Doctor’s Blog
CareFirst seeks to change patient’s medication
Insurance companies and “health care coordinators” are increasingly insinuating themselves into the care of patients. While we are all accustom to generic substitutions as a cost saving measure, you may not be aware that a pharmacist of CareFirst is “working with primary care physicians” to review cost effective medication treatments when the cost of current […]
The New York Times: Older Adults with ADHD
On September 30, 2015, The New York Times ran an article in the Tuesday Science section on ADHD in older adults. I was interviewed for the article and discussed a former patient age 73 who was first diagnosis with ADHD by me and successfully treated. The article is an introduction into an important clinical area […]
Arbitrary medication denials leads to restriction of optimal treatment
In my periodic entries of insurance companies’ denial of ADHD medication dosing, I offer you this recent example. A female in her late 20s treated for ADHD with a combination of Adderall XR and Strattera. Strattera adds a benefit for her executive function not optimized with Adderall XR. I carefully dosed the Strattera upward and […]
This is not your father’s pot!
With marijuana legislation slowly and effectively moving the dial from medical marijuana to legal recreational use, many baby boomers who smoked pot in their younger years are shrugging their shoulders and saying “Why not?”. The presumption is “I smoked it and turned out ok. What’s the big deal to legalization?” At face value, it sounds […]
CHADD Awareness and Fund Raising Campaign
Help support our mission. Children and Adults with ADHD Association is the only U.S. national organization that addresses the needs of people and families wrestling with ADHD. They serve as a legislative advocate on a regional and national level, provider and supporter of local chapter support groups, distributor of peer-reviewed educational materials, and a resource […]
Chris Davis, home run hitter for the Orioles, and ADHD
Chris Davis set a club record last year with 53 home runs. Yet, his presence in the media now has more to do with his ADHD and suspension for the use of Adderall. This has been a set of unfortunate circumstances since Mr. Davis has ADHD which was diagnosed years ago and treated with ADHD […]
Deceptive herbs and supplements
You might think you’re exercising good judgment by enhancing your health and wellbeing by taking herbs and supplements. While the scientific research with replicated studies is limited, the nutraceutical companies have spent billions promoting their use. Yet now, the real problem is uncovered. The New York Times recently published a story on a investigation into […]
Insurance companies routinely denying higher stimulant doses
Almost everyday insurance companies request pre-authorization for stimulant medication for my patients. While many of these requests are approved, many others are not. One obstacle to approval is stimulant dosing. Insurance companies routinely deny coverage for any stimulant dose that exceeds FDA drug label maximum dose. You might believe this is a safety issue and […]
FDA improves Drug Labeling for Pregnancy and Lactation
Over the years, it has been challenging for psychiatrists to manage the risks of psychiatric medications in patients who considered childbearing, become pregnant, and chose to breastfeed. And while there is some information on many psychiatric medications, there remains little in regards to stimulant medications. Unfortunately, there is no registry for stimulant exposed pregnancy by […]
Vayarin and deceptive marketing
Vayarin is marketed as a “medical food” for the treatment of ADHD. Vayarin contains Phosphatidylserine 75 mg, Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 21.5 mg, and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 8.5 mg. These ingredients are omega3 fatty acids. The recommended dose is 4 pills daily. The company sponsored a 15-week, double blind, placebo controlled trial followed by an open-label […]