and my sleep inconsistent, very similar to how I was before I started using it. I just want to start my ADHD meds - hyperactivity and insomnia have gotten much worse since quitting, but I have no interest in using cannabis anymore because it just doesn't treat inattentive symptoms of ADHD enough to be consistently productive.
I've been off work furloughed until now. I've explained to my work that I am starting a new medication. But this delay is really frustrating me; I want to start a very low dose of Elvanse / Dexedrine and titrate from there. I've a good understanding of tolerance and the pharmacological effects of these drugs and a strong desire not to abuse them. I just want to work and have purpose again but I can't commit to full time work knowing how unproductive I am without any kind of medication. The truth is, even though I'm going to continue abstaining from cannabis and am glad that the Doctor's recommendation gave me the push I needed to give it up, THC and Amphetamine are not known to interact dangerously, so all this delay over tiny trace amounts of THC in my blood just feels like a prohibitive measure that is preventing me, a diagnosed ADHD patient, from accessing the medication that I need.
Too long, didn't read? The bottom line is, I just want to start treatment and get back to work ASAP. I'm looking if I can take my diagnosis elsewhere to another doctor that won't force me to pass a THC test before giving me a prescription for Elvanse, if that is possible. Does anybody in the North West know of any doctors that might do this, or that are OK to get in touch with me before paying for an appointment?