A careful adult ADHD evaluation and non-stimulant medication management by video — with attention to sleep, mood and the other things that can look like ADHD.
Tyler Patten, APRN, PMHNP-BC — board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner
Book Now →Many adults with ADHD were never diagnosed as kids, especially those with the inattentive type, who weren’t disruptive in class. As adults it shows up as chronic disorganization, missed deadlines, unfinished projects, losing things, trouble starting boring tasks, and a sense of working twice as hard as everyone else to keep up. Others were diagnosed young and are looking for a different approach now.
Getting an adult ADHD evaluation in this region can take months. Utah, Idaho and Nevada are all short on psychiatric prescribers, many practices don’t take new adult ADHD patients at all, and rural communities have the fewest options. People end up guessing, or going without.
ADHD also overlaps heavily with anxiety, depression, poor sleep and other conditions that can mimic it. A good evaluation looks at all of that before landing on a plan.
A thorough history of attention, focus and functioning from childhood to now.
Distractibility, forgetfulness and trouble starting tasks, without obvious hyperactivity.
A common combination where non-stimulant treatment is often the better starting point.
Treated together, sometimes with a single medication that helps both.
For people who had side effects, don’t want a controlled substance, or are tired of refill hassles.
Picking up care from a past diagnosis and building a current plan.
Before calling it ADHD, I look at the things that can look just like it: poor or fragmented sleep (including possible sleep apnea), anxiety, depression, thyroid problems, low iron, heavy caffeine or cannabis use, and chronic stress. Cash-pay lab work helps rule out the medical contributors, and fixing sleep alone sometimes changes the picture a lot.
Medication helps many adults with ADHD. I use non-stimulant options: atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree), bupropion, and guanfacine or clonidine extended-release. They take four to six weeks to reach full effect but give steady, all-day coverage without a crash, and they’re refilled like any other prescription.
I don’t prescribe stimulants or any other controlled substance. Non-stimulants are a real, evidence-based option but not the right fit for everyone. If a stimulant is clearly the better choice for you, I’ll tell you directly and help you find a provider who prescribes them.
You need to be physically located in one of these states during each video visit.
Adult ADHD evaluations along the Wasatch Front often come with long waitlists, and rural Utah has very few options. Video visits make a first evaluation realistic.
Idaho has the fewest psychiatrists per person in the country, and adult ADHD care is especially hard to find outside the Treasure Valley. We see adults anywhere in Idaho.
Shift work and irregular sleep are common in Nevada and can look a lot like ADHD. We sort that out first, then build a treatment plan that fits your schedule.
Further reading:
Book a 60-minute evaluation with Tyler Patten, PMHNP-BC. Most new patients are seen within two weeks.
Book Now →Questions first? Call or text (435) 625-3098 or email office@affordablepsych.org.