A Physician Is Approached by a Longtime Friend Who Requests

question 478

Multiple Choice

A physician is approached by a longtime friend who requests a prescription for dextroamphetamine.  The physician has known this individual since childhood and is aware that he has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for which he received stimulant medications throughout high school.  The physician sees her friend socially several times a year, and the friend has been supportive during some difficult times in her own life.  The friend explains that he is under a lot of pressure at work and wants to resume taking stimulants briefly to help him stay focused and meet his deadlines.  Which of the following is the most appropriate response?

• A)Before I prescribe, can you tell me if you have had any difficulty tolerating stimulants?
• B)I would be comfortable prescribing provided you have been treated with stimulants as an adult.
• C)I would like to help you, but I am uncomfortable prescribing for someone I am not treating.
• D)I would like to help you, but treating friends and family is always considered unethical.
• E)I would like to help you; can you tell me more about your response to stimulants in the past?