How to Get Through the ADHD Medication Maze

Have you ever had a day or more without your prescription medication?
Do you know the physical discomfort and anxiety of waiting to get the medication reordered?
Have you ever had a doctor’s office, insurance company, or are you waiting for your ADHD medications to be filled?
If so, you, like me, have been trapped in the medication maze.

For years I have listened to clients told me about their challenges to being diagnosed, only to have their hopes dashed when they found themselves in the ADHD medication maze. What is ADHD medication maze? It is a cycle of trying to get ADHD medications refilled. Prescriptions not relayed to local pharmacies or faxes get lost to online medication mailing systems. Suspicious looks from pharmacists when picking up medications. Refusals by insurance companies to pay for prescribed medications. The countless dead ends, backtracking, twists and turns of getting a written prescription through the process and have it filled. The ADHD medication maze is a frustrating web where there are many people with ADHD Medical Condition.

In theory, filling medication prescriptions is supposed to be easy work. In reality, it rarely goes smoothly. Let me tell you about my own experience with trying to get my medications filled. I know many of you will relate.

I called to make an appointment and later I got to see my doctor who, after a 25-minute wait and a 10-minute appointment, prescribed me medications. As I left the clinic, I was told a short-term 14-day prescription would be called my local pharmacy and an email / fax would be sent to Express Scripts, my pharmacy mail-order. Okay, sir.

Not so bad. Except (you saw this coming, didn’t you?) A plan is only as good as its execution.

The following day called the local auto responder pharmacy (nice feature by the way) was let me know my short term interim medications were ready to be picked up. I was pleasantly relieved and somewhat surprised it had been that uncomplicated. Easy Peazy, I thought. I will pick them up on the airport and just to be sure, allow 15 minutes extra.

You see where this is going, right?

I arrived at the pharmacy with plenty of time, trying to have faith and confidence in the system … after I had confirmed my prescription was ready for pick up, right? I have had a lot of people before I go to pick up their prescriptions and have a pharmacy consult … do dee do … no worries, plenty of time.

My turn. I stepped up, gave the pharmacist my name and they turned around to reach for my prescription. The pharmacist was placed on the counter, rang me up … my cost was under $ 10 dollars … Yay! Woo Hoo … happy dance. I scolded myself for doubting all would work out.

And then …

Wait a minute. I have three prescriptions. “Uh hello Mr. Pharmacy Man, I’m supposed to have three medications filled today … there are only two.”

At this point I was still hopeful … and I heard those fated words … “The doctor reordered three medications, but the XYZ is not covered by your insurance until the first of next month. ”

Wait what?

And then, in a nanosecond, my stomach dropped, my pulse quickened and I began to see red. I was frustrated by the whole system. Frustrated because I trusted everyone to do their job. Angry with the realization that so many people are stuck in this medication with a little support or map to find their way out …

Side note: I’ll admit it … I have a real problem with the way medications are dispensed in this country. It’s a crazy system, full of twists and turns, to navigate in order to get prescriptions filled. Companies that decide what medical care I receive and what I don’t. Last time I checked, insurance companies do not have a medical license; they don’t have to decide on training whether or not I continue on a medication or not. My doctor with the advanced M.D. the degree should be one to decide what is the best interest of my health.

So where was I … oh yes, standing at the pick-up counter at the pharmacy …

Mustering my courage and trying very hard not to be rude, my doctor did not have to pay for my medical care. thank you. ” Then, I was asked to step out of the line and was told my prescription would be filled as soon as possible.

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