Medication Guidelines

Medication Support That Puts Your Safety First

We believe in evidence-based medication decisions that support your goals while keeping you safe. Here’s how we approach prescribing – and why some medications require extra consideration.

Our Approach to Medication Decisions

Every medication decision we make together is grounded in clinical research and evidence-based practice. We believe you deserve to know not just what we’re prescribing, but why – and what to watch for along the way. What guides our prescribing: We recommend medications and supplements that are safe and effective for the symptoms we’re treating together. When there are potential risks or side effects, we’ll discuss them openly so you can make informed decisions about your care.

Regulatory Requirements That Affect Your Care

DEA Regulations and Schedule II Medications Federal DEA regulations affect how we can prescribe certain ADHD medications, sleep aids, and anxiety medications. Presently we are only prescribing controlled substances in DC, MD and VA. If regulations change, we might need to adjust how you receive certain medications. We’ll keep you informed and work with you to ensure continuity of care.

Alprazolam (Xanax) and Similar Medications If you’re not currently taking Xanax, we typically don’t start it as a new medication due to safety concerns around dependency. However, if you’re already taking it, we’ll work with you to assess your needs and create a safe treatment plan.

Stimulants and Sleep Medications When clinically appropriate, we do prescribe stimulants for ADHD and sleep aids for sleep disorders. These medications are highly regulated, requiring more frequent check-ins and specific documentation – all designed to ensure your safety.

Medical Cannabis Authorization In states where it’s legal, we may recommend medical cannabis after exploring other equally effective options first. Like any medication, the key is finding the right balance.

Ketamine Therapy Coordination Ketamine is showing remarkable promise for treatment-resistant depression. While we don’t directly prescribe or provide esketamine in our practice, we absolutely support and can help coordinate ketamine treatment when clinically appropriate.

Our Commitment to You

These guidelines aren’t meant to be barriers – they’re safety standards that help us provide the most responsible care possible. Questions about any of these policies? Please bring them up during your appointment.