Treatment for ADHD
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by inattention or excessive activity and impulsivity. It usually starts in childhood, but the symptoms can continue into adulthood, although they may present differently as you age.
Being diagnosed can bring a mix of emotions and questions, and it can be helpful to share experiences and talk to other people with the condition. ADHD can provide its challenges, but putting strategies in place to help manage your symptoms will help you move forward. Talking to other people will help you recognise and utilise the inherent strengths and unique abilities that also often accompany ADHD.
There are many resources available to learn more about ADHD, ranging from online information materials to support networks and forums. These can help you understand the condition better and navigate the path ahead. Our ADHD Wellbeing Pack provides more information about ADHD and the type of support that’s available.
While there’s no cure for ADHD, medication can relieve some of the symptoms that cause problems in day-to-day life.
Treatment approaches can involve pharmacological (medication) or non-pharmacological interventions (such as therapy, coaching or counselling), or a combination. Making lifestyle changes that include a healthy diet, regular exercise and good-quality sleep can also play a key role in managing ADHD.
Your doctor will discuss the different treatment options available and create a personalised treatment plan with you during your assessment.
ADHD medications work by increasing the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play a key role in attention focus, motivation and impulse control.
Taking medication can help people with ADHD to:
- Focus their thoughts and ignore distractions;
- Improve executive function (skills that help with everyday tasks, such as following instructions, making plans, solving problems, adapting to new situations);
- Improve their motivation to start and complete tasks;
- Feel calmer and less restless;
- Improve emotional regulation (control of their emotions);
- Be less impulsive, considering the consequences of a decision before acting;
- Improve prioritisation and organisational skills to manage their workload at school, university or in the workplace.
For more information about ADHD medications, visit the Choice and Medication website.
The NHS funds medication treatment under Right to Choose, but non-pharmacological interventions are not covered under the scheme.
If you receive a diagnosis through Psychiatry UK, you can ask to be referred directly to our titration service for medication treatment.
If you’ve been diagnosed by another provider, but would like to start treatment with Psychiatry UK under Right to Choose, you can ask your GP to be referred to us.
If you’re currently undergoing treatment with another service, we cannot accept a referral until you are stabilised on medication, or until the treatment has ended.
If you already have an ADHD diagnosis from another provider, but would like to pay for medication treatment with Psychiatry UK, please contact us via our Live Chat service or phone support line.
Therapy can be useful in treating ADHD, either on its own or alongside medication. It can also be very effective in treating problems that often appear alongside ADHD, such as depression, anxiety or substance misuse.
Some people find therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), ADHD coaching and support with organising (with a professional organiser), and ADHD-informed counselling to be a useful addition to their diagnosis.
We don’t currently offer non-pharmacological treatments at Psychiatry UK, but your local GP surgery should be able to help you find out about the options available in your local area.
You can keep up to date with our current estimated wait times here. While you’re on our wait list, we’ll check in with you regularly and support you with useful articles and resources.
Behind the scenes, our titration admin team will be working to ensure you’re fully prepared to start titration when you reach the top of the list. We’ll be in touch to request baseline readings of your blood pressure, pulse and weight, along with other important information about your health and the results of any medical investigations requested during your assessment.
We’re very aware that waiting for medication can be difficult, and reducing our titration wait times is an organisational priority. We’re continuously recruiting new prescribers to the team, and developing new technology to automate admin processes to allow our staff to focus on delivering frontline care and support to our patients.
In the meantime, we ask you please to bear with us. Rest assured that we’ll start your titration as soon as we can.
Frequently Asked Questions
NICE guidelines recommend that treatment for ADHD is commenced by a specialist ADHD clinician. Not all GPs have the knowledge to prescribe and titrate ADHD medications, and some prefer not to carry out this process.
The titration process typically takes 8-12 weeks to allow your body to adjust to the new medication and find the optimal dose for you to feel maximum treatment effects with minimal side effects.
At this stage, you will receive an end-of-titration review, and a letter will be sent to your GP recommending that your prescription be continued under a Shared Care Agreement (SCA). This means that ongoing prescriptions will be issued by your GP surgery, and there will be an expectation that your medication will be reviewed on a 6-monthly basis by your GP.
You will also be offered an annual review by Psychiatry UK – or another service, such as your local NHS team.
The Titration Service does not work within an appointment booking format. When you reach the top of our waiting list a titrating prescriber will contact you via the MedQare portal, so please ensure you check your portal regularly for notifications.
When your treatment begins, you will be asked to complete a weekly feedback form to let your prescriber know how you are responding to the medication and monitor any problems along the way.
Your prescriber will communicate with you through notes left on the portal. This allows you to exchange information flexibly through the course of your treatment without having to take time away from your working day or usual routines.
Before starting your medication, we will ask you to provide a health update and to send in your baseline weight, height, blood pressure and pulse readings. If advised by your doctor, you may also be asked to provide the results of an ECG and/or blood tests.
If you are an NHS or RTC patient, you can request for a blood pressure monitor to be sent to you at home to be able to record your observations.
During the titration process, you will be required to complete a weekly medication monitoring form, recording your latest weight, blood pressure and pulse readings. You will also be asked to provide information about the way you are responding to the medication and let us know if you are experiencing any problems.
Treatment under the Right to Choose (RTC) scheme will be provided by the NHS, with no charge to you.
If you order your prescription through our partner pharmacy, PPG, it may take around 7 days for your medication to be issued.
Your prescription will be sent via Royal Mail to the pharmacy for processing, and they will arrange for your medication to be delivered to your home via our approved courier service.
This process can sometimes take longer if there is any disruption to Royal Mail’s delivery service, and we therefore advise you to request your prescription 7-10 days before you are due to run out of medication.
Your first prescription will be sent out with a treatment plan, which will give guidance on how and when to take the medication.
Your treatment may be stopped if there is a change in your physical or mental health which indicates that it may not be safe for you to continue with your medication. Your safety is a priority and the reasons for stopping your medication will be explained by your titrating prescriber or doctor.
For your own safety you should never take medication that has not been prescribed for you.
When a controlled drug is prescribed, it is prescribed to a specific person. It is not safe to take anyone else’s medication.
The doctor or prescriber will have checked for any potential contraindications (situations in which the drug will not be safe) and cleared you to take the medication. Anyone else who takes the medication will not be able to rely on the medication being safe for them.
Your doctor or prescriber will also tailor the dose to the needs of the person being treated. For these reasons, it is very important to adhere to the guidelines issued with the medication.
No. We are a remote service provider, so when you reach the top of our titration waiting list a titrating prescriber will send a welcome letter via the MedQare portal.
You will be notified via SMS and email that you have a message waiting on your portal. Please ensure that you respond promptly.
Unfortunately, we are not able to expedite the prescription and delivery process if you run out of your medication before your new prescription is delivered.
We recommend you request your prescription 7-10 days before you are due to run out of medication.
To speak to our pharmacy, TPP, please call: 0330 124 4305.
We are only insured to carry out titration for patients who are residing in the UK. If you are living abroad, we will not be able to titrate for you. Our partner pharmacy is also unable to send medication outside the UK.
Psychiatry UK is a remote titration service provider, meaning that all messaging is carried out online via the MedQare portal.
If it is difficult for you to communicate online, Psychiatry UK may not be the most appropriate service provider for you. Speak to your GP about your concerns.
We will always try to respond to portal messages as fast as we can.
We appreciate your understanding that due to the high number of patients under our care, we may not always respond to patient requests immediately. Occasionally, your note may need to be forwarded to your doctor, which could result in a slightly longer response time.
For urgent matters, please consider contacting us via our Virtual Assistant service (Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm).
Please note: While we endeavour to provide timely assistance, we are not an emergency service and cannot offer emergency medical services for urgent or crisis situations, or for patients who are acutely ill.
Some of our patients are experiencing additional delays in the prescribing of medication for ADHD due to global drug shortages. Please download the latest Update Regarding National ADHD Medication Shortage for further information. This information is updated regularly.
ADHD is a condition that can persist into adulthood, contrary to the outdated belief that it only affects children. Despite this, many medications for ADHD are still only licensed for use in children, and the patient information leaflets have not been updated to reflect current knowledge.
NICE Guidelines and Unlicensed Use
In the UK, the NICE guidelines recommend several pharmacological treatments for adults with ADHD. These include:
- Methylphenidate: This is the first-line treatment and includes various formulations such as Xaggitin XL, Concerta XL, Medikinet XL, Equasym XL, and short-release methylphenidate.
- Lisdexamfetamine: Recommended if methylphenidate is not effective or tolerated.
- Dexamfetamine: Considered if lisdexamfetamine is not tolerated due to prolonged effect.
- Atomoxetine: An alternative for those who are not clinically suitable for or cannot tolerate stimulants or if there is a risk of misuse.
- Guanfacine: Third line option, particularly if other treatments are not suitable.
Unlicensed Use of Medications
While these medications are primarily licensed for children, they are commonly prescribed off-label for adults based on clinical guidelines and evidence of their effectiveness. This practice is known as unlicensed or off-label use. It is important to understand that:
- Unlicensed use means the medication is not officially approved for a specific age group or condition, but it is prescribed based on clinical judgement and guidelines.
- Safety and efficacy: The safety and efficacy of these medications for adults with ADHD have been supported by clinical studies and real-world use.
Further Information
For more information, please visit the NICE website or the Choice and Medication website and search for their Handy Fact Sheet: Unlicensed Uses of Licensed Medicines