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- ADHD · Evaluation and non-stimulant medication
Online ADHD treatment in Maryland
Thrive Telepsychiatry provides online ADHD evaluation, diagnosis and non-stimulant medication care for people anywhere in Maryland. Every visit is a secure video call with a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) licensed in Maryland, so you don’t need an office visit. Thrive accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Johns Hopkins EHP and self-pay, and you pay nothing upfront.
- Board certified PMHNP-BC
- Licensed in Maryland
- No upfront payment
Medically reviewed by Alicia Reed, PMHNP-BC, Founder · Last reviewed: November 2026
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes ongoing problems with attention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, and those problems get in the way of work, school or relationships. ADHD is not a lack of effort or discipline. It often starts in childhood and continues into adulthood.
It is more common in adults than many people think. About 15.5 million US adults, roughly 1 in 16, had a current ADHD diagnosis in 2023, and more than half of them were first diagnosed at age 18 or older (CDC, 2024). Many adults spend years thinking they are disorganized or lazy before they find out it is ADHD. A structured evaluation can give you a clear answer and a plan.
Three kinds of symptoms
Inattention
Difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, disorganization.
Hyperactivity
Restlessness, excessive talking, trouble staying seated.
Impulsivity
Interrupting others, rash decisions.
Symptoms vary from person to person and can overlap with anxiety, depression or sleep problems, which is why a professional evaluation matters.
Signs it may be time for an online ADHD evaluation
ADHD symptoms fall into three groups: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In adults they often look like missed deadlines, chronic lateness, unfinished projects and a mind that won’t settle. In women, ADHD is often missed, because it tends to show up as inattention, overwhelm and anxiety rather than hyperactivity. If these patterns have lasted six months or more and affect your work, home or relationships, an evaluation is a good next step.
Adult ADHD symptoms
Difficulty managing tasks, deadlines, or clutter.
Frequent lateness or poor time estimation.
Hasty decisions, such as spending or interrupting conversations.
Intense concentration on enjoyable tasks, neglecting others.
Mood swings or frustration over small setbacks.
Misplacing items or forgetting appointments.
Inner agitation or mental hyperactivity rather than physical fidgeting.
Avoiding tasks despite consequences.
Overwhelm when juggling multiple responsibilities.
Quick irritation with routine tasks.
Signs of adult ADHD in women
ADHD in women frequently goes undiagnosed due to subtler, internalized symptoms. Key signs include:
Constant effort to keep up with expectations, leading to burnout.
Disguised by perfectionism or overcompensation, such as excessive list making.
Intense mood swings, rejection sensitivity, or unexplained irritability.
Chronic lateness or underestimating task durations.
Overanalyzing conversations and working hard to avoid letting others down.
Racing thoughts rather than physical hyperactivity.
Missing appointments or losing keys and phones daily.
Over planning to counter disorganization.
Worsened symptoms during PMS, perimenopause, or postpartum periods.
Feeling inadequate despite achievements.
How Thrive diagnoses ADHD online
Conducted by a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC). One-hour video visit.
Tools like the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS v1.1).
Evidence of symptoms before age 12, per DSM-5-TR criteria.
Ruling out conditions like anxiety, depression, or thyroid disorders.
Assessing daily challenges at work, in relationships and with organization.
Input from family, partners, or past records.
Meeting specific thresholds for inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity.
A non-stimulant medication plan if it's right for you, plus practical strategies and a referral where needed.
Adult ADHD diagnosis criteria
Diagnosing ADHD requires symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity lasting at least six months. These symptoms must significantly impair daily functioning and not result from other conditions.
At least 5 symptoms for ages 17 and up (6 for younger children) in inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, or both.
Symptoms must have been present before age 12, even if undiagnosed.
Symptoms impair functioning in two or more environments, such as work, home and social life.
Significant disruption to daily life: job performance, relationships, time management.
Symptoms persist for six months or more.
Symptoms not better explained by anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, or substance use.
Validated assessments like the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) or the DIVA-5 interview.
Online ADHD treatment options in Maryland
Online ADHD treatment at Thrive combines a full psychiatric evaluation with ADHD medication management online, using non-stimulant options. You get both from one Maryland-licensed PMHNP-BC, by secure video. You see the same provider where possible, and follow-ups every 2 to 4 weeks keep your plan on track while medication is started or adjusted.
Evaluation
A one-hour video evaluation of your symptoms, childhood history and daily challenges, using validated screening tools.
Non-stimulant medication
If it’s right for you, your provider prescribes a non-stimulant and monitors how it works and any side effects.
Follow-up and strategies
30-minute follow-ups, plus practical routines for focus, time and organization that fit your day.
Thrive treats ADHD with non-stimulant medication only. Thrive does not prescribe stimulants or any other controlled substances. Non-stimulants are not habit-forming, and once they reach full effect they work steadily through the day. They usually take a few weeks to reach that point, which is why early follow-ups matter.
Sleep, exercise and simple structure, such as written lists, timers and one task at a time, can make medication work better. Your provider builds these into your plan and adjusts it based on what is actually working for you.
Non-stimulant ADHD medication options
Non-stimulant ADHD medications work differently from stimulants such as Adderall. They are not controlled substances, so the DEA’s telehealth rules for controlled medications do not apply to them. They also sidestep the stimulant shortages: in 2023, 71.5% of adults taking a stimulant had trouble filling their prescription (CDC, 2024).
Educational only. Whether medication is right for you, and which kind, is a decision you make with your provider during your evaluation.
Atomoxetine and viloxazine ER
Atomoxetine was the first non-stimulant approved for ADHD. Viloxazine extended-release is newer and was FDA-approved for adults in 2022. Both work on norepinephrine to improve focus and impulse control.
- Steady, all-day symptom control
- Not habit-forming
- Can suit people who also manage anxiety
Full effect usually takes several weeks. Both carry an FDA warning about suicidal thoughts in young people, so your provider monitors this closely at every follow-up.
Guanfacine ER and clonidine ER
These act on alpha-2 receptors to calm hyperactivity and impulsivity. They are FDA-approved for children and teens aged 6 to 17.
- Help with impulsivity and emotional reactivity
- Can support sleep
- Not habit-forming
They can lower blood pressure and cause drowsiness, so the dose is adjusted gradually.
Bupropion (off-label)
An antidepressant that is sometimes prescribed off-label for ADHD, especially when depression is also present. It is not FDA-approved for ADHD.
- Can help with ADHD and low mood together
- Not a controlled substance
- An option when other non-stimulants didn't suit you
It carries an FDA warning about suicidal thoughts in young people. Side effects are reviewed at every follow-up.
Non-stimulants can be a good fit if you had side effects on stimulants, have a history of substance use, also live with anxiety or sleep problems, or want to avoid controlled medications, which need a new prescription for every fill. If a non-stimulant plan isn’t right for you, your provider will talk through your next steps, including a referral where appropriate.
Stimulant vs non-stimulant ADHD medication
Both types of medication treat ADHD, but they work in different ways. Thrive uses non-stimulants only. This table shows how the two compare, so you can talk it through with your provider.
| Stimulants | Non-stimulants (Thrive) | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta | Atomoxetine, viloxazine ER, guanfacine ER, clonidine ER |
| How fast they work | Within hours | A few weeks to full effect |
| Controlled substance | Yes, Schedule II | No |
| Habit-forming | Can be misused | Not habit-forming |
| Prescriptions | A new prescription for every fill | Standard prescriptions and refills |
| Telehealth rules | DEA rules for controlled medications apply | DEA controlled-substance rules do not apply |
| Supply | Frequent shortages since 2022 | Not affected by stimulant shortages |
Who non-stimulants may suit
Side effects on stimulants
A different way to manage symptoms if stimulants caused problems.
Anxiety or sleep problems
Non-stimulants can be a better fit when these are part of the picture.
History of substance use
Non-stimulants are not controlled substances and are not habit-forming.
Your provider explains the options, expected timelines and side effects before you start.
Treatment follows the same four steps
- No upfront payment
Book online
Choose a provider and a time that suits you.
Meet by video
A full evaluation from home, on any device.
Start your plan
A prescription to your pharmacy, if it is right for you.
Follow up
Every 2 to 4 weeks to begin with, then as you need.
What to expect at your online ADHD evaluation
Your first visit is a one-hour video call with your provider. It covers your current symptoms, your history since childhood, your health and medications, and how ADHD affects your daily life. You leave with a clear next step, whether that is a diagnosis and plan or a referral.
Before your visit
Find a quiet, private space, check your camera and internet, and make sure you will be in Maryland.
What to have ready
A list of current medications, your insurance card if using insurance, and any past school or medical records.
During the visit
Your provider asks structured questions and uses validated screening tools. Bring your own questions too.
It can help to ask a partner, parent or close friend how they see your focus and organization. Their view can add useful detail to your evaluation.
Ready to book? Start your online ADHD evaluation.
Online ADHD care across Maryland
Thrive’s providers are licensed by the Maryland Board of Nursing. Since 2015, Maryland has given nurse practitioners full practice authority, so a PMHNP can evaluate, diagnose and prescribe for ADHD without a supervising physician.
You can attend from Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Rockville, Frederick, Annapolis, the Eastern Shore or anywhere else in the state. The only requirement is that you are in Maryland at the time of each visit.
How online care works in Maryland
Secure video
Visits run on Tebra, a HIPAA-compliant platform in your browser. Nothing to download.
Teens and adults
Care for ages 13 and up who are in Maryland at the time of each visit.
Local pages
Baltimore · Columbia · Silver Spring · Rockville
Looking for the provider side of things? Read about online ADHD psychiatrists in Maryland.
For parents
School and home
Your provider looks at how symptoms affect school, home and friendships.
Medication safety
Some non-stimulants carry FDA warnings for young people, so side effects and mood are checked at every follow-up.
Same provider
Your teen sees the same provider where possible, which helps build trust.
Founder Alicia Reed, PMHNP-BC, has spent her career helping teens and young adults.
Online ADHD treatment for teens in Maryland
Thrive sees teens aged 13 to 17 as well as adults. ADHD in teens can show up as falling grades, missed assignments, conflict at home and low confidence, and it is often mistaken for a motivation problem.
Parents can book for their teen through Get Started by choosing “My teenager, 13 to 17”. Your teen meets the provider by video from home, and the plan is reviewed at regular follow-ups.
What online ADHD treatment costs
Thrive accepts insurance and self-pay, and you pay nothing upfront. You only pay after each session is complete.
First evaluation: $250
1 hour, self-pay, with a board-certified PMHNP-BC.
Follow-up: $175
30 minutes, self-pay, for ongoing medication management.
$0 upfront
No payment until your session is complete, with insurance or self-pay.
Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Johns Hopkins Hospital Employee Health Plan (JHH EHP). Coverage varies by plan, so check your benefits before your first visit.
See full details on our plans and pricing page, or call 855.805.9015 with questions about cost.
Why Marylanders choose Thrive for ADHD care
Thrive is a Baltimore-based practice that has focused on telepsychiatry since 2015. You get your evaluation, diagnosis and non-stimulant medication plan from the same provider, where possible, with no travel. Book online and meet from home, work or school.
Meet your provider: Alicia Reed, PMHNP-BC, Founder. She has spent her career helping teens and young adults with ADHD, anxiety and depression. Meet the provider.
What makes the difference
One provider
The same provider where possible, not a different clinician at every visit.
Evaluation and treatment together
Your diagnosis and medication plan come from one place.
Non-stimulant care
Sidesteps stimulant shortages and the telehealth rules for controlled substances.
Ready to start? Book your ADHD evaluation or call 855.805.9015.
Online ADHD treatment in Maryland: FAQs
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about online ADHD care at Thrive.
Can adults get an ADHD diagnosis online in Maryland?
Yes. A Maryland-licensed PMHNP can diagnose ADHD through a structured video evaluation. The evaluation reviews your current symptoms, your childhood history, and how attention problems affect work, school and home. Your provider uses validated screening tools and rules out conditions with similar symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and sleep problems.
Does Thrive prescribe Adderall or other stimulants?
No. Thrive does not prescribe stimulants or any controlled substances. ADHD care at Thrive uses non-stimulant medication, such as atomoxetine or viloxazine. These are not habit-forming, and you can start them through online visits.
Is an online ADHD diagnosis legitimate?
Yes, when it comes from a licensed clinician using the same DSM-5-TR criteria used in an office. Thrive’s provider is board-certified and licensed in Maryland. With your consent, your diagnosis and records can be shared with your other doctors.
How much does online ADHD treatment cost at Thrive?
Self-pay is $250 for the first one-hour evaluation and $175 for each 30-minute follow-up. With insurance, you pay your plan’s usual copay or coinsurance. You pay nothing upfront, only after each session.
How long do non-stimulant ADHD medications take to work?
They usually take a few weeks to reach full effect, while stimulants work within hours. Your provider checks in every 2 to 4 weeks at first to adjust the dose and watch for side effects.
Who can be seen for online ADHD treatment at Thrive?
Teens and adults aged 13 and up who are in Maryland at the time of each visit. Every visit is by secure video.
Is a psychiatric nurse practitioner the same as a psychiatrist?
Not exactly. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. A PMHNP-BC is an advanced practice nurse with graduate psychiatric training and national board certification. In Maryland, PMHNPs can diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication on their own. Read more about online ADHD psychiatrists in Maryland.
What if I'm in crisis?
Thrive is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
From the Thrive blog
Ready when you are
Choose a provider, meet online, and pay after your session is completed. No upfront payment.