ADHD and Mental Health
Ankith Donthi ARNP, CPNP-PC, is a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in primary care and diagnosing behavioral challenges and mental health concerns like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and OCD. He provides patient-centered and evidence-based care to children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral health concerns. His clinical expertise and background in special education helps him to better the lives of children and their families in the community. He strives to address his patients’ concerns using a collaborative approach involving both the parent(s) and child when making the diagnosis, formulating a treatment plan, and making referrals for the health concerns.
if you have a diagnosis already (ADHD, depression, etc) and are looking for medication management — schedule here
if you are looking for an evaluation for a new diagnosis — schedule here
for ADHD follow up appointments — schedule here
for mental health medication management follow up appointments — schedule here
Policies and expectations
We ask that families read and sign our Controlled Substances Agreement before initiating medication management. The text is below, but the linked form has spots for initials.
Medication management for ADHD is a collaboration between the patient, parents and prescriber. This collaboration works best when all parties understand what is expected of them. At Intergalactic Pediatrics, patients receiving prescriptions for controlled substances (stimulant medications) must have a Controlled Substance Agreement signed by all parents and/or legal guardians involved in their care.
Expectations
Taking these medications can have side effects including but not limited to: irritability or other temporary mood or behavior changes, stomach pain, headaches, weight loss and appetite suppression, blood pressure and heart rate changes, or difficulty sleeping. For these reasons, your child will require close follow up from our provider.
Parents should expect frequent in-person visits while the patient is trialing new medications, experiencing dosage adjustments, or experiencing side effects.
Communication and Refill Requests
We require parents to communicate any challenges with medication so that we can problem solve with you. Communicate with us via SMS (206-203-2509), Spruce or our AthenaHealth portal. https://intergalacticpediatrics.com/contact for more.
Parents can expect a response within 48 to 72 hours for non-urgent messages.
For urgent concerns, parents should expect a response within business hours (9:00AM to 6:00PM). Please indicate the urgency in your message. We will do our best to respond in a timely manner.
If your child is experiencing an emergency, take them to the closest emergency department or dial 911.
Refill requests need at least 48 hours notice. We cannot refill medications on the same day.
Children who spend time in two or more different households will need to agree on one refilling pharmacy and anticipate when refills are needed.
Starting a new medication
When a controlled substance medication therapy is initiated (for the first time with this prescriber), an in-person follow-up appointment is needed prior to the next refill (typically 30 days from therapy initiation). Please schedule the visit with our front desk or online prior to leaving your appointment.
Medication Maintenance
Once your child is on a maintenance dose for a medication (no dosing changes for 90 days), we will require an in-person follow-up visit once every 90 days (three months). These visits allow monitoring of growth, blood pressure, heart rate, and screening for medication effectiveness and potential side effects.
Well child visits and sick visits (cold, sore throat, abdominal pain, etc.) do not replace the need for an every-three-month medication check appointment.
We can only send prescriptions for a maximum of three months at a time, with a 30-day supply dispensed each month, so the next ‘batch’ of prescriptions will be sent at each every-three-month medication check appointment.
Medication Safety Practices
Store all medications prescribed by this office in a safe and secure manner where the child has no access.
Do not give your child medication prescribed to someone else, and do not give your child’s medication to anyone else.
Do not change your child’s medications or dosages without discussing first with the prescribing provider.
While under the care of Intergalactic Pediatrics for ADHD medication management, do not seek to obtain controlled medications used for the treatment of ADHD from any other provider, unless discussed with the prescribing provider at Intergalactic Pediatrics.
For the patient, please read and initial:
____ I understand that this medication is to help me manage my ADHD, and that my thoughts and feelings are important to figuring out the best plan for me.
____ I will take my medication as prescribed. If I’m having trouble taking it, I will tell my parent(s)/guardian(s) or prescriber so that we can problem solve.
____ I will tell my parent(s)/guardian(s) or prescriber how I feel when taking the medication, especially if there are feelings I don’t like.
____ I will not share my medication with anyone else.
____ I will not take anyone else’s medication.
