Medications

[Fenderbender805]

I'm a sophomore in high school right now and I take medicine for ADD and anxiety. I'm trying to get off the anxiety medication and my ADD is pretty minor so I think I can get off that too. If I was to get off medication by the end of this school year, would I still be able to attend West Point?

 

[Peter98053]

Per the new May 2018 rules, it's a DQ if you've taken ADHD medication within 24 months of the DODMERB exam. You'll have to get a waiver otherwise.

Keep in mind "getting off the medication" is getting the doctor that prescribed it to state that your symptoms to not present any longer. You can't just stop taking it.

Good luck!

 

[Pima]

Peter98053 is right when they stated your doc has to acknowledge it too.

You will want that for proof if you get a remedial.

They also will want to see that you maintained your grade point average while off the meds.

 

[MabryPsyD]

You might want to visit your guidance counselor for trips and strategies for reducing school induced anxiety.

 

[Sock]

Peter98053 is right when they stated your doc has to acknowledge it too.

You will want that for proof if you get a remedial.

They also will want to see that you maintained your grade point average while off the meds.

I have a very detailed question but maybe you can help. When I was a young kid I was diagnosed with ADHD but did not think much of it at the time. I was put on the medication, then after my freshman year I stopped taking the medication and was not prescribed the medication any longer. I have not taken or even had the prescription refilled in over 2 years or close to it by now. I was wondering if I still have to get a waiver? or how that exactly works.

 

[justdoit19]

I have a very detailed question but maybe you can help. When I was a young kid I was diagnosed with ADHD but did not think much of it at the time. I was put on the medication, then after my freshman year I stopped taking the medication and was not prescribed the medication any longer. I have not taken or even had the prescription refilled in over 2 years or close to it by now. I was wondering if I still have to get a waiver? or how that exactly works.

Part of the answer to your inquiry will be based upon what @Pima said above. You cannot simply stop taking the medication. Your health care professionals will have to have their stuff all tidied up as well. We learned that our first time going through this process. While it wasn’t your specific medical issue, DS had a knee thing that was looked into further with DoDmrb (required AMI). Basically, they needed to know from his DR that he was released with no further medical restrictions. So that is one thing you can do is follow up with your DR and make sure everything is buttoned up, that you are “good to go” ( or not, if that’s the case) with your DR.

 

[Sock]

I have a very detailed question but maybe you can help. When I was a young kid I was diagnosed with ADHD but did not think much of it at the time. I was put on the medication, then after my freshman year I stopped taking the medication and was not prescribed the medication any longer. I have not taken or even had the prescription refilled in over 2 years or close to it by now. I was wondering if I still have to get a waiver? or how that exactly works.

Part of the answer to your inquiry will be based upon what @Pima said above. You cannot simply stop taking the medication. Your health care professionals will have to have their stuff all tidied up as well. We learned that our first time going through this process. While it wasn’t your specific medical issue, DS had a knee thing that was looked into further with DoDmrb (required AMI). Basically, they needed to know from his DR that he was released with no further medical restrictions. So that is one thing you can do is follow up with your DR and make sure everything is buttoned up, that you are “good to go” ( or not, if that’s the case) with your DR.

Okay thank you sir, if I am able to prove that I do not have ADD or ADHD would I not need a waiver?

 

[justdoit19]

That will all be handed through DoDRB. You may or may not have a waiver issue. I really don’t know anything about what they may or may not require. Your job will be to answer their questionnaire honestly and truthfully. Don’t do any more, or any less. IOW, don’t speculate about your condition, or any other. And unless something is medically diagnosed, it’s not medically diagnosed (ie: one example is someone thinking they have asthma. Unless your DR has diagnosed you with asthma, you don’t have medically determined asthma).

Should DoDMRB require additional information about anything you report, they will ask for it. Then you go from there.

The longer you have been medication free and performing well, the better. I have read that some things require a certain period of time that you are mediation free. You could look around or search the forums for others who have had the same condition and see what their requirements were. Use the search function.

Again, it’s important to make sure your health care professional is onboard with where you feel like you are at (not needing meds since freshman year). That will be the first step for you.