Done First Online ADHD Alternatives

Done First Online ADHD Alternatives

Done is a relatively young startup company that specializes in medication management for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). After taking the assessment provided by the platform that can help identify if or where its users are falling on the ADHD spectrum, Done offers a one-stop-shop approach for those with ADHD. Done will set up patients with a clinician to discuss the individual’s symptoms of ADHD, as well as develop personalized, long-term treatment plans, including medication if necessary.

The company prides itself on having an “always-on” strategic approach for its patients, allowing 24/7 support for those who struggle with ADHD and triggers can occur at any hour of the day. Done is a helpful tool as it is available on mobile devices, making it convenient and accessible for those who need help.

ADHD impacts everyone in a very unique way and the use of medication should be approached in a similar fashion. Done works with its patients to determine which medication is the best option based on the patient’s symptoms. While prescription medication is the most effective treatment for ADHD, there are cases where it is not preferred. For instance, patients with a history of addiction, heart disease, or other health issues are cautioned against using stimulants or controlled substances to treat ADHD.

The most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD treatment are stimulants such as Adderall and Vyvance which have been very helpful to some ofother options caner, there are other options that can be effective for managing the symptoms of ADHD, such as non-stimulant medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and natural remedies. Whatever treatment method is chosen, Done can help their patients navigate it and follow-up appointments.

For those who may be seeking an alternative to Done First, there are several that exist that offer teletherapy services coupled with medication management.

• ADHD Online
  • ADHD Online offers a comprehensive exam similar to Done that assists with the diagnosis and severity of ADHD. Their assessments are analyzed by a Ph.D. Psychologist and a result is given typically within three days
  • Once diagnosed, the patients can schedule a consultation with a physician to develop a treatment plan, including teletherapy and medication management and follow-up care.
• TalkSpace
  • Talkspace, one of the first online therapy providers founded in 2012, is an interactive and user-friendly platform that offers many different modes of talk therapy as well as medication management.
  • Some services provided by Talkspace may be covered by health insurance plans and matches its patients with the three best therapists for their needs
  • The monthly subscription service offers 24/7 access to a mental health provider via online messaging, allowing for daily check-ins to keep therapy plans on track.
• Teledoc Health
  • Teladoc Health was founded in 2002, making it one of the oldest telemedicine providers. They offer services for general medicine as well as mental health.
  • Teladoc accepts some types of insurance plans and will offer reimbursement documents for out-of-network services
  • Providers that work with telehealth own private practices and medication management may be available depending upon the mental health provider that is chosen.
• Cerebral
  • Cerebral was a popular platform utilized for medication management for those who were seeking ADHD care.
  • While Cerebral will still offer teletherapy services, as of May 2022, the subscription platform will halt all prescriptions of controlled substances such as Adderall for new patients.

Mental Health and ADHD

ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in childhood. For an official ADHD diagnosis, symptoms must have begun before age 12. In some cases, children and teens who are living with ADHD find their symptoms bleeding into their adult years.

ADHD can cause those who struggle with it to be more prone to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, conduct disorders, substance abuse, and disruptions in sleep patterns. Approximately 66% of children diagnosed with ADHD will also be diagnosed with another condition. Other psychiatry conditions that are commonly associated with ADHD are:

• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Learning disabilities
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Bed-wetting

Because there can be multiple diagnoses from other conditions in those with ADHD, treating the disorder can become more difficult. Patients need to develop a relationship with a mental health provider to assist with accurate diagnoses of conditions to allow for the most effective option of treatment possible.

Most treatments for ADHD include meds to assist in reducing or managing symptoms. These medications interact with patients’ brain chemistry to allow them to better manage their behaviors and impulses. These medications fall into two categories: stimulants and non-stimulants.

• Stimulants increase the amount of available dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, allowing for increased focus. Some types of stimulants include:
  • amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
  • dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
  • lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
• Non-stimulants aren’t used as often to treat symptoms of ADHD but are a favorable substitute if the patient has undesired side effects or they are not effective in treatment. Some non-stimulants behave similarly to stimulants by increasing norepinephrine availability in the brain, helping to improve attention span and focus. Some types of non-stimulants and antidepressants used to treat ADHD include:
  • atomoxetine (Strattera)
  • bupropion (Wellbutrin)
  • clonidine (Kapvay)
  • guanfacine (Intuniv)
  • nortriptyline (Pamelor)

There is no one size fits all approach to the treatment of ADHD. Each person will respond differently to medication and dosages, so an appropriate period of trial and error is recommended to find the medication option that is best for the patient.

Alternatives to ADHD medication

Because ADHD can impact everyone differently and be coupled with other conditions, medication should be approached with caution. While prescription drugs are the most common treatment for ADHD, some prefer to take a more holistic approach to therapy without altering their brain chemistry and avoid refills.

Some alternative treatments have been backed by research and studies have shown them to be effective in managing symptoms of ADHD.

Natural remedies for ADHD

Some alternative treatment options have been backed by research and studies have shown them to be effective in managing symptoms of ADHD.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 
  • CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps the patient to focus on their thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs to discuss how their feelings impact their behavior. Mental health clinicians will work with their patients through this mode of therapy to help them understand how to adjust their thoughts to change their behavior.
• Exercise
  • It has been shown in many studies that exercise has a direct impact on brain chemistry. Some of the chemicals released in the brain during exercise are serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine which are the same neurotransmitters that many ADHD drugs increase. Even just 30 minutes of exercise daily showed improvement in patients’ ability to plan and focus.
• Omega-3 Supplements
  • Omega 3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oils, can help increase brain health and cerebral activity. Increased brain health allows for better communication between neurons in the brain, allowing for increased focus and attention span.
• Elimination diets: 
  • Some patients who have been diagnosed with ADHD may be more prone to food allergies that can exacerbate their ADHD symptoms. By removing common allergens, such as gluten, dairy, and soy, from their diet for three weeks, ADHD sufferers can identify if a specific allergen causes their symptoms to be more pronounced.
  • There have been cases of improvement of ADHD symptoms from diets that eliminated other allergens such as preservatives, MSG, refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and red dye #40.

Speechify

For children, teens, and adults who are learning to manage their ADHD symptoms, speechify can be a useful tool. Speechify is the number one text-to-speech reader that allows its users to have their reading materials read aloud to them.

Common symptoms of ADHD include lack of focus and forgetfulness which can make reading a difficult task. Speechify can help alleviate some of these symptoms and make reading easier for those who are managing their ADHD. Speechify highlights the words on the page as it reads them aloud so that the listener may follow along. This enables the reader to have increased retention and focus on the material.

The hyperactivity and restlessness caused by ADHD can also make sitting still and reading quite challenging. Speechify makes reading easier for those with ADHD because the app is compatible with Chrome, iOS, and Andriod, allowing listeners with almost any device to multitask while they listen to their reading materials. Any materials that the listener would normally read while sitting still can be read aloud to them while they run errands, exercise, or do chores around the house.

Audible Learning

Another useful tool for those who are learning to manage their ADHD is audible learning. Audible learning removes the focus from reading words on the page, allowing the listener to better visualize the story in their minds and make connections with the information they may already know,

Speechify can help those who struggle with ADHD on their audible learning journey. Speechify can read whatever materials they need, even emails, PDFs, and more. The act of listening to the words as they are highlighted on the page gives the reader the advantage of increased retention because they are consuming the materials both visually and audibly.

The AI voices used by Speechify aid in audible learning because they are the closest to human-like as possible. This makes the listening experience flow better and feel more natural which has been shown to increase retention and focus.

The Effects of ADHD stimulants

For those who choose to incorporate medication into their treatment plan for ADHD for the first time, some effects can be expected from the use of ADHD stimulants.

Some of the preferred effects of ADHD stimulants can include reduced fidgeting, interrupting, and other symptoms of hyperactivity. They can also improve the patients’ ability to complete tasks and improve relationships.

However, some of the less desirable effects of ADHD stimulants include but are not limited to the following:

• Trouble sleeping
  • Stimulants can cause the brain to have difficulty shutting off for the night which will interfere with the patient’s ability to sleep. Short-acting medications are better for avoiding this side effect as they will only be active for a specified period.
• Changes in diet
  • Some stimulants can cause appetite suppression in some patients which can lead to undesired weight loss.
• Tics
  • In some cases, stimulant medication can cause the development of tics, otherwise known as repetitive sounds or movements. If tics are developed in someone who has previously not had a history of tics, a non-stimulant medication may be preferred
• Mood Swings
  • In cases where medication may have been overprescribed and the dosage is too high, it can cause irritability or moodiness in those who are trying to manage their ADHD. However, some people will experience changes in mood with any dose of stimulant medication.
• Headaches and stomachaches
  • While these symptoms are undesirable, they are usually temporary when starting a stimulant medication and should dissipate after the first few weeks of treatment.
• Rebound Effects
  • The “rebound effect” occurs when the prescribed stimulant wears off too soon causing a relapse of symptoms that can sometimes be more severe than they have been in the past. This is often an indicator of needing to adjust the dosage level of the medication.
• Increased blood pressure
  • Stimulant medications will usually cause an increase in blood pressure and pulse. This increase is usually marginal and not a concern unless the patient has other health conditions such as hypertension or heart disease.

As with any medication, there will always be the possibility of side effects. Some side effects will vary from person to person and some people may not experience any side effects at all. Some side effects will dissipate after a short time whereas others may not.

It is always encouraged that patients have an open and honest dialogue with the healthcare prescriber. Some red flags and side effects can be indicative of a dosage that is too high or too low or that the medication is not an effective form of treatment. Medical history plays an important role in medication management and should always be discussed with a mental health care provider before starting a medication regimen.

FAQ

Does done work for ADHD?

Over 40% of patients who sought services through Done reported improvements within their first month.

How does ADHD online work?

ADHD Online offers a comprehensive exam similar to Done that assists with the diagnosis of ADHD. The assessment is reviewed by a doctorate-level psychologist who will confirm the diagnosis within three days.

How does ADHD affect a person?

Adults who struggle with ADHD may find it difficult to focus or prioritize, which can appear as a lack of attention to detail or making careless mistakes at work. Some impulses and hyperactive behavior include interrupting or speaking out of turn, appearing restless or irritable, or engaging in risky behaviors that may compromise their safety or the safety of others, such as reckless driving.

What are the benefits of ADHD alternatives?

The main benefit to alternative forms of ADHD treatment such as elimination diets, omega-3 supplementation, and exercise is the lack of undesirable side effects often experienced while taking prescription stimulants to treat ADHD.

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