pediatrician can (and often do) see until 21. most people transition out before then but some stay until then.

A nation of drug addicts.

Great answer from the pediatrician. And, for any family with a teen with significant needs, it is important to start the research well ahead of time to find an internist and/or other doctors such as psychiatrists or those who may specialize in other specialties, but who do not treat adults for seamless medical care. Do not forget the issue of whether the adult provider will or will not be willing to take Medicaid health insurance which may well come into the picture at some future date. This is an important conversation to have ahead of time, too, so that for a young adult for whom any change in a doctor would be hard that there is not unnecessary changes down the line.

For parents as you move towards retirement age, it is also important to look at your major health care providers in terms of both their age, especially if a sole practitioner, because I have heard more than one case in our smaller community with a major medical center more than once that folks have just retired, closed their practices and not even bothered to notify existing patients to pick up their records or it was happening. In fact, just this week a friend who has had two knee operations went to the practice where her surgeon had operated out of for a follow-up and was told he retired in March!! Additionally, it does not hurt to ask if the practice will continue an existing patient's relationship when they qualify for Medicare.

OP, was there any communication from your child's pediatrician that the meds would not be renewed past a certain point? It would have been irresponsible not to have given you notice.

I am a pediatrician. This is a conversation I have had with many families. I am always surprised when people assume that I will have to continue prescribing medications, even if we have discussed the policy in place where I work for the endpoint to the relationship.

Many pediatricians received training for young adults into the typical college years. Some did not. Some did, but they restrict their practice to age 18 and younger because of lack of experience or continuing medical education for taking care of older patients, or because of the high demand and need for services by children who do not have other options (unlike people who have reached majority age).

Some of us have malpractice insurance that has restrictions on who we are covered seeing. Some of us are under contracts that have the same effect.

Unfortunately, among many families, there is a sense (right or wrong) that pediatrician's care is more involved and patient-friendly than adult medicine. It is a struggle to get young adults to "graduate" from a pediatric medical practice, if they and their family are happy with the care they received and/or do not feel they can find (or do not -- sometimes, but it happens -- want to make the necessary effort to find) a new provider with whom they feel as comfortable.

Most pediatricians give notice of impending temporal deadlines, but I am sure some do not. Most are also familiar with the process of enforcing those deadlines, over which they themselves may or may not have much control.

Nobody should be faced with an abrupt endpoint without warning.

Anonymous wrote:It's unethical for your son's pediatrician to have no transition plan for a psychoactive medication -- and just cut off the prescription.

This. The ped should give you one last script or some samples as you look for someone else. There are people in the field of "adolescent medicine" which I think also work with young adults. I would get on waitlists for psychiatrists, but get in with an internist while waiting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My SD moved in with us when she was 18. She had a script for Concerta but I didn't know how to get it refilled or continued.

I called my son's dev ped and he recommended a few adult psychs. If your son's ped can make a recommendation, as your GP for a psych recommendation. Or open your insurance book and pick one.

It will be much less expensive if she can get a family medicine type doctor to prescribe. Psychiatrists aren't really necessary for uncomplicated ADhD cases. And lots don't take insurance.

As an adult with ADHD I was told to seek out a neurologist and not a psychiatrist for this exact reason

My internist prescribes for me. Your DS will need a new doc anyway.

My children's pediatrician told me that see kids all the way through college. I agree, it's odd that this pediatrician is cutting this patient off.

Anonymous wrote:My SD moved in with us when she was 18. She had a script for Concerta but I didn't know how to get it refilled or continued.

I called my son's dev ped and he recommended a few adult psychs. If your son's ped can make a recommendation, as your GP for a psych recommendation. Or open your insurance book and pick one.

It will be much less expensive if she can get a family medicine type doctor to prescribe. Psychiatrists aren't really necessary for uncomplicated ADhD cases. And lots don't take insurance.

Anonymous wrote:It's unethical for your son's pediatrician to have no transition plan for a psychoactive medication -- and just cut off the prescription.

I agree, this is very strange. Our ped sees college-aged kids.

My SD moved in with us when she was 18. She had a script for Concerta but I didn't know how to get it refilled or continued.

I called my son's dev ped and he recommended a few adult psychs. If your son's ped can make a recommendation, as your GP for a psych recommendation. Or open your insurance book and pick one.

Where do live?

It's unethical for your son's pediatrician to have no transition plan for a psychoactive medication -- and just cut off the prescription.

Ask your doctor if he would prescribe. If not, make an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Will a regular primary care provider provider this prescription? Or do I need to contact a specialist?

I called the pediatrician's office, and they had no recommendations to make, just encouraged me to call my own dr.

Any advice appreciated here!