Problems getting ADHD medication

[ADHDPrescription]

My DS has been diagnosed with ADHD and has been receiving prescribed medicine via the NHS. He was a student and receiving medication via the Pharmacy in his university town. However, now DS's degree has finished, he is back home. The GP in his university town has asked him to register with the GP in his home town and has sent his latest prescription to the pharmacy where we live. The local pharmacy however have said they can't supply this ADHD medication as they haven't been able to get hold of any for a long time.

Does anyone have any ideas about how to access ADHD medication if not available at the local pharmacy? I have googled and realise that there is a national shortage. Boots online stock checker state that there is no stock in the whole of our county. I rang Pharmacy2U who have no stock.

Sorry to post this is AIBU, but just wanted to maximize traffic to increase chance of getting replies.

There is a shortage of all ADHD medication , they should find a good alternative of what's available for him .

I’m amazed you’ve not had this problem before. There has been a severe issue getting meds, I have 2 adult uni kids who were on Delmosart/concerta/zaggitin but this is now impossible to source

During the summer I worked with our Pharmacist and their consultant Psychiatrist via her secretary to identify and access a consistent supply of any medication of the methylphenidate variety and we identified a short acting version unaffected by the issues

we spent 3 months transitioning and titrating their dose to resemble their previous levels. So far it’s still available

Try googling adhd medication protocol for your area and speak with the consultant overseeing your sons care to see if you can implement it perhaps

wow, well done for not having this problem before! You have to phone all the pharmacies to see who's got what in. Might need to go back to the GP for different dosages on the prescription to make up the full amount.
How far away is the university pharmacist? Sounds like they were super amazing, if you weren't aware of any issues previously. You could take his prescription to them; you need to ask your pharmacy to "return the prescription to spine" (i.e., release it so another pharmacy can fulfil it) first.

My 19 year old son has been on the priority list for meds for over a year and he still has got nothing. He’s in the bottom 4% for focus for his age but had to take his A levels without anything. Luckily he is bright so it sort of balances out but he’s exhausted all the time from all the effort it takes him to focus. He has taken a gap year in the hope of getting meds before university but it looks increasingly likely that he will have to begin university without the medication that the NHS psychiatrist said he definitely needs.

My DD’s psych adjusts the dosage, form and brand so she always has access. Never had a problem and we use our local pharmacy in a small Devon town. My son has just been diagnosed and the same NHS psych has picked a med that is easy to get hold of. No problems so far.

Should add that Boots in the nearby city has been spectacularly crap and unhelpful with it.

Which meds is he on? I have Elvanse and get better success with getting mine if it is prescribed as lisdexamphetamine rather than Elvanse because this then means I can get either the adult or junior version (exact same tablet though?!) rather than just the adult version when prescribed Elvanse…

Also if he’s on 40mg of a medication either ask for an alternative prescription of two 20mg tablets or 60mg tablets and then dissolve 3 in 120ml of water and take 40ml of water each day which will give him the correct dosage (store rest of the mixture in the fridge and have 40ml each day). Having said all this the gp may be reluctant to do this and you will need his psychiatrist to prescribe for either of above options.

Thanks all for your suggestions. I will discuss them all with DS and I will update you as to how we get on in the task if solving this problem!

You need to go back to the original person who diagnosed the ADHD for an alternative, not the gp who won’t change/titrate it.

Or take it to the original pharmacy if they can access it?

Or have the treatment holiday that is recommended.

@LittleRedYarny Thanks for your helpful post and suggestions. DS is on Concerta XL 27mg.

@UncharteredWaters I agree. We have tried ringing the Centre where DS was diagnosed. Voicemail saying only accept calls in the morning before 12. We will ring tomorrow.

@ADHDPrescription ah sorry I don’t know much about concerta and mixing and matching doses but hopefully they can do something similar.

Will definitely look into this. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have had this problem I am prescribed medikinet and have had to beg my prescriber to change my script to the unbranded version

There's been a global shortage of Concerta (and its generic versions of methylphenidate) for over a year. There are claims it may finally become available in April but who knows. I've been unmedicated for the past year as a result as I can't afford to pay for private titration again, and the NHS waiting list is so so long that Concerta will be back in stock before I ever get to see anyone on the NHS.

You've actually been very lucky if you're only just being affected now.

I am prescribed Concerta and not had any medication since June. I have had to be referred back to the consultant and it is over a year waiting list. Life isn't easy at the moment.

Actually, I have now just discovered that DS's medication was not supplied via pharmacy in his university town. He received it by post (as arranged by the ADHD Assessment Centre). Looking at the details DS had, it was a Pharmacy in the North of the country sending medication via Roral Mail. DS is now trying to phone Pharmacy who were sending medication, but currently having problems getting through.

I am so sorry to hear this xx

What is causing the shortage?

Not sure, but Google says manufacturing issues and an increased global demand.

For a few months I rang our pharmacy to see which make was available before requesting medication as you can interchange Concerta/Delmosart/Zaggitin but eventually none were available.

It is slightly easier if the recipient is an adult as consultants can vary dosage more easily , eventually we moved to short to short acting 3 times a day as both drive to Uni and need to be medicated to do so

its been a nightmare for years, there were shortages during GCSES, A levels and now in their dissertation year, every month when I order meds my stress levels rise

Was he diagnosed and titrated by Psychiatry UK? I was told that if a local GP refuses shared care you can stay under their care which at the moment may well be the best option as they organise and send out the medication.

He was referred by GP to the La Tahzan Centre in Coventry via Right to Choose under NHS. The La Tahzan Centre were excellent and did a very thorough assessment soon after referral made.
DS currently being removed from university GP's and he is waiting for confirmation that our local GP has changed him from temporarily registered to permanently registered as a patient. We will try ringing the La Tahzan Centre tomorrow to see if they can help.

Just in case anyone was interested in an update, DS resorted to ringing round local chemists and found one who could fulfill his prescription. They only had enough for one prescription though and they won't be receiving any more of it. We we will have to ring round again when this prescription runs out.