Done Prescription and Intake Process: How It Works, What to Expect

What Happens During the Done Intake

The evaluation begins before you ever see a clinician. Done's onboarding portal collects demographic data, medical history, current medications, and a structured self-report instrument modeled on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), a six-item screener validated in primary care settings with a sensitivity of 68.7% and specificity of 99.5% for DSM-IV ADHD in the original WHO validation study [1]. You also answer open-ended questions about functional impairment across work, relationships, and daily routines.

After completing the questionnaire (roughly 15 to 20 minutes), you schedule a synchronous video visit with a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or physician. The clinician reviews your screening responses, asks follow-up questions aligned with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, and performs a brief mental-status observation. No neuropsychological testing is included. No collateral informant interview is required, though some providers may request one.

If the clinician determines that ADHD is present and medication is appropriate, a prescription can be sent electronically the same day. Stimulant prescriptions (Schedule II) require an electronic prescribing system compliant with DEA EPCS regulations [2].

How Done Compares to Guideline-Recommended ADHD Evaluation

The American Academy of Family Physicians and the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance both recommend that adult ADHD diagnosis incorporate multiple data sources: self-report, collateral informant history, developmental history review, and rule-out of differential diagnoses including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and substance use [3]. A 2023 systematic review in the Journal of Attention Disorders (N=42 studies) found that multi-method assessment improved diagnostic accuracy by 23% compared to self-report alone [4].

Done's model abbreviates this process. The platform relies primarily on patient self-report and a single clinician visit. This is not unique to Done. Most direct-to-consumer ADHD telehealth platforms (Cerebral, Ahead, ADHD Online) use similar abbreviated models. The tradeoff is speed and access versus diagnostic rigor.

Dr. Margaret Sibley, a clinical psychologist at the University of Washington and lead author of multiple ADHD diagnostic validity studies, has noted: "Telehealth can be an appropriate modality for ADHD assessment when clinicians apply the same diagnostic standards they would in person. The risk is when time pressure or business incentives compress evaluation below the threshold needed for differential diagnosis" [5].

Whether Done's 30-minute window provides adequate time depends on case complexity. Straightforward presentations in adults with clear childhood-onset symptoms and no psychiatric comorbidity may be diagnosable in that timeframe. Complex cases with overlapping mood disorders, trauma histories, or substance use typically require longer evaluation.

What Done Can and Cannot Prescribe

Done clinicians prescribe across the full ADHD pharmacotherapy spectrum. First-line options include mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall, Adderall XR), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), and methylphenidate formulations (Concerta, Ritalin). Non-stimulant alternatives include atomoxetine (Strattera), extended-release guanfacine (Intuniv), and off-label bupropion.

A 2024 meta-analysis in The Lancet Psychiatry (N=10,068 across 81 RCTs) confirmed that amphetamines demonstrated the largest effect size for adult ADHD symptom reduction (SMD -0.79 to 95% CI -0.93 to -0.65) compared to methylphenidate (SMD -0.49) and atomoxetine (SMD -0.45) [6]. This hierarchy informs typical prescribing patterns across all ADHD telehealth platforms, including Done.

Done cannot prescribe controlled substances in states where it lacks clinician licensure. The platform also does not prescribe benzodiazepines, opioids, or medications outside the ADHD and adjacent-condition scope. If a patient presents with a primary diagnosis other than ADHD (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic features), Done's clinicians are expected to refer out rather than prescribe.

The Monthly Subscription and Cost Structure

Done operates on a subscription model. The medication management plan costs approximately $199 per month, which covers one monthly video check-in, messaging access to your provider, and prescription management. The initial evaluation appointment is typically included in the first month's fee or charged as a separate $199 intake fee depending on current pricing.

Medications are not included. Patients fill prescriptions at their own pharmacy and pay out of pocket or use insurance pharmacy benefits. Generic mixed amphetamine salts cost approximately $30 to $60 per month at most pharmacies with GoodRx-type coupons. Brand-name Vyvanse runs $300 to $400 without insurance, though Takeda's patient assistance program and the authorized generic (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) have reduced costs since 2023.

For context: a traditional in-person psychiatrist visit for ADHD management typically costs $150 to $350 per session, with initial evaluations running $300 to $500 [7]. The total annual cost of Done ($2,388) versus quarterly psychiatrist visits ($600 to $1,400 annually) favors traditional care for stable patients who need only periodic check-ins. Done's model is more cost-effective for patients who need monthly touchpoints or who cannot access in-person psychiatry due to geographic or scheduling barriers.

Is Done Legitimate? Regulatory and Legal Context

Done is a registered telehealth company that employs or contracts with licensed clinicians holding active state medical licenses and DEA registrations. The platform is not a pharmacy and does not dispense medications directly.

The legitimacy question intensified after the DOJ indicted Done's co-founder and former CEO in 2022 on charges related to unlawful distribution of controlled substances [8]. The indictment alleged that the company pressured clinicians to prescribe stimulants even when clinical judgment suggested otherwise and that evaluation standards were inadequate. Done has publicly stated that it cooperated with investigators, implemented compliance reforms, and replaced executive leadership.

This legal history does not mean that current Done clinicians are practicing improperly. But it does represent a documented instance where business-model incentives conflicted with prescribing standards. Patients should be aware of this history when evaluating the platform.

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act (2008) requires at least one in-person or synchronous video evaluation before a controlled substance can be prescribed via telehealth [9]. Done's synchronous video model satisfies this requirement. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA temporarily waived in-person requirements for Schedule II prescribing via telehealth; post-PHE rules finalized in 2025 now require the initial video evaluation but permit subsequent refill visits via audio-only or asynchronous modalities in some states [10].

Done vs. Alternatives: Cerebral, ADHD Online, Ahead

The direct-to-consumer ADHD telehealth space includes several competitors. Cerebral offers a similar subscription model ($85 to $285/month depending on plan) and accepts some insurance. ADHD Online provides a comprehensive computer-based neuropsychological assessment ($199 one-time) before routing to a prescriber. Ahead uses a briefer intake model similar to Done.

Key differentiators:

Cerebral accepts insurance for therapy and some medication management visits, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs. However, Cerebral faced its own DOJ and FTC scrutiny in 2022-2023 regarding prescribing practices and data privacy violations [11].

ADHD Online's inclusion of a standardized neuropsychological battery (TOVA or similar continuous performance test) adds a layer of objective measurement that neither Done nor Cerebral includes. A 2021 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that combining self-report with CPT data reduced false-positive ADHD diagnoses by 31% compared to self-report alone (N=612) [12].

Traditional psychiatry or psychology practices offering telehealth visits combine the convenience of remote access with more comprehensive evaluation protocols but often have 4 to 12 week wait times for new patient appointments. The AAFP reports that the median wait for a new outpatient psychiatry appointment in the United States is 67 days [13].

Stimulant Safety Monitoring on the Done Platform

Responsible stimulant prescribing requires ongoing monitoring. The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) consensus statement recommends baseline cardiovascular screening (blood pressure, heart rate, personal and family cardiac history), periodic vital sign checks, and screening for misuse or diversion at each refill [14].

Done's monthly check-ins provide a framework for this monitoring. Patients self-report blood pressure and heart rate (the platform recommends home BP cuffs). Clinicians screen for appetite suppression, insomnia, mood changes, and cardiovascular symptoms.

The limitation: self-reported vitals are less reliable than in-office measurement. A 2022 study in Hypertension (N=1,124) found that home BP readings correlated well with ambulatory monitoring (r=0.84) but that 18% of patients reported inaccurate values due to technique errors [15]. Done does not require photo or video verification of BP readings.

For patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, stimulant prescribing warrants ECG and potentially cardiology clearance. The FDA labeling for all amphetamine products includes a black-box-adjacent warning about sudden cardiac death in patients with structural heart abnormalities [16]. Whether a 30-minute telehealth visit can adequately assess cardiac risk is a clinical judgment call that varies by patient.

What Patients Report: Review Synthesis

Aggregated reviews across Trustpilot, Reddit (r/ADHD, r/telehealth), and the BBB reveal consistent themes. Positive reviews cite fast access (often within days of signup), convenience of the video format, and responsive customer service for prescription issues. Negative reviews cluster around three areas: difficulty canceling the subscription, provider turnover (being reassigned to new clinicians), and instances where patients felt the evaluation was too brief to be thorough.

A 2024 JAMA Network Open survey of 1,207 adults who used DTC telehealth for ADHD found that 72% reported satisfaction with their care, but only 44% reported that their clinician discussed non-pharmacological treatment options (behavioral strategies, sleep hygiene, organizational coaching) during the intake [17]. This finding is not Done-specific but reflects a pattern across the sector.

Who Is a Good Fit for Done

Done works best for adults with straightforward ADHD presentations: clear childhood-onset symptoms, minimal psychiatric comorbidity, no active substance use disorder, and geographic or scheduling barriers to traditional psychiatry access. It also suits patients already diagnosed who need ongoing medication management but cannot find a local prescriber accepting new patients.

Done is a poor fit for patients with complex comorbidity (bipolar disorder, active substance use, personality disorders), those who want comprehensive neuropsychological testing, or those who prefer integrated care combining therapy and medication management with a single provider.

Patients with cardiac risk factors, a history of stimulant misuse, or those taking multiple psychotropic medications should seek evaluation from a provider who can perform in-person physical examination and coordinate with other specialists.