ADHD an A-Z by Leanne Maskell

Author:Leanne Maskell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published: 2021-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Managing your ADHD medication

In the UK, any medication for ADHD must be originally prescribed by a specialist psychiatrist, not a GP. There may be an initial ‘titration’ period, where you’re closely monitored to see how different types or doses of medication work for you. ADHD manifests differently in everybody and there is no one ‘cure all’ tablet – different medication will work for different people, and you might need to try a few to find the one that is right for you.

Once a point has been reached where your psychiatrist is happy, they can refer you back to your GP, as in ‘D is for Diagnosis’, for ‘shared care’, which means they can continue prescribing you the medication you’ve already been taking.

This does mean that you’ll have to return to the psychiatrist for changes outside of what has been prescribed, which is when my GP told me it would take seven years through their NHS waiting list!

There are different kinds of ADHD medication, but it tends to be highly regulated as a ‘controlled drug’. This means that, in the UK, doctors will not prescribe more than one month’s worth at a time.

This could be helpful as a metaphorical anchor, as in ‘G is for Grounding’ (it’s much harder for me to spontaneously move country now!), but difficult if you have trouble with organisation, routines and attending appointments – which many people with ADHD do!

It can also be hard for us to even remember to take the medication each day, especially if we’ve got more than one tablet to take, or certain times of day to remember.

It’s also important that your doctor properly monitors your use of the medication, taking your weight and blood pressure regularly, because the side-effects can be dangerous.

Now I see my doctor every three months for a physical check-up and call every month for a repeat prescription, which is sent directly to the pharmacy. It has taken a lot of refinement to get to this point, and was overwhelming at first, but it’s just a matter of explaining your situation and asking for help when needed.

I recommend discussing this with your doctor, or possibly an ADHD coach, to help you build up a monthly streamlined routine to manage your ADHD medication. For example, it could include:

→ Asking your doctor about what you should expect and if there’s anything to be aware of, such as certain side-effects or times to contact them.

→ Setting reminders on your calendar for you to check in with your doctor each month to renew your prescription. You could highlight months where you might need to have an in-person review of your medication.

→ Setting reminders on your calendar to go to the pharmacy on the same day each month to pick up your prescription. You could also ask your pharmacist to call you as a reminder. Sometimes they might need to order the medication in once you have the prescription, so advance warning is always helpful, as is a good relationship with your pharmacist!

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