Yes. Several non-stimulant medications treat adult ADHD, and Dr. Hardik Yadav, MD prescribes them by video across Maryland. The most common options are atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree), and bupropion (Wellbutrin XL), with guanfacine (Intuniv) added in some cases.
If a stimulant left you wired, anxious, or with a racing heart, or a controlled medication is off the table for you, a non-stimulant can still treat the attention and follow-through problems that brought you in. Here is what the options are, how they differ from stimulants, and how to start one in Maryland without an in-person visit.
The non-stimulant ADHD medications used for adults
A handful of medications treat adult ADHD without acting as a stimulant. They work mainly on norepinephrine rather than switching on dopamine the way stimulants do, so they steady attention over time instead of kicking in within an hour.
- Atomoxetine (Strattera) is FDA-approved for adult ADHD and taken once daily.
- Viloxazine (Qelbree) is a newer non-stimulant, FDA-approved for adults.
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) is prescribed off-label and often fits when low mood or a history of depression sits alongside the ADHD.
- Guanfacine (Intuniv) is used off-label in adults in some cases, on its own or with another medication, when restlessness and a short fuse run high.
None of these is a controlled substance, so there is no DEA schedule, no monthly paper prescription, and none of the drug-test questions that come with stimulants. As part of adult ADHD diagnosis and medication at Ansh Health Associates, Dr. Yadav reviews which one fits your history rather than starting everyone on the same drug.
Do non-stimulants work as well as stimulants?
For many adults, yes. Stimulants tend to work faster and help a large share of people, which is why they are often tried first. Non-stimulants can reach real, steady symptom control, and for someone who cannot tolerate a stimulant they are frequently the better route to a medication that actually gets taken every day. No ADHD medication works for everyone. The honest answer is that the right one is the one you respond to and can live with, and finding it can take an adjustment or two.
When a non-stimulant is the better fit
Some people do well on a stimulant. Others get the opposite of relief: more anxiety, a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or a jittery edge that makes the day harder. A non-stimulant is often the better starting point when:
- a stimulant made your anxiety or heart rate worse
- you have a history of substance use and would rather avoid a controlled medication
- a heart condition or high blood pressure makes stimulants a concern
- you did not respond to stimulants, or simply do not want one
Because Dr. Yadav treats anxiety and depression alongside ADHD, he weighs all of it in one evaluation instead of treating the ADHD by itself. When anxiety or low mood has been riding along with untreated ADHD, treating the ADHD often eases those symptoms too, and some of his patients have been able to step down from antidepressants they no longer needed.
How long does a non-stimulant take to work?
This is the main trade-off to know going in. A stimulant can show an effect the first day. A non-stimulant builds gradually and usually needs a few weeks of daily use before the benefit is clear, so a slow start is expected rather than a sign it is failing. Most psychiatric medications take about four to six weeks to reach full effect. Dr. Yadav tracks your progress with the ASRS scale at follow-ups, so you can see how well it is working, and he adjusts the plan from there.
Getting a non-stimulant ADHD prescription by telehealth in Maryland
You can be evaluated and treated for adult ADHD entirely by video anywhere in Maryland, with no in-person visit required. Your first appointment runs a full 60 minutes and covers a detailed history, the ASRS screening scale, and a check for the anxiety, depression, or sleep problems that often travel with ADHD. From there Dr. Yadav reviews stimulant and non-stimulant options with you and starts the one that fits. New patients can usually book that first visit within the same week, and evening and weekend times are open for people who cannot step away during the workday.
Adult ADHD medication, matched to you at Ansh Health Associates
At Ansh Health Associates, the psychiatrist who diagnoses you is the one who manages your medication at every follow-up. Dr. Yadav is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with more than 15 years of experience and a Master of Public Health, and he has handled severe, complex cases through his work in the corrections system. He manages adult ADHD medication by telehealth, reviews both stimulant and non-stimulant options, and can order genetic testing to see how your body processes a given medication when that helps guide the choice.
The practice is cash-pay and out-of-network. An initial 60-minute evaluation is $350 and each follow-up medication visit is $200, paid at the visit, with a superbill provided afterward that you can submit toward out-of-network reimbursement. A free 15-minute consult lets you talk through your situation and how the visits work before you commit to anything.
Book a free 15-minute ADHD consultation with Dr. Yadav and sort out whether a non-stimulant is the right place to start.
Common questions about non-stimulant ADHD medication
Is Wellbutrin a stimulant?
No. Bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) is an antidepressant used off-label for ADHD. It is not a controlled substance and is not a stimulant, though some people notice a mild lift in energy and focus on it.
Are non-stimulant ADHD medications controlled substances?
No. Atomoxetine, viloxazine, bupropion, and guanfacine are not controlled substances, so they do not carry the DEA scheduling, refill limits, or drug-test considerations that come with stimulants.
Can a non-stimulant be combined with other treatment?
Yes. Dr. Yadav may pair medication with therapy in the same visit and treats co-occurring anxiety or depression at the same time, since addressing both together is often where the earliest relief shows up.
What does adult ADHD treatment cost here?
The initial 60-minute evaluation is $350 and follow-up visits are $200. Ansh Health Associates is out-of-network and provides a superbill you can submit for possible reimbursement. See the pricing page for the full breakdown.