Adderall XR on Ontario Drug Benefit

As of today, October 29, 2008, Adderall XR will now be covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit card – by special application only.

If you are covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit Card (ODB), your doctor can fill out a Section 8 application to get coverage for Adderall XR for you. The section 8 process already applies to Concerta and Strattera, and I’m happy to see that it will now apply to Adderall XR.

Who has the ODB Card?
You have access to this card if you are on Ontario Works, are on a disability, like ODSP, or you are over 65 years old.

What Criteria Have To Be Met To Get Access?

The official documentation says:

Patients ? six years of age diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria and where symptoms are not due to other medical conditions which affect concentration, and who require 12-hour continuous coverage due to academic and/or psychosocial needs, and who meet the following:

• Patients who demonstrate significant and problematic disruptive behaviour or who have problems with inattention that interfere with learning; and
• Prescribed by or in consultation with a specialist in pediatric psychiatry, pediatrics or a general practitioner with expertise in ADHD; and
• Have been tried on methylphenidate immediate release (IR) or slow release (SR) and in separate trial Dexedrine IR or SR (Spansules), with unsatisfactory results due to poor symptom control or side effects [Note that at lease one SR product (methylphenidate SR or Dexedrine Spansules must be tried)]; and
• Evidence of benefit from a one month trial with Adderall XR.

There is some work to be done to get this medicine, but this does open the door for people on the ODB who need Adderall XR (or any of the other new medicines, for that matter).

Talk to your doctor to see if this applies to you.

Best,
Dr. Kenny

Technorati Tags: Ontario, ADHD, ADD, Medication, Adderall XR, ODB

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