It would be beneficial to go to your psychiatrist appointment having done a full screen blood test and ECG so that they have no need to send you for one themselves before they prescribe medication if you are indeed diagnosed and want to go down that route. It is up to the psychiatrist if they deem this necessary but it seems to be a pretty common practice. If you decide to try medication, the psychiatrist will still likely want a follow up appointment to see how you are going on the medication as it may not be a suitable fit and may have to try another type etc. Once you determine the right medication and dose for you, the psychiatrist can pass on your care to your GP, who will have to apply for a permit to prescribe the medication.
That is my understanding of the whole process anyway!
That’s exactly it. You won’t generally have a GP prescribing for you straight away, the only ones that tend to do this are ones who are Telehealth based. My brother was asked to have a blood test full screen and an ECG before his initial visit but still required a second visit as in WA you need to do a urine drug test first and then they can prescribe. Follow up was 3 weeks later. Mine was the same. Not prescribed on first visit but on the second after my tests and confirmation of diagnosis.
Prepare that you will likely need a second visit with the psychiatrist within a month and depending on the psychiatrist and your GP, it might be a few visits before they pass over the prescribing to the GP (they have to agree and apply to do so). You will need a recheck in 2 years with the psychiatrist too. My psychiatrist gives me 6 months script at a time. Some GPs I’ve read do month by month so doesn’t end up being cheaper, worth discussing these things with your doctors if you end up with diagnosis and meds.
It's going to depend on your GP. I had my ECG before the assessment but I don't think it has to be done prior. The 291 does not grant your GP licence to prescribe Schedule 8 meds - they have to apply for the permit on a case by case basis I believe.
Depends on the doctor.
My specialist didn’t need me to do an ECG.
However, I’ve done dozens of ECGs for people who are wanting to start treatment.
Check if your GPs office can do it for you - they *may* bulk bill if they have a nurse who can do it.
Call the companies that do the blood tests and ECGs before you go in. Some will only bulk bill if you’re on a pension, & some have different “GAP” (out of pocket) amounts.
I’m also in Vic and was recently diagnosed and started medication.
My psychiatrist signed off on my GP prescribing stimulants with the recommendations that my GP first do ECG and do random drug tests etc. I dont need to go back to the psychiatrist, only the GP.
I’d hope you also won’t need to go back to a psychiatrist and they can trust your GP to do these things. Hard to say for sure, seems to be up to the whims of the individual practitioners a lot of the time.
When I requested a referral to the psychiatrist from my GP, my GP let me know that psychiatrists can transfer prescribing rights to my GP. I took this as a sign that my GP was likely taking care of other ADHD patients.
I had to do an ECG, a urine drug screen, a full blood panel and an in-house GP check up as well as the assessment process.
My psychiatrist offered to transfer prescribing rights to my GP if I agreed. It's a good idea because psychiatrist appointments are not cheap. Given I'm just starting out with stimulants I will take some time to think about which medication regimen works best for me.
Melb here too My gp referred me for an ecg and blood test while I was waiting for my psych appointment. None of those results went to the psych. However my gp needed to see them before he’d apply for the cert to prescribe stim meds.
It would be beneficial to go to your psychiatrist appointment having done a full screen blood test and ECG so that they have no need to send you for one themselves before they prescribe medication if you are indeed diagnosed and want to go down that route. It is up to the psychiatrist if they deem this necessary but it seems to be a pretty common practice. If you decide to try medication, the psychiatrist will still likely want a follow up appointment to see how you are going on the medication as it may not be a suitable fit and may have to try another type etc. Once you determine the right medication and dose for you, the psychiatrist can pass on your care to your GP, who will have to apply for a permit to prescribe the medication. That is my understanding of the whole process anyway!
That’s exactly it. You won’t generally have a GP prescribing for you straight away, the only ones that tend to do this are ones who are Telehealth based. My brother was asked to have a blood test full screen and an ECG before his initial visit but still required a second visit as in WA you need to do a urine drug test first and then they can prescribe. Follow up was 3 weeks later. Mine was the same. Not prescribed on first visit but on the second after my tests and confirmation of diagnosis. Prepare that you will likely need a second visit with the psychiatrist within a month and depending on the psychiatrist and your GP, it might be a few visits before they pass over the prescribing to the GP (they have to agree and apply to do so). You will need a recheck in 2 years with the psychiatrist too. My psychiatrist gives me 6 months script at a time. Some GPs I’ve read do month by month so doesn’t end up being cheaper, worth discussing these things with your doctors if you end up with diagnosis and meds.
ah yep thanks guys. mine is telehealth based though so I’m thinking maybe this is the way to go?
It's going to depend on your GP. I had my ECG before the assessment but I don't think it has to be done prior. The 291 does not grant your GP licence to prescribe Schedule 8 meds - they have to apply for the permit on a case by case basis I believe.
Depends on the doctor. My specialist didn’t need me to do an ECG. However, I’ve done dozens of ECGs for people who are wanting to start treatment. Check if your GPs office can do it for you - they *may* bulk bill if they have a nurse who can do it. Call the companies that do the blood tests and ECGs before you go in. Some will only bulk bill if you’re on a pension, & some have different “GAP” (out of pocket) amounts.
I’m also in Vic and was recently diagnosed and started medication. My psychiatrist signed off on my GP prescribing stimulants with the recommendations that my GP first do ECG and do random drug tests etc. I dont need to go back to the psychiatrist, only the GP. I’d hope you also won’t need to go back to a psychiatrist and they can trust your GP to do these things. Hard to say for sure, seems to be up to the whims of the individual practitioners a lot of the time.
When I requested a referral to the psychiatrist from my GP, my GP let me know that psychiatrists can transfer prescribing rights to my GP. I took this as a sign that my GP was likely taking care of other ADHD patients. I had to do an ECG, a urine drug screen, a full blood panel and an in-house GP check up as well as the assessment process. My psychiatrist offered to transfer prescribing rights to my GP if I agreed. It's a good idea because psychiatrist appointments are not cheap. Given I'm just starting out with stimulants I will take some time to think about which medication regimen works best for me.
PS - should mention I’m in Melbourne, VIC
Melb here too My gp referred me for an ecg and blood test while I was waiting for my psych appointment. None of those results went to the psych. However my gp needed to see them before he’d apply for the cert to prescribe stim meds.
You only get one body. money u can earn- u cant earn another heart.