Medications We Do and Don't Prescribe

To meet a safe standard of care, there are medications that we do and do not prescribe. There are also medications and supplements we support only with proper moderation and evidence of need.

We prescribe a large list of medications and recommend supplements that are safe and effective for the symptoms we treat. All our medication decisions are based on clinical research and valid clinical evidence. When there are indications of risk or side effects, we will clearly outline them at the time of the prescribing and recommendations.

There are some general rules we always follow about medications, and they are:

We follow all state and federal prescribing regulations. At present the Federal DEA Ryan Haight Act of 2008 is suspended and we expect new rules to go into effect in late 2024. The present suspended rules required certain medications to be prescribed only after an in-person visit. Depending on the DEA rule update, we may have to scramble to change our prescribing approach or change how you get care. This only affects some of the medications used to treat ADHD, sleep disorders, and anxiety. However, there are many successful alternatives we often start with.
Alprazolam (Xanax) and some similar medications are not prescribed to patients who are not presently using it. If you are a current user, we will assess your need, and if you agree to a safe written plan, we will treat you.
Stimulants and sleeping aids are prescribed when clinically appropriate, and we require you to meet DEA regulations and practice standards.
Cannabis, when clinically appropriate, is “prescribed” or authorized (based on state law) after other equally effective solutions have been reviewed and considered. The research shows that THC and, CBD have some potential positive effects. However, THC also has adverse side effects such as worsening of your depression, increasing fatigue, reduced focus, etc. So, like other medications, a prescribed balance can help, but unmanaged it can hinder your progress.
Ketamine is seeing a growth for use with depression and is showing remarkable clinical promise. While we do not prescribe or provide esketamine, we do support the clinical use of ketamine in some clinical situations. At this time, we only support the use of ketamine integrated with psychotherapy and can help coordinate this care for you should you qualify.