ADHD meds - pediatrician or psychiatrist?

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Our Challenging Children (gifted, ADHD, sensitive, defiant)

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amother

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 2:53 pm

Without discussing background, we are ready for the step of medication for my 9 year old son. My question now is whether I should go to our pediatrician or to a psychiatrist? I have heard arguments for both. I've heard that the pediatrician deals with this all the time whereas the psychiatrist deals with many psychiatric issues, and on the flip side I've heard that psychiatrists are better specialized.
Any thoughts?

amother

Lemonlime

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 2:55 pm

Psychiatrist.

A million times over.

amother

Midnight

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 2:58 pm

Definitely psychiatrist

amother

Bone

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 2:59 pm

Get on the waitlist for the psychiatrist, and see the pediatrician in the meantime. I recently booked with a psychiatrist and the next available appointment was in July 2024 ...

oneofakind

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 3:29 pm

Psychiatrist

amother

Mustard

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 3:43 pm

Psychiatrist. It has to be someone with specialized knowledge and experience, especially when it's something for children.

elisheva44

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 3:49 pm

Developmental pediatrician and psychiatrist (whoever is available first followed by whoever is available second).
When psychiatrist prescribes anything to a child, they would like to have an eval from developmental pediatrician. If let’s say, the child is on the spectrum, it might be a different dosage or different medication. Or whatever other developmental factors involved may affect the choice of medication.

amother

Peony

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 3:53 pm

I use my pediatrician and am very happy. My daughter is a very basic case of a kid with learning issues and inattentive adhd. Bh no anxiety or Impulsivity issues. A neuropsych diagnosed her.

amother

Kiwi

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 4:06 pm

If you are sure that this is ADHD, the pediatrician is way more available. Basically, these medications are really trial and error until you get it right and the first few weeks you may need to speak to the doctor very frequently. There's a protocol and order that all doctors follow, no matter who they are. If it takes a month to get hold of the doctor each time, it's very difficult. I can speak to the pediatrician every day if I need to but the psychiatrist is impossible to get hold of. If you may be looking at other psychiatric issues as well, you need a psychiatrist.

amother

Aqua

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 4:22 pm

Some people get lucky and basically strike gold with the first medication they try, minimal changes needed in dosage. For those people, pediatrician can be fine. For the vast majority, a pediatric psychiatrist will have much more knowledge and skill in this regard. This is based on my professional experience dealing with children with ADHD. Unfortunately much time and energy can be wasted with a pediatrician, and sometimes the parents and/or child are so burnt out from the poor results that they give up before trying someone more qualified.

amother

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 10:58 pm

Thanks for all the replies! Consensus seems to be go with a psychiatrist if time is not an issue...

amother

Melon

Mon, Sep 18 2023, 11:28 pm

Psychiatrist will be able to find right medicine and dosage. Then you can go to pediatrician for follow up and prescription renewal. You should still see the psychiatrist every year or so because problems do creep up and as the child grows he might need a change in the med or dosage. (something I was not aware of and dc got into a lot of difficulties when his meds were no longer helping and pediatrician couldnt figure it out).

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