<p>I have received an LOA, and gotten my nomination. However, I was recently reading and found that the use of Ritalin may disqualify me medically. I took it all through elementary and middle school, but have havent taken it in quite awhile. It has never affected my academic performance or social behavior. I would appreciate anyone's advice or personal experience with this problem. Will it hurt me?</p>
<p>Have you taken it past the age of 12? If not, then don't worry about it. At the Summer Leaders Seminar, the Dean said that if you are competitive enough and had something on your record that is medically disqualifying that has not appeared past the age of 12, you will most likely receive a waiver.</p>
<p>I stopped taking it like 6-8 months ago. I think if I appealed I'd be able to get a waiver. I think they're going to make me get a waiver. If I can't I'm screwed.</p>
<p>This is the guidance document that DODMERB must follow. Your issue is covered in 2-29.d. You must be off of the medication for at least 12 months. It is better to face issues like this head on.</p>
<p>This should have been addressed in the DODMERB physical evaluation or medical history questions. Good luck.</p>
<p>have you already done the DODMERB physical?</p>
<p>yes I did the DoDmerb. I haven't been on it in many months- though I'm not quite sure its been twelve months- at least 6 tho. crap!</p>
<p>what do you mean "hit it head on"</p>
<p>I meant you know it is a problem so it needs to be addressed. Better to do so now rather than to try and hide it and deal with the consequences later if it comes up. Hidden medical conditions, including false medication histories (whether intentional or by omission), are cause for separation on R-Day or after. Address it now and hopefully a waiver can be obtained.</p>
<p>ElPadrino,</p>
<p>You stated "I took it all through elementary and middle school, but have havent taken it in quite awhile". However, if it's been 6-12 months since you quit, you must have been taking the medication during high school also. You'll need to have accurate information for DoDMERB as well as for all parts of your Admissions process. So, get on top of this right away by checking with your own physician so you can provide the correct information to your file. And good luck with the waiver process.</p>
<p>ElPadrino:</p>
<p>As already noted, you went from using Ritalin in grade school, to using it "like" 6 to 8 months ago. Have you been honest with USMA? On the medical forms? They don't kid around about this stuff and neither should you.</p>
<p>One of the symptoms for which Ritalin is prescribed is impulsivity. The military involves making considered decisions and using weapons that can hurt people, many people. I'm not sure impulsivity and these characteristics of military leadership go together.</p>
<p>Here's a quote from David Lipsky's Absolutely American: "Even medical histories are fair game: if you have flatfeet, asthma, diabetes or any experience with Ritalin or antidpressant drugs, chances are you're out of the running" (8). However, I have heard of cadets who have gotten into the academy with mild cases of asthma. If you're reasons for taking the Ritalin weren't so severe, then I think you have a shot.</p>
<p>That quote was exactly what got me worried. When I said "I used it in grade school and middle school, but hadn't in awhile", I was referring to the fact that I hadn't used it in roughly six months (there's no way to calculate it exactly and 6 months IS quite awhile). I'm concerned but can't do anything about it because everyone's on leave. It might very well be that I haven't taken it in a year, but I have no way of knowing. My last prescription was filled 4/14/05, but that doesn't necessarily mean I was taking it 4/13/05, so I could very well be approaching the 1 year mark. All I know is I'm not losing West Point over some trivial sht like this. Impulsivity is not a flaw I posess, and I'll do what it takes to make them know that.</p>
<p>I dunno about Ritalin, but I can't join the Corps/other army stuff for next 3 years for a pneumothorax...But you should be honest about it, or you might get in trouble later.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, if ElPadrino does not report his Ritalin use to DoDMERB, does West Point have any way of knowing that he took it? Do they request your medical history from a personal physician so nobody can slip by dishonestly? I'm not suggesting you not report your use ElPadrino, as this would be dishonest, but I imagine that some people do slip by every year without recording some disqualifying medical information.</p>
<p>They have no way of knowing... it is illegal for your physician to give anyone your medical information without written consent from you.</p>
<p>They might do the "If you do not grant permission to show us your medical files we will give you the boot" but that would be for ANY investigation. </p>
<p>Not sure if i should say this but i talked with a former medical reviewer at DoDMERB and he said they do not investigate. No reason to and as we all know, not enough staff power to do so.</p>
<p>Indeed in my case, honesty killed me. I was taking paxil for anxiety and it DQd me. He told me if i said "no" there would have been no other question asked.</p>
<p>The only time you would be asked to sign a document granting people to look at your medical records before the army is when you're doing a security clearance. Even then, the paper is very specific in what can be disclosed.</p>
<p>ElPadrino - I agree, 6 months DOES seem like a very long time, but for my allergy shots I was originally diqualified because I had had them within the previous year, and it sounds like a year's the date for a lot of other stuff. My allergist thought it was a year so that they could see how I responded in all conditions without immunotherapy, don't know if Ritalin would be the same way though...</p>
<p>Keep hoping, though, because I got a waiver. After quitting my allergy shots in October, I got a waiver in November.</p>
<p>what does getting a waiver involve? I got an LOA, does that make it any easier?</p>
<p>First you must officially request a waiver for your condition. Then you should provide additional medical information in support of your waiver. Having an LOA doesn't help in this instance. They will judge your situation on its merits.</p>