About Adegoke Adeyemo MD Expertise Questions relating to psychiatric problems, including all kinds of substance abuse/chemical dependency issues. I also specialize in mood disorders and anxiety disorders. I am the Clinical Advisor of the (DBSA) Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Sacramento Chapter. I also specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy, and not just pills, pills, pills.
Experience I have been a psychiatrist for nine years and work in a variety of settings with all sorts of patients. I am not a child psychiatrist so I can give my opinion on child issues, but a child psychiatrist would probably have more practical experience, as I see patients below the age of 18 only once in a while. In the case of chemical dependency, however, I dont believe that age applies. The principles are the same.
Organizations American Psychiatric Association
Central California Psychiatric Society
A.A.Mental Health Resources, http://www.aamhr.org
Education/Credentials M.D
Certified Forensic examiner (Course taken in Virginia). I have not done forensics for a while.
Certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. (Course taken in Harvard School of Medicine). I still do some of this.
Awards and Honors Outstanding Housestaff Teaching Award
Department of Psychiatric Medicine
University of Virginia
Expert: Adegoke Adeyemo MD Date: 3/20/2008 Subject: Help for Girlfriend with Adderall
Question I am a 28 yr old male.
Four years ago i was diagnosed with ADD, and prescribed Adderall. I was originaly on the XR, but found it to be too strong and felt that the standard release (generic actually) were just fine. My current prescription is for 60mg per day.
I typically only take 30mg-45mg per day as ive been gradually stepping down as I feel I need it less and I ususally don't take much on the weekends. The only reason I hadn't brought the "padding" in my dosage to my doctor's attn is that sometimes I get busy and can't make an appointment and it gives me a buffer in between if I ever need it.
Over the last yea, I had noticed that even though I was taking less than my RX dosage i seemed to run out, right at the end of the month, and I could never figure out why. My days are usually quite fast-paced and I never really had an orderly system to monitor pills and dosage so i never really invedtigated it further. Very recently I started paying closer attention to how much I took and
how much I had, and I began to suspect that someone was stealing pills from me. The person i suspected the most was my girlfriend. We've been living together for almost three years, and she was the person with the most access to my bottle of pills. Unfortunately yesterday morning, I caught her in the act and she finally fessed-up.
At first i thought it was a recent thing, and that she was only taking a few here and there,...what I came to find out was that she had basically been taking my medication on a very regular basis for a year or longer.
Yesterday also happened to be the day that I was down to 1/2 of a 30mg tablet and had not yet scheduled an appt. My last prescription really seemed to go down fast. While I was angry that she would not only steal from me, but also lied about it for so long, I was more comcerned for her than anything.
It seemed to do her some good to get everything off her chest, as she hadnt told anyone about this at all. Even when I first suspected she might have ben sneaking some
here and there, I didnt think much of it. She never seemed jittery, spacey, or overly euphoric....she's never had any trouble eating or sleeping. She explained that she took it because it helped he feel like she could think straight, do her job better, and basically listed all of the same reasons that I take it. The only difference here is, I went to an ADD clinic and got tested.
I have not yet obtained a new prescription, so she is without "her medication" as well. She definitley seems to have formed an addiction to the drug. She broke down last night and said how hard it is for her to work without it now and that she fels like she needs it.
I have no idea what to do or what to tell her....
If she truly has ADD or ADHD which she very well may, I guess she should go get tested....
If she doesn't have ADD or ADHD, from what I'm reading, she has a tough road ahead of her in terms of recovery.
I would like to talk to my psychiatrist about this, but am terribly apprehensive to do so.
Having seen many who do not have ADD/ADHD abuse adderall recreationally and how they act it does not seem to be the case with her. Personaly I dont know how anyone who isnt
"supposed to" take it, could stand to take it every day.
I would appreciate any help or guidance that you can offer, as I am not sure what to do to help her. She does not have a psychiatrist and her relastionship with her PCP bears little rapport. I need to talk to someone who knows what she needs to do...
Thank you in advance for your feedback,
Jason
Answer Hello Jay,
It seems you are in quite a position. I commend you for wanting to be helpful and supportive to your girlfriend. In my opinion most people would not steal their partners medication for a whole year if they were taking it for a therapeutic reason. It is possible, but unlikely. I suggest you have a heart to heart talk with her and ask her to be entirely honest with you. You should ask her directly if she is addicted to your Adderall, and/or if she was taking it to get high. If so you can be helpful by being supportive, but letting her know she is dealing with a lethal illness which if left unattended usually results in fatal consequences. Please don't make it your job to get her into recovery. It may alienate you from her especially if she is not willing to admit there is a problem. Be supportive and helpful but ultimately the decision is hers.
On the other hand if she truly has ADD/ADHD she should get a new primary care physician if the one she has is unwilling/unable to treat her or refer her to a psychiatrist. If that does not work she may have to bite the bullet and find a psychiatrist who is willing to evaluate and treat her herself.
