Sorry if this is the wrong place, I just really need to vent somewhere.
I had a followup today to discuss the next steps since neither guanfacine nor atomoxetine worked out. I’ve been waiting for this because I know stimulants are the first line treatment and I’ve had nothing but awful experiences with the other meds. He had me take a drug test ahead of time - to make sure I wasn’t already taking stimulants, he said. I’ve been open about everything I’m on and he said it would be fine. That was a lie.
I tested positive for a bit of weed, which I told him about. It’s legal in my state. Despite saying it was fine before (I asked, specifically), now he changed his tune and said he’s going to keep testing me and if I test positive three times he won’t prescribe me any stimulants.
The kicker? I even have a prescription for it, because I worry about exactly things like this. It’s for chronic pain, but tbh helps my depression and anxiety too. I don’t even use much - about $150 in edibles over the last year. But if I spent that much on alcohol every weekend, that would be no barrier to getting a prescription.
I went in for help and was nothing but honest, and I left feeling attacked over prescription medicine that’s been helping me. What the fuck. I’m so frustrated and angry I just want to cry. Why is it so hard to get help?
If it’s legal in your state, I would expect there would be some sort of medical board you could report him to. Either way, this might be a sign that you need to find a new GP, if they are explicitly stating that they are going to refuse treatment over a drug test showing something you have a script for.
Small question: Did you remind him he had told you it was fine previously and that you had a script for it? It might help to state the question very directly: “I just need to make sure we’re on the same page here. You are refusing moving forward with the next steps of care due to a drug test showing positive for a substance I have a perscription for?”
You can’t assume they’ll remember this shit or be aware of your other scripts. A new person took over for my retiring GP and somehow got the bright idea to refill me at double my fucking dosage. Supposedly it was recorded that way in my file (despite never being a problem for literal years).
Decriminalization or “state-legal” != legal, it’s still federally illegal so I doubt a medical board will give a damn unfortunately.
That’s outrageous, you shouldn’t have to deal with this bullshit.
I agree with the other reply - report them and find a new GP, I know that’s a massive pain and hassle, but it’s so important to have a medical team that is there to help you make your life better, not judge and police you according to their own questionable morals.
He seems completely incompetent altogether. I expressed concern that a stimulant would not be right for me, as even coffee has an extreme effect when taken after a long pause. But everybody, GP, therapist and psychiatrist, insisted that we should try MPH or AMP, as it is so much better, even though the whole prescription process is complicated for a schedule 2. And it worked out great from the very start.
He seems to worry about the wrong things. To rather let a patient in his care suffer with 3rd choice meds for months (?), followed up unmedicated than take the chance that you might be a 1%er who abuses it. For which there isn’t even much indication, as you have a prescription.
However, if I really try to give him the benefit of a doubt: A quick search shows that there are some risks in combining weed and medical stimulants. The positive effect can be reduced, and cardiovascular risks of stimulants increase. So, without medical training, I don’t know if that means that you have to search for alternative for either of those first (switch either the pain meds or the ADHD meds), and then continue treatment for both, or if it really is so risky that you absolutely must keep one of the conditions untreated. As far as I understand, weed is rarely the only option and, at best, only slightly better than the next best alternative. For ADHD, on the other hand, MPH or AMP or so much better than the next best alternative. I tried Modafinil myself, and the side effects were severe.
So maybe his tone was just off, and he should have explained those careful considerations for the best therapy options, rather than be like “eek junkie, get out until you are clean”.
I might be completely wrong here, it’s literally what spins off in my head after 2 minutes of search.
