American student abroad with Adult ADD.
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- Location: Colorado, USA (until 09/2012)
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American student abroad with Adult ADD.I'm seeking advice on my situation regardless of whether or not you believe in the existence of Adult ADD. Please don't turn this into a debate; thanks in advance!
I am a 23 year-old American with Adult ADD who has recently been accepted into a postgraduate program at the University of Edinburgh, and will be attending in the fall. However, I am slightly unsure of how to go about managing my ADD while abroad (and the NHS in general -- I think I have access to it because my course is longer than 6 months). I've done some research on the subject and as far as I can tell, finding treatment for this is rather hit-or-miss. I am planning on having my current psychiatrist (who has seen me for a number of years) write a note explaining my diagnosis and treatment...maybe actually having a previous diagnosis will help?
I am currently prescribed 30mg of Adderall a day, but I know it's pretty much unobtainable in the UK and am more than willing to try another medication. Could anyone offer me advice on how to go about finding a psychiatrist who recognizes Adult ADD as a real condition? Should I just bite the bullet and look into private healthcare (nothing new for me)? -
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Re: American student abroad with Adult ADD.Finding an NHS psychiatrist who is willing to recognise it and prescribe off-label is going to be based on luck. I know there's private psychiatrists in London that specialise in it (I've been looking at private psychiatrists due to the NHS failing for me for something unrelated), but I'm not sure what there would be in Edinburgh.
Having a previous diagnosis and a letter from your current psych should definitely help, whether it will help enough will be luck on the GP/psychiatrist you get. Also bear in mind that waiting on an NHS psychiatrist referral can take months.
Also when it comes to private treatment, you won't get private health insurance here that covers pre-existing conditions, especially not development disorders which I think ADHD falls under. London psychiatrists can be £250-350/session ($400-550) out of pocket.
You might find they're more willing to try to prescribe one of the non-stimulant treatments for ADD/ADHD, like Strattera.Last edited by Exopaladin; 23-07-2012 at 16:35.
