ADHD first term of uni, out of meds the day before exams start

[anna38anna]

Hi all,
Unsure if this is the best place to post.
My son (19) is away from home in his first semester at uni. He has been a year diagnosed with ADHD and takes meds (36mg methylphenidate). He’s run out, in spite of weeks of reminders to register with the local GP so he can fill his prescription locally. Now he’s 36 hours from first exam and struggling to do any study and experiencing some unprecedented panic. We are trying to help from this end - but is there anything else we can do? (Either to expedite getting the meds or for any non-medical tips for study and exams)

The quickest way is probably getting a script from DS’s current GP even though it isn’t at university.

Emergency phone appointment with his home GP tomorrow. They may be able to email the prescription or send it to a pharmacy near campus. However, current shortages of meds might mean he struggles to collect.

I'm a lecturer and I'd also suggest that he put in an application for Extenuating Circumstances, based on the worsening of a pre-existing condition. Uni may not accept these because it's his responsibility to stay on top of his meds and he could have "reasonably foreseen" running out (I know ADHD affects his ability to plan ahead, but they may still say this). But I think it's worth putting in for them in case his results are affected.

Thanks, both. Home GP has a copy of the script ready for collection this morning but we’re in N.I. and son’s in Scotland so we’re not sure how much he’ll be able to do with a scan - surely something. He has emailed the lecturer but I’ll check if he’s asked for extenuating circumstances. Will call our own pharmacist this morning too and see if he can help. In the past, I have managed to get a couple of days of pills for myself when I travelled without them, but this being a controlled drug is more tricky.

I don’t know about in NI or Scotland, but in England, the 111 emergency prescription service doesn’t cover (most? All?) controlled drugs.

Yes, as suspected we had no luck getting one or two days’ tablets on loan from a local pharmacy because of controlled drug status - but we did get his script filled at home this afternoon and couriered across to him for sometime tomorrow. Not in time for the first exam but he’ll cope and hopefully lesson learned. Thanks, all.