3 ms·

I've done the same to get RX to get through a particularly crazy college semester vs buying "focus meds" on the street at crazy markup, a long time ago. It was

I've done the same to get RX to get through a particularly crazy college semester vs buying "focus meds" on the street at crazy markup, a long time ago. It was easy to figure out what the doc needs to hear from some light internet research and I even had calibrated my responses to get the drug of choice. Cost was pennies on the dollar with insurance. The doc would encourage moving up to powerful doses in follow ups, even though I was barely taking the initial dose... I've since learned these professional drug peddlers often thrive on pushing habit forming drugs that require routine office visit to get a fix (refill).

ryandrake 4y ago
Slightly off-topic side-thread, but just a heads-up: anyone who might ever want to become an airplane pilot (even in little Cessnas) would want to avoid this whole "study up on the symptoms and go diagnosis shopping" business. The FAA still considers ADD, ADHD and other mental disorders disqualifying, and you will never get a medical certificate with a diagnosis, even if you are being treated for it.
- propogandist 4y ago
  it'll be trivial to get a diagnosis stating you don't have ADHD, just by using the same "diagnosis shopping" method. The FAA can't stop a motivated person from becoming an airplane pilot.
- CuriousCosmic 4y ago
  This is not remotely correct. What is correct is that you can't fly with a current ADHD diagnosis or after having recently taken ADHD medication. If you've had a diagnosis in the past, you need to be off the medication for at least 90 days and go through an evaluation and drug test as well as submit some extra documentation to show that you have been able to function since stopping treatment (or in general if you never received medication). Given the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses where the individual ends up being able to function without medication, most organisations have protocols carved out to allow prior and even currently diagnosed individuals the ability to join/get certified provided you can get off medication. Another commonly cited reason to avoid a diagnosis is commissioning in any of the military branches as an officer. You can still get a med waiver to commission as long as you show proof you've been off meds for a year. Source: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/adhd/ https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/av...
  - ryandrake 4y ago
    Jeez, I'm -remotely- correct as it was a 2-sentence summary of complex government rules. Relax. Your details are absolutely correct, but what an "Ackshually" comment!
    - froh 4y ago
      I very much appreciated the nuance of the detailing clarification. the "never" makes it sound like "never will you ever", not like "while you have symptoms and need treatment for..."
  - LocalH 4y ago
    Given my experience with ADHD, I'd assume that if you have a person who has ADHD, and for whom flight is one of their interests, that you would want them to have that ability to notice things with almost cat-like reflexes (which is one of the benefits I have personally experienced, on multiple occasions I have noticed an object start falling off a shelf and reached over to catch it mid-air). The stimulant medications tend to lessen these abilities. I want my pilot to be able to notice aberrations quickly and be able to respond to them quickly.

ryandrake 4y ago

Slightly off-topic side-thread, but just a heads-up: anyone who might ever want to become an airplane pilot (even in little Cessnas) would want to avoid this whole "study up on the symptoms and go diagnosis shopping" business. The FAA still considers ADD, ADHD and other mental disorders disqualifying, and you will never get a medical certificate with a diagnosis, even if you are being treated for it.

propogandist 4y ago
it'll be trivial to get a diagnosis stating you don't have ADHD, just by using the same "diagnosis shopping" method. The FAA can't stop a motivated person from becoming an airplane pilot.
CuriousCosmic 4y ago
This is not remotely correct. What is correct is that you can't fly with a current ADHD diagnosis or after having recently taken ADHD medication. If you've had a diagnosis in the past, you need to be off the medication for at least 90 days and go through an evaluation and drug test as well as submit some extra documentation to show that you have been able to function since stopping treatment (or in general if you never received medication). Given the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses where the individual ends up being able to function without medication, most organisations have protocols carved out to allow prior and even currently diagnosed individuals the ability to join/get certified provided you can get off medication. Another commonly cited reason to avoid a diagnosis is commissioning in any of the military branches as an officer. You can still get a med waiver to commission as long as you show proof you've been off meds for a year. Source: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/adhd/ https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/av...
- ryandrake 4y ago
  Jeez, I'm -remotely- correct as it was a 2-sentence summary of complex government rules. Relax. Your details are absolutely correct, but what an "Ackshually" comment!
  - froh 4y ago
    I very much appreciated the nuance of the detailing clarification. the "never" makes it sound like "never will you ever", not like "while you have symptoms and need treatment for..."
- LocalH 4y ago
  Given my experience with ADHD, I'd assume that if you have a person who has ADHD, and for whom flight is one of their interests, that you would want them to have that ability to notice things with almost cat-like reflexes (which is one of the benefits I have personally experienced, on multiple occasions I have noticed an object start falling off a shelf and reached over to catch it mid-air). The stimulant medications tend to lessen these abilities. I want my pilot to be able to notice aberrations quickly and be able to respond to them quickly.