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Understanding Your Medication Options with Virtual Psychiatry

Last modified: September 21, 2026

LifeStance offers virtual psychiatric care in select states where we do not have physical offices. In these locations, our psychiatric clinicians can evaluate mental health concerns and prescribe many commonly used medications. However, they cannot prescribe controlled substances in these states.

What LifeStance can offer

Our virtual psychiatric clinicians can:

  • Evaluate your symptoms
  • Diagnose many mental health conditions
  • Prescribe appropriate non-controlled medications
  • Monitor how your medication is working
  • Adjust eligible medications when needed
  • Recommend therapy or other treatments
  • Help you find other care if you need a controlled medication

Before scheduling an appointment

Before scheduling: LifeStance clinicians providing care in virtual-only states cannot start, refill, renew, or replace a controlled medication—even if you already take it or another clinician prescribed it in the past. If you currently take a controlled medication or believe you may need one, please review the information below before scheduling an appointment.

LifeStance’s virtual-only psychiatric service may not meet your needs if your main reason for scheduling is to:

  • Start a controlled medication
  • Refill a controlled medication
  • Continue a controlled medication from another provider
  • Replace a lost or stolen controlled medication
  • Receive treatment for medication or substance withdrawal

What is a controlled medication?

Controlled medications are more closely regulated because they can carry higher safety risks for misuse or dependence. Common examples include:

  • Stimulants used for ADHD, such as Adderall and Vyvanse
  • Benzodiazepines used for anxiety, such as Xanax and Ativan
  • Certain sleep medications, such as Ambien and Lunesta
  • Buprenorphine products used for opioid use disorder, such as Suboxone

Non-controlled medications do not have the same prescribing restrictions. They include many medications used to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, sleep problems, and other mental health conditions.

Both controlled and non-controlled medications can have important benefits, risks, and side effects. Your clinician will work with you to decide which options may be safe and appropriate for you.

Why can’t LifeStance prescribe controlled substances in these states?

Controlled medications have additional rules for prescribing through virtual care. Because LifeStance does not have physical offices in these states, our clinicians cannot prescribe or refill controlled medications, even if another clinician prescribed the medication in the past.

What if I already take a controlled medication?

A LifeStance clinician cannot refill or take over your controlled medication prescription.

If you already take a controlled medication:

  • Do not stop or change it on your own.
  • Contact your current prescriber before you run out.
  • Let us know about the medication before scheduling. Although we cannot prescribe or refill it, we may still be able to help with other parts of your care.
  • If you need to continue the medication, we can help you identify another provider who may be able to treat you.

Some controlled medications can cause serious withdrawal symptoms if they are stopped suddenly. If you are concerned about running out, contact your current prescriber right away.

ADHD treatment

ADHD may be treated with stimulant or non-stimulant medication. Therapy and practical strategies can also help with focus, organization, and impulse control.

ADHD medications we cannot prescribe

Stimulants increase the activity of certain brain chemicals involved in attention, organization, and impulse control. Common examples include:

  • Adderall and Adderall XR (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine)
  • Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)
  • Ritalin and Concerta (methylphenidate)
  • Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)

Stimulants are controlled medications. LifeStance clinicians in virtual-only states cannot prescribe or refill stimulant medications.

This applies even if you have an established ADHD diagnosis or are already taking a stimulant prescribed by another clinician.

Non-controlled ADHD medications

There are many effective, non-controlled medications for treating ADHD. Your clinician may consider non-stimulant options such as:

  • Atomoxetine (Strattera)
  • Viloxazine (Qelbree)
  • Guanfacine extended-release (Intuniv)
  • Clonidine extended-release (Kapvay)

These medications work differently from stimulants. They may not be right for everyone. Your clinician will review your symptoms, health history, and past treatment before recommending an option.

Therapy and behavioral strategies may also help with organization, time management, emotional regulation, and other ADHD-related challenges.

Anxiety treatment

Anxiety may be treated with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

Anxiety medications we cannot prescribe

Benzodiazepines can provide quick but temporary relief from anxiety or panic. Common examples include:

  • Alprazolam (Xanax)
  • Lorazepam (Ativan)
  • Clonazepam (Klonopin)
  • Diazepam (Valium)

Benzodiazepines are controlled medications. LifeStance clinicians in virtual-only states cannot prescribe or refill benzodiazepines. This includes prescriptions that were started by another clinician.

Gabapentin may also be used off-label to treat anxiety in some circumstances. It is a controlled medication in Alabama, North Dakota, and West Virginia. LifeStance clinicians providing virtual-only care in these states cannot prescribe or refill gabapentin.

Do not suddenly stop a benzodiazepine or gabapentin if you take it regularly. Stopping suddenly can cause serious withdrawal symptoms. Contact your current prescriber for help making a safe plan.

Non-controlled anxiety medications

Other medications and treatments can provide more sustained anxiety relief over time. Depending on your diagnosis and symptoms, non-controlled medication options may include:

  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor)
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • Buspirone (Buspar)
  • Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)

Psychotherapy may also be an important part of anxiety treatment and, like non-controlled medications, can provide more sustained relief over time.

Sleep treatment

Sleep problems can have many causes. Anxiety, depression, medical conditions, other medications, and sleep habits can all affect sleep. Treatment begins with understanding what is disrupting your sleep.

Sleep medications we cannot prescribe

Some medications used for insomnia are controlled substances, including:

  • Ambien (zolpidem)
  • Lunesta (eszopiclone)
  • Sonata (zaleplon)
  • Restoril (temazepam)
  • Belsomra (suvorexant)
  • Dayvigo (lemborexant)
  • Quviviq (daridorexant)

LifeStance clinicians in virtual-only states cannot start or refill these sleep medications, including medications that were started by another clinician.

Do not suddenly stop these medications if you take them regularly. This can cause serious withdrawal symptoms. Contact your current prescriber for help making a safe plan.

Non-controlled sleep-treatment options

Depending on the cause of your sleep symptoms, a clinician may consider options such as:

  • Rozerem (ramelteon)
  • Silenor (doxepin)
  • Other medications may be used off-label to help with sleep, including trazodone
  • Medications that treat an underlying condition, such as anxiety or depression

Medication is not always the most effective long-term treatment for insomnia. Your clinician may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, changes to sleep habits, or an evaluation for an underlying sleep or medical condition.

Substance use treatment

Substance use disorders are treatable medical conditions. Effective treatment may include therapy, recovery support, medical care, and medication.

Medications we cannot prescribe

Buprenorphine is a controlled medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Examples include:

  • Suboxone
  • Subutex
  • Zubsolv
  • Sublocade
  • Brixadi

Methadone is another controlled medication used to treat opioid use disorder and is generally provided through specially regulated treatment programs.

LifeStance clinicians in virtual-only states cannot prescribe, administer, or refill buprenorphine, methadone, or other controlled medications used to treat a substance use disorder.

If you currently take one of these medications, do not stop it without working with your current treatment provider.

Stopping treatment can cause withdrawal and increase the risk of returning to opioid use or experiencing an overdose.

Non-controlled medications and other treatment options

Some non-controlled medications may help treat certain substance use disorders. Examples include:

  • Naltrexone for alcohol or opioid use disorder
  • Acamprosate for alcohol use disorder
  • Disulfiram for alcohol use disorder
  • Other medications used to address co-occurring anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or related symptoms

These medications are not replacements for buprenorphine or methadone. Your clinician will determine whether one may be safe and appropriate for you.