Hello, i posted a few months ago but since then my medical records have been amended. I was trying to go through DODMERB for ROTC but because I was flagged by MEPS I have to complete the process through them. I originally reported an anxiety disorder and ADD on my prescreen and additional info. regarding therapy for the anxiety was requested. I spoke with my doctor that diagnosed me and he said I never had an anxiety disorder, just ADD and the nurses miscoded it. I never agreed with an anxiety disorder as I never complained to him about anxiety, rather went to get tested for ADD. Since our discussion he has wrote a letter stating I did not have an anxiety disorder and the medication I took was for ADD and he has amended my records to reflect that. He also stated I never went to therapy or counseling. Does anyone have any experience with a situation such as this? I had an MMPI completed 6 months after being off all medication (venlafaxine and adderall) and it was positive. I have been off of all medication for a year.
ADD/Anxiety
- Thread starter Amalogna
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Okay, I'm no doctor (but I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night)
Unlike Adderall (which is a stimulant), Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
It is used to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
When using the two together, there are significant drug interactions. One of those interactions is that Venlafaxine can increase the effectiveness of the Adderall.
The interactions are what they classify as "serious" however, so if you were taking both you needed to be monitored pretty closely.
If you were prescribed Venlafaxine and took it, then my guess is that's what makes them think you had some sort of anxiety disorder.
In the letter from your doctor, did he say that he prescribed Venlafaxine to increase the effectiveness of the Adderall, but NOT specifically for anxiety?
I would think that distinction may be important.
Unlike Adderall (which is a stimulant), Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
It is used to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
When using the two together, there are significant drug interactions. One of those interactions is that Venlafaxine can increase the effectiveness of the Adderall.
The interactions are what they classify as "serious" however, so if you were taking both you needed to be monitored pretty closely.
If you were prescribed Venlafaxine and took it, then my guess is that's what makes them think you had some sort of anxiety disorder.
In the letter from your doctor, did he say that he prescribed Venlafaxine to increase the effectiveness of the Adderall, but NOT specifically for anxiety?
I would think that distinction may be important.
GoArmy2022
USMA 2022
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I went through the waiver process with academic skills disorders, which seems to be roughly your situation.
I will give you some insight on the requirements they look for when they judge kids on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that when I say "they," I don't mean DoDMERB. DoDMERB will disqualify kids for just about anything that doesn't require a simple remedial (like getting an x-ray or sending records of a simple surgery and successful recovery, complete with total stability of the area post-surgery, as ANY instability indicators are a DQ). Non-simple cases include academic skills disorders.
Here are some of the requirements that my Psychiatrist assured the surgeon I met:
- No current need for academic accommodations and no academic accommodations for a certain timeframe (it is either 12 or 24 months).
- No need for an individualized academic program or academic assistance
- No need for a daily medication (off medication for a certain timeframe. Again, this is either 12 or 24 months) and no need for 2 daily medications for a consistent time period (I think it's 24 months)
- Unweighted GPA consistently above a limit (I believe it is 2.7) without medication
***Keep in mind I am not positive about the limits and timeframes. That's just me guessing. It's been a while. Please ask someone else about those to be sure!!!***
I will give you some insight on the requirements they look for when they judge kids on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that when I say "they," I don't mean DoDMERB. DoDMERB will disqualify kids for just about anything that doesn't require a simple remedial (like getting an x-ray or sending records of a simple surgery and successful recovery, complete with total stability of the area post-surgery, as ANY instability indicators are a DQ). Non-simple cases include academic skills disorders.
Here are some of the requirements that my Psychiatrist assured the surgeon I met:
- No current need for academic accommodations and no academic accommodations for a certain timeframe (it is either 12 or 24 months).
- No need for an individualized academic program or academic assistance
- No need for a daily medication (off medication for a certain timeframe. Again, this is either 12 or 24 months) and no need for 2 daily medications for a consistent time period (I think it's 24 months)
- Unweighted GPA consistently above a limit (I believe it is 2.7) without medication
***Keep in mind I am not positive about the limits and timeframes. That's just me guessing. It's been a while. Please ask someone else about those to be sure!!!***
He said “we supplemented the venlafaxine with adderall to help with ADD”.
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That could be the problem, then. If Adderall was used to supplement the Venlafaxine, then that may lead one to believe that the Venlafaxine was the primary drug.
To my knowledge, Venlafaxine is not used to treat ADD, but rather to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
GoArmy2022
USMA 2022
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I am pretty sure that’s correct. ADD medications include Adderall, Focalin, Vyvanse, and a couple of others. I know this because my brother and my friend Bill both have it. Brother switched from Adderall to Focalin and is now using a natural supplement because he is hoping to follow in my footsteps and serve one day. His dream as of now is to play hockey for West Point. Bill has been prescribed Vyvanse for quite a while and typically combines it with coffee before his morning workout. Not sure what the other meds are because I know there are more but have never seen or heard them used. But a close friend of mine (I’d feel weird using her name on this site even though she is going to be an Art student in college and would never come on this website in her lifetime) suffers from depression and social anxiety. She takes Venlafaxine and something else.
He did have anxiety disorder originally on my record. He amended it as he said it was incorrect. All I can really do is have it reviewed and hopefully they take his letter into consideration. Thank you for your replies and opinions, I appreciate it.