ADHD medication titration process

[BeTaupeBird]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone could tell me how often reviews are in titration for stimulant meds? Or does it just depend on the psychiatrist/how you're getting on with the medication?

Have been diagnosed privately and agreed to start titration but now worried the cost will be more than I thought :( I was working on the basis of monthly review appointments but it looks like maybe fortnightly - or is that just at the start of the process?

Thanks in advance :)

As far as I know it's usually 3 x monthly appts then the nhs takes over (according to my nhs gp pharmacist).

I'm on month 1!

Ah ok, that's super helpful - thanks very much :) Good luck with your process!

My DD had monthly.

Took her more than three though

The standard practice is to have 10mg does increases after each review which are ment to be 4-6 weeks apart until you get to the correct dose, which in my DS's case was 7 appointments

An that's helpful to know thanks - out of interest was that because your DD changed medication types or was it to get the dosage right? I'm a total newbie to all of this!

Ah thanks very much - this has been set up as a review for late Jan and I haven't actually received the medication yet so I was a bit worried it was a 2 weekly review process (and then worried some more that it might run over 3 months and so would be a lot more than I was thinking!

My DDs gps have refused to take her private adhd diagnosis on board, and won’t give her her medication as nhs prescriptions

Sorry to hear that @littlemissprosseco x

Ah thanks - I have checked and my GP is OK with it - sorry to hear yours weren't :(

It depends how long it takes to find a medicine / dose that suits. It can take longer for some people than others, especially if a change of meds is needed to find the best regime for the individual, meaning further appointments could be needed.

For children, specialist review may be needed 6 monthly, rather than annually. Finally, as PP have already said, unfortunately some GP ICBs won't fund shared care for private diagnoses. (I actually find this outrageous if the diagnosis meets NICE guidelines, but that's a whole thread by itself).

Thank you - I was working on the basis of longer than 3 months but if it's say 6 months and fortnightly reviews that feels like a bit of a stretch financially :(

Agree with you re shared care - makes no sense especially if its private diagnosis from an NHS psychiatrist! My GP have said they are fine with shared care from the psychiatrist I saw but hoping they don't change their stance when it comes to it...

You could discuss with your provider if fortnightly appts are strictly necessary - some providers will do monthly. They may ask you to keep an eye on his blood pressure and observations and to increase the dose between appts if tolerating it.

Thanks :) I have asked for an idea of how often review appointments will be going forwards - hoping maybe it's just an early review at the beginning of the process 🫠