Recently diagnosed with ADHD

[JavariPharmD23]

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Hello. I’m kind of new to SDN. I had a question and if anybody know the answer please feel free to respond. So about a month ago I was diagnosed with ADHD. I’m currently an undergraduate student trying to get into pharmacy school. I was wondering does anyone know of any pharmacy school that do a really good job at accommodating ADHD students? I know all schools have to make accommodations but are there some schools that do better than others with ADHD students?

 

[PharmDBro2017]

Most people would suggest you find a different (and not so saturated) profession. So I'll save them the time and do it 1st post.

That said, focus on getting your adhd/studying habits/exam taking habits under control during undergrad and don't segregate yourself in grad school. At least that's what I did, and it worked best for me.... going from being the last person to finish an exam (taking 3 hours for 1-2 hour exams) in undergrad, to one of the first ones done in pharmacy school.

No idea which is best for accommodations. Good luck.

 

[BigBoss]

The accommodations are essentially the same everywhere since it’s federal law.


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[Dr. Pill]

Your accommodation is getting prescribed adderall which will give you an advantage over your classmates who arent taking it.

 

[BigBoss]

Many respected psychologists argue that ADHD isn't even a real diagnosis, but I digress.

 

[Modest_anteater]

Many respected psychologists argue that ADHD isn't even a real diagnosis, but I digress.

I think ADHD is a behavior that is within the span of normal human behavior and is not a real disease. This is a minority opinion and not supported in the DSM5. However, Adderall is one of Big Pharma's best selling drugs so there is def so lobbying going on to keep ADHD as a real disease. In Japan, ADHD is not a medically recognized disease and you will do years in jail for bringing any amphetamines into the country even with a legitimate medical prescription.

 

[beautifulrobot]

In Japan, ADHD is not a medically recognized disease and you will do years in jail for bringing any amphetamines into the country even with a legitimate medical prescription.

That's not quite accurate. Amphetamines are strictly banned in Japan, but ADHD is certainly medically recognized. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are approved in Japan specifically for treating ADHD.

 

[Son_Goku]

Your accommodation is getting prescribed adderall which will give you an advantage over your classmates who arent taking it.

Give the guy a break.

He's working with a 2.1 GPA.

 

[Modest_anteater]

That's not quite accurate. Amphetamines are strictly banned in Japan, but ADHD is certainly medically recognized. Methylphenidate and atomoxetine are approved in Japan specifically for treating ADHD.

Ahh interesting. THank you

 

[JavariPharmD23]

Many respected psychologists argue that ADHD isn't even a real diagnosis, but I digress.

That’s my psychiatrist’s way of thinking kind of. He says it’s not really a disorder nothing is wrong with you your brain just works a little different than most peoples. He’s said in prehistoric times when we needed warriors and hunters you’d be just fine.

 

[JavariPharmD23]

Most people would suggest you find a different (and not so saturated) profession. So I'll save them the time and do it 1st post.

That said, focus on getting your adhd/studying habits/exam taking habits under control during undergrad and don't segregate yourself in grad school. At least that's what I did, and it worked best for me.... going from being the last person to finish an exam (taking 3 hours for 1-2 hour exams) in undergrad, to one of the first ones done in pharmacy school.

No idea which is best for accommodations. Good luck.

Thank you so much I’m currently on methylphenidate er 10mg but I don’t think it’s working I take two in the morning and one 4 hours later and I feel like it’s making it worse. However my psychiatrist said that it takes a while for the medication to start working but it’s been 3 weeks already. As far as tests I get anxiety when I see people get up and leave and finish before me so I try to speed up and I think that’s when I start making carless mistakes

 

[JavariPharmD23]

Give the guy a break.

He's working with a 2.1 GPA.

How do you know my gpa

 

[Rockinacoustic]

You'll be fine as long as your OB-GYN isn't prescribing the Ritalin...

 

[Son_Goku]

Thank you so much I’m currently on methylphenidate er 10mg but I don’t think it’s working I take two in the morning and one 4 hours later and I feel like it’s making it worse. However my psychiatrist said that it takes a while for the medication to start working but it’s been 3 weeks already. As far as tests I get anxiety when I see people get up and leave and finish before me so I try to speed up and I think that’s when I start making carless mistakes

I think you may need to find a new psychiatrist.

There's no priming required with methylphenidate. You simply take it, and it either works or it doesn't.

 

[Rouelle]

You'll be fine as long as your OB-GYN isn't prescribing the Ritalin...

OB/GYNs can totally prescribe Ritalin if they follow iPledge rules. 😉

 

[owlegrad]

Your accommodation is getting prescribed adderall which will give you an advantage over your classmates who arent taking it.

Nah, OP will have his own special room to take tests in and get more time than people without ADHD. It's only fair after all.

 

[Modest_anteater]

Nah, OP will have his own special room to take tests in and get more time than people without ADHD. It's only fair after all.

I can confirm this. My right hand has some paralysis due to being stabbed with a knife when I was 13. and I require a medical keyboard to type. For the PCAT i told them about this and that I would need to use my special medical keyboard to type the essay portion. They refused to let me do this due to "security concerns" I guess about me putting malware on the keyboard? anyway they gave me a special room and something like 1.5x as much time and gave me my own special woman that would type what I told her to type. So yes it was unfair, I wasn't expecting all the extra time. It really gave me a huge advantage on the type sensitive parts of the exam. For the NAPLEX there is no typing right? so I shouldn't have any issues? all we use is the mouse to click radio buttons?

 

[JavariPharmD23]

Nah, OP will have his own special room to take tests in and get more time than people without ADHD. It's only fair after all.

I take it you don’t think it’s necessary

 

[Modest_anteater]

I take it you don’t think it’s necessary

Well they are already getting what is METH without a methyl group so shouldn't that be enough to even the field? giving them speed and extra time just seems a little unfair. For examlpe see the NIH public access article "A comparison of amphetamine- and methamphetamine-induced loco-motor activity in rats: evidence for qualitative differences in behavior" there is little difference between "METH" and Adderall. METH is slightly more lippophilic making it cross the BBB a little easier.

 

[owlegrad]

I take it you don’t think it’s necessary

Who can say what is necessary and what isn't? Certainly not me. I am sure it is like anything else: for some people it is exactly the right amount of accommodation, for others it is not enough, and for some others it is more than enough. It's hard to say how much accommodation is reasonable for something like ADHD - if medication isn't enough why does having a separate room and more time correct the issue?

What about after they graduate? What reasonable accommodations will the employer be expected to make - will that pharmacist need to be given more time to check each script and a distraction-free environment in which to check scripts? (Hmm that doesn't sound too bad actually)

 

[Prepharm1214]

Reminds me of high school and in my rich area a seemingly high amount of adhd diagnosing happening around SAT/ACT time during students junior years, they were getting significantly more time to take the test when many sections are heavily time sensitive

 

[Sabril]

Hello. I’m kind of new to SDN. I had a question and if anybody know the answer please feel free to respond. So about a month ago I was diagnosed with ADHD. I’m currently an undergraduate student trying to get into pharmacy school. I was wondering does anyone know of any pharmacy school that do a really good job at accommodating ADHD students? I know all schools have to make accommodations but are there some schools that do better than others with ADHD students?

the school that I went to, if you let them know that you have some forms of health or physical issues, then they will go out of their way to accommodate you, by placing you in the first two rows of the auditorium. Maybe so that other students know who not to pick for their group projects.

I don't know. The healthcare field, and by extension, healthcare academia, i just all in all intolerant. All those non-discrimination, reasonable accommodation policies are eventual f#rt jokes in the back room. Bigotry, and discrimination exist everywhere but are especially prevalent in healthcare because it is easy to disguise them as something else and the victims do not know any better.

Bottom line is I believe ADHD is real but there will be few accommodations and people are more likely to use it against you if anything in the long run.

 

[BigBoss]

the school that I went to, if you let them know that you have some forms of health or physical issues, then they will go out of their way to accommodate you, by placing you in the first two rows of the auditorium. Maybe so that other students know who not to pick for their group projects.

I don't know. The healthcare field, and by extension, healthcare academia, i just all in all intolerant. All those non-discrimination, reasonable accommodation policies are eventual f#rt jokes in the back room. Bigotry, and discrimination exist everywhere but are especially prevalent in healthcare because it is easy to disguise them as something else and the victims do not know any better.

Bottom line is I believe ADHD is real but there will be few accommodations and people are more likely to use it against you if anything in the long run.

It’s not as real as you think; it's the result of an evolutionary adaptation humans developed that we don't need in this modern era anymore. Do some research.


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[PharmDBro2017]

It’s not as real as you think; it's the result of an evolutionary adaptation humans developed that we don't need in this modern era anymore. Do some research.


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Not sure where you are getting your information.

"Not real as you think".... post citations or gtfo.

 

[BigBoss]

No, There Is no Such Thing as ADHD
Is ADHD Real?
I recommend reading "Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine", specifically the mental disorders chapter. I actually suggest reading the whole book to anyone so inclined.

 

[Son_Goku]

Who can say what is necessary and what isn't? Certainly not me. I am sure it is like anything else: for some people it is exactly the right amount of accommodation, for others it is not enough, and for some others it is more than enough. It's hard to say how much accommodation is reasonable for something like ADHD - if medication isn't enough why does having a separate room and more time correct the issue?

What about after they graduate? What reasonable accommodations will the employer be expected to make - will that pharmacist need to be given more time to check each script and a distraction-free environment in which to check scripts? (Hmm that doesn't sound too bad actually)

You are paying the school and the employers are paying you.

That is the difference in what's accommodated and what isn't.

 

[knight on horse]

Pharmacy is actually more taxing on attention than IQ.

 

[JavariPharmD23]

Update. I’m switched to adderall and it’s helped me tremendously. I’m able to focus more and make connections between topics better. I’m getting an A in organic chemistry

 

[sozetone]

I think you may need to find a new psychiatrist.

There's no priming required with methylphenidate. You simply take it, and it either works or it doesn't.

Agreed, amphetamines and derivatives will work within an hour or so. or they wont! they are NOT like SSRI's which have to build up levels of neurotransmitters in the brain to feel the effects after a month. Its immediate. like cocaine!

 

[sozetone]

Update. I’m switched to adderall and it’s helped me tremendously. I’m able to focus more and make connections between topics better. I’m getting an A in organic chemistry

Javari, keep in mind amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, all stimulants to some degree are terrible for your heart/arteries. They cause hardening and other issues over time. Adderall is a mixture of amphetamines, which are hard on the cardiovascular system. Just take what you need to if you must pursue this profession. Take drug holidays over the summer, throw in some supplements like omega 3-6-9 oils, Co-Q10, and get cardio exercises in daily. I know we all gotta die sometime, but dont do it for a career that you may find out was a huge mistake in the end ya know? be safe, good luck.

 

[Sine Cura]

Considering most pharmacy positions will make NO accommodations for ADHD I would reconsider your career choice.

I've supervised techs with poorly managed ADHD... techs have no actual responsibility for anything but they are the ****ing worst, jumping around and half-assing everything. Now imagine a pharmacist with ADHD.

 

[Lnsean]

You already got access to Adderall and an unfair advantage over your classmates...what other accommodations do you want?

 

[owlegrad]

You already got access to Adderall and an unfair advantage over your classmates...what other accommodations do you want?

Which classmates don’t have access to Adderall?

Might as well claim that drinking red bull gives you an unfair advantage.

 

[Lnsean]

Which classmates don’t have access to Adderall?

Might as well claim that drinking red bull gives you an unfair advantage.

I meant legal access and a legitimate out if you're caught. Also not to mention a life time of crutches to lean on. There were people trying to get more time accommodations during exams because of said bogus dx and some doctors "note."

 

[owlegrad]

I meant legal access and a legitimate out if you're caught. Also not to mention a life time of crutches to lean on. There were people trying to get more time accommodations during exams because of said bogus dx and some doctors "note."

You’re acting like legal access is difficult to get. It’s not. Just go to student services, tell them you are stressed and having a hard time studying (assuming that it’s true of course, but who wouldn’t that be true for?) and get a script for adderall.

As for needing more time for exams, who cares? I don’t recall ever running out of time on any exam ever. If someone wants more time I say let them have it. It’s fair in the sense that anyone can also get more time the same way.

You’re acting like adderall and more time are these huge advantages for a select group of people. I would argue that extra time is no advantage at all and besides they are both legally available to anyone who wants them.

 

[Lnsean]

You’re acting like legal access is difficult to get. It’s not. Just go to student services, tell them you are stressed and having a hard time studying (assuming that it’s true of course, but who wouldn’t that be true for?) and get a script for adderall.

As for needing more time for exams, who cares? I don’t recall ever running out of time on any exam ever. If someone wants more time I say let them have it. It’s fair in the sense that anyone can also get more time the same way.

You’re acting like adderall and more time are these huge advantages for a select group of people. I would argue that extra time is no advantage at all and besides they are both legally available to anyone who wants them.

So if it doesn't affect you personally then it must be okay for everyone? Thank God you are a nobody and not running the show.

 

[owlegrad]

So if it doesn't affect you personally then it must be okay for everyone? Thank God you are a nobody and not running the show.

So you ignored the part where everyone can get the extra time if they need it?

 

[Son_Goku]

So you ignored the part where everyone can get the extra time if they need it?

He might as well complain that every student has access to tutoring, old exams, and test banks.

Maybe he has a problem with people who spent extra time studying as well.

 

[ExpressMaiL]

What do the studies say on individuals taking stimulants for 40-50 years?

 

[lord999]

The accommodations are essentially the same everywhere since it’s federal law.


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No, I can tell you that a school that two of the previous mods went to is notoriously unwelcoming to intellectual disability as I remember them getting sued (and losing hard) over the issue which is why the MedChem class got nerfed. My old school is terrible about it too and we nearly had to undergo that as well except that we got a better Assistant Dean for Profession Education who put a stop to the antediluvian thinking on the matter.

OP, besides the usual "don't come into this oversaturated profession", you are going to need to seek treatment for this (CBT and/or pharmacology, just work through it with the medical professionals and keep the ADHD manageable). The usual jobs in pharmacy require an above average need for concentration under duress. I'd strongly recommend working as a tech to make sure you can handle yourself before entering pharmacy school. As for pharmacy schools, there's no overt way to tell. Faculty change, classes change, part of the disability is managing everyone else's reactions to the disability.

From the teaching standpoint, I personally don't care what "advantages" a student uses as long as the behavior is not job-preventative. So, I do have a problem with illiteracy because you are reading quickly in many conditions and illiteracy when older is extremely (if not impossible) to correct. For ADHD, it's manageable, but you can't ignore it.

As for Adderall and academic performance, whatever. I have the same view toward smokers and weight, pay later and live now attitudes do work too. Let live. I don't have a problem either going the NPDB route for addiction either, and it happens more than people think.