Before any medication is prescribed…
We’ll arrange a telephone review appointment with you, as there are several things to consider when deciding if starting medication is right for you:

• An assessment of your physical health
• What the benefits of ADHD medication might be for you
• Potential side effects from medication
• How you feel about taking medication
• How it will fit with your daily routine, for example, some tablets need to be taken 2 or 3 times a day
• Which medications we would consider prescribing for you.

Your prescriber will also consider any medications you already take and previously diagnosed illnesses or conditions. This may mean for some people a trial of ADHD medication may not be recommended.

The clinician will also ask for you to have your blood pressure, pulse, height and weight checked. Sometimes they may also ask for you to have an ECG (a non-invasive test to trace the electrical activity of your heart, where sticky tabs are placed on your chest and attached to a machine), which can be done at your GP surgery. Occasionally, we may refer you to other specialities for review.

If you have any questions before being prescribed medication, or once you have started taking it, please contact us.

Collecting your Medication
Some medication for ADHD is classed as a ‘stimulant’, because of the way it works in the brain to stimulate the areas responsible for controlling attention, concentration, and impulsive behaviour. This type of medication is classed as a controlled drug. This means that extra care must be taken when prescribing and dispensing, so you may need to show the pharmacist ID, for example, a driving licence. If you need somebody else to collect your medication, it is worth calling the pharmacy beforehand to let them know.

Types of Medication
Medication for ADHD is divided into two categories, stimulant and non-stimulant. For each of these, there are different brand names, as well as their chemical name. You will receive a leaflet alongside this one which gives more information about each type.

If you take more than your prescribed dose of any medication, you must call 111 for an assessment..

Titration
This is the term for the process of starting and adjusting your medication. During this time, you will need regular telephone reviews which are normally a maximum of 30 minutes. How often you are reviewed varies and will be decided by the prescriber that you speak to. This is usually every 2-3 weeks but may be more or less frequent depending on your needs. Once you are on a suitable medication and dose, reviews will become less frequent.

You will also be asked to provide repeat readings of your blood pressure and pulse depending on whether you change your dose or type of medication, or if you experience side effects.

Please note, we cannot conduct reviews by email.

If we are unable to review you regularly we may not be able to prescribe your medication. During your review appointments, please let the clinician know if there have been any changes to your health, regular medications, or if any medication has been prescribed for you.

If you wish to stop taking your ADHD medication, you must discuss this with your prescriber.

For some ADHD medication, it is safe to have a break without a gradual reduction but for other types, you may feel unwell if you stop abruptly.

Pregnancy and Breast-feeding

It is very important that you immediately inform your prescriber if you become pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding

Side Effects
There is a list of side effects that some people experience on a separate information sheet.

Everyone is different, and you might not experience any at all. It’s helpful to make a note of anything you do experience, so that you can discuss this at your next review meeting. This includes things like changes to your appetite or sleep pattern. If you experience any side effects, it is important that you let us know. However, if you are concerned that the side effects are urgent, please contact your GP or 111 as our clinicians are not always able to speak to you straightaway.

Taking your medication
There is information on each type of medication on the leaflet sent with this one. You must take them as prescribed and if you are in doubt, look at the information printed on the sheet in the box or call us.

Some people find it helpful to set a reminder/alarm on their phone or computer so that they remember to take their medication at the right time. Other people might stick a note on a place where they will see it. You can also buy pill boxes with the days written on, so you can see if you have forgotten to take your dose.

If you try to add it to your daily routine, for example, at breakfast or after brushing your teeth, this can help.

Requesting more medication…

Your usual medication
If we are prescribing your medication and you are not under Shared Care (where your GP issues prescriptions) and you start to run out of medication, you need to let us know. In order that you do not miss any doses, we ask that you give us 10-14 days notice. You can request repeat prescriptions by calling or emailing us.

Lost medication
Because most medications for ADHD are controlled drugs, if you lose them, it can cause problems if trying to replace them. They need to be prescribed by the ADHD prescriber (or your GP if you are under Shared Care), and you will not be able to get a repeat prescription from 111 or the out of hours GP.

You should call the service if this happens, and we will call you to discuss. However, if this occurs more than once, we may refuse to issue more medication until the original due date.

Please make sure you keep your medication in a safe place, so you know where it is at all times.

Remember: if you decide at any point that medication is not the right choice, you can review your options with us.

Travelling Abroad with Medication

If you are prescribed stimulant medication for ADHD and have planned a trip abroad, because these are controlled drugs, you need to check the rules for the destination country. You can find more information by searching for the embassy of the country on the government website: gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk

Certain countries have very strict rules which prohibit certain types of medication, whereas others may have specific requirement and some none at all. Make sure that you know what is needed for the country you are travelling to.

If you need proof of your prescription, we can provide a travel letter to take with you when travelling. Please call or email us to make this request, with as much notice as possible, as we cannot guarantee that this can be given at short notice.

If you are unsure whether your medication is a controlled drug, you can ask at your next review or speak to a pharmacist.