| Q: |
How much does the first session cost?
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| A: |
The initial visit fee may be as low as $249, but varies depending on the length of the visit and the complexity of any medical problems. Insurance may reimburse you part of this cost, especially if you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride. |
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| Q: |
What happens at the first session?
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| A: |
You'll complete a symptom and health questionnaire (which you can do
before the appointment with the Free Symptom Analysis feature of this
website), and you will talk with Dr. Tate. We'll discuss your symptoms,
confirm a diagnosis, and decide on a treatment. It's a lot like meeting
with any doctor.
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| Q: |
How much are follow-up visits?
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| A: |
Follow-up visits are as low as $99, but vary depending on the length of the visit and the complexity of any problems. Insurance may reimburse you some of the cost.
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| Q: |
How often are follow-up visits?
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| A: |
Follow-up visits are made at one to six month intervals, usually. More
frequently at the beginning of treatment, less frequently as you
improve.
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| Q: |
How successful is treatment for Overweight? ADD? Depression?
Insomnia?
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| A: |
About 90% of our patients see at least a 75% improvement.
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| Q: |
How much does insurance pay?
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| A: |
Insurance payment varies between 95% coverage and zero coverage. About
50% is most common. Insurance does not usually cover overweight
treatment.
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| Q: |
How safe are the weight-loss medications?
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| A: |
The medications we prescribe have many years of safety testing, with
virtually no reports of serious side effects. They are very safe.
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| Q: |
How long will I need medication?
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| A: |
At least for a few months after you're doing well. You may need them off
and on indefinitely. That's OK, too.
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| Q: |
Don't antidepressants give you a "false high"?
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| A: |
No, antidepressants are not "uppers." They simply restore your emotional
"circuits" to normal functioning. You'll have all the normal range of
feelings.
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| Q: |
How young can you treat ADHD?
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| A: |
We've successfully treated some two-year olds who have had severely
destructive ADHD.
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| Q: |
How long can you take ADD medications?
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| A: |
Most persons with ADD will need the medication at least into their early
20s. Many will need the medication lifelong, and that's OK.
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| Q: |
Are the medications you prescribe addictive?
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| A: |
No, almost never. We occasionally prescribe tranquilizers (for severe
anxiety) that can potentially be abused, but we almost never see a
problem with that.
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| Q: |
How does counseling fit in to your treatments?
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| A: |
We usually recommend counseling to help with the psychological
complications of the conditions we treat. Usually a medication is the
primary treatment, because the conditions we treat are due to chemical
imbalances.
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| Q: |
What are the side effects of the medications you prescribe?
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| A: |
The medications we prescribe have few side effects, and virtually no
serious side effects. We occasionally hear about headache, stomach ache,
trouble sleeping or daytime sleepiness. We are usually able to manage
these with simple dosage adjustments.
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| Q: |
Can children suffer from depression?
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| A: |
Yes, it usually presents as fearfulness, nervousness, and withdrawal
from other children and adults. We use the antidepressant medications
safely in children.
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| Q: |
Do the ADD medications make children into zombies? Are they
safe?
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| A: |
When properly prescribed the ADD medications work very well with almost
no side effects except temporary decrease in appetite. Some of these
medications have been used for 60 years and are very well studied. No
serious medical or mental complications have been linked to them.
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If you have an additional question, please send it using the
"Ask a Private Question" feature of this website!
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