Psychiatrist rec for managing ADHD meds
Our son was diagnosed with ADHD and has begun medication, which has been transformative. We're still figuring out the right dosage and how to mitigate side effects and are not pleased with our current prescribing RN. We're currently seeing someone at Lifestance, but have Blue Cross insurance and are happy to go anywhere we can get quality care - potentially even out of pocket if it means we're in good hands. Do you love a practitioner at Lifestance? Have other offices/physicians you'd recommend?
Specifically, our current RN doesn't inspire a lot of confidence when it comes to answering questions about how to evaluate and tweak medication (type, dosage, schedule, etc). She more or less told us to throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks. While I understand there's a certain amount of trial and error in dialing this in, I'd like to have a little more confidence in her experience and perspective and to have her guide us through the process as opposed to basically saying "sure, we can try that" to anything we suggest (from online research, podcasts, etc).
Any help/advice would be appreciated!
Parent Replies
My son saw Marianna Eraklis (https://www.dbped.com/) for the same thing several years ago. She is a pediatrician, not a psychiatrist, but this is her sole area of practice. My son and I both really liked her. The two caveats are that she may be hard to get into (but she seems to figure it out) and is VERY expensive. We had to pay out of pocket, but it was worth it and he only saw her a few times. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to chat.
Dr Deanna Lau in Santa Rosa has been amazing throughout our ADHD medication journey that we started in June with our son. She does zoom visits as much as possible so that you’re not driving up to Santa Rosa constantly. Highly recommend her!
I recommend Dr. David Atkins, MD.
Hopefully you'll find someone who you're happier with, and it seems that you do have some recommendations. I'm a general pediatrician with an interest in ADHD (and my husband and kids all have it). To a large extent, finding the right med/dose is truly a matter of throwing it at the wall to see if it sticks. We don't really yet have a way to predict who will do better with the ritalin class meds vs. the amphetamines, and different formulations will affect different kids in different (and unpredictable) ways. Hopefully you'll get to a good place without too many bumps in the road and you'll find someone that inspires confidence.
My teenager see Dr. Reierson at Lifestance for ADHD meds. She's been very responsive and seems knowledgeable.
My son is being treated by Dr. Marianna Eraklis. She's in Orinda but after the initial evaluation and diagnosis, all of our check-ins have been online (though you can opt for in-person check-ins as well). My son and I both really like and respect her. She is extremely knowledgable and engaging. She's helped us tweak his meds, which have been a game changer for us.
Good luck!
Hello, I second Dr Eraklis, amazing. I submitted her information to insurance as “in network” deficiency, provided her information, diagnosis, codes etc, need to re certify every year, but insurance has always approved as “in network” for my son. I pay her in full and then submit the receipts to insurance and they pay 90 percent. It has worked for me for all his providers for Anthem and Aetna. It does take some work as u submit to insurance and they ignore the certification and then u need to resubmit, sometimes 3 times but given that most therapists, the person who did the neuro exam, coaches do not take insurance, it is worth the process given the difference on a 220 bill paid out of network as $70 vs in network deficiency paid $198.
hope this helps