ADHD medication and university

[ExtraordinaryAvocado]

Hello, this is my first post on Mumsnet although I have lurked for a little while.

A level results day for my DS who has ADHD today... Stellar results, but (probably) not his first choice. First choice was a top uni very close to home - so would have been awesome for a number of reasons!

So now I'm trying to get my head around ADHD medication at a uni further away from home. Up to this point, I've managed all the repeats and it has been a right royal pain in the bum. I suspect that our GP practise is particularly unhelpful, but all the ones locally are the same group so there's never been any sense in changing.

The adult ADHD service say to stay registered at home and that the GP practise will send the prescription to his local uni digitally, and it'll all be fine and easy! I am unconvinced as the GP practise have been impressively unhelpful over a number of years. So my Plan A was to cross all fingers and toes for the local top uni, and I carry on managing the repeats and hand-deliver medication (life and the uni set-up is such that it really wouldn't have been that bad and could have been done without being embarrassing from his point of view). His medication is one of the ones on the current shortage list. I didn't really have a Plan B!

I am a little bit teary thinking about how on earth this is going to work and would be very grateful for some reassurance and help. Managing this medication has been so very difficult for so many years. I'm so worried.

So, here's where I could do with help from lovely Mumsnetters who have been here, got the t-shirt. How has it worked managing your children's ADHD medication while they were at university? I'm guessing making personal contact with the pharmacy most closely attached to the uni? Any top tips for me?

Sorry, I should have said more about the second choice uni. It is a good one, seemed nice etc, but is 100 miles away. I could get up once a month if that was necessary, but couldn't pop into the local pharmacy like I could to the nearer uni.

I would really appreciate advice from parents who have helped to manage ADHD meds at arms' length like this before!

If DS wants to remain at his current GP practice and the prescription is one that can go electronically, having it sent to a pharmacy near the university won’t be a problem. It might be trickier if the shortage continues and you/he have to hunt for stock but it won’t be impossible.

Thanks EndlessLight. He's on Concerta. Currently, I pick up the paper prescription (unfulfilled because of the shortages) from my local pharmacy and take it to an independent pharmacy about half an hour away, who are ace. So I guess my next two steps are:

1. work out a good bet pharmacy near the uni
2. ask my GP about electronic prescriptions going to the new pharmacy

I am more worried about the second step than the first step at the moment! Who am I best to broach that with at the GP?

The receptionist should be able to help. If not, the practice manager or GP will be able to.
You should be able to have the prescription sent electronically now. With the current pharmacy set as your nominated pharmacy. And if they don’t have stock, have them return the script to the spine before going to another pharmacy who has stock. When DS moves to university, you/he can change the nominated pharmacy to one close to the university.

Thanks so much @EndlessLight . After some dreadful treatment I would rather chew my own arm off than talk to the GP practice! So I must admit to having avoided contacting them. But, armed with your info, I have clicked around the website and see that there is a form to request a meeting with the practice manager. So I'll do that.

I think what we will do is assume that I will go up and hand-deliver medication for at least the first month or three. That shouldn't be too bad. Probably that will turn into a useful reason to meet up/bring up other stuff. So might not be a bad thing.

So, with that thought, I guess I don't have to do this daunting transfer all in one go. I can hand-deliver medication at first. Then I can ring round to suss out who the lovely independent pharmacies are near the uni. Then I can have the conversation with our local GP about switching pharmacies.

How does this work in holiday time? Will my local GP be able to send the electronic prescription to the local pharmacy instead of the uni pharmacy?
I will have this conversation with the practice manager, but forewarned is forearmed - it's really helpful to know what normal practise is, as the GP practice have been so horrid in the past.

With an electronic prescription you can change your nominated pharmacy whenever you want, so during holidays you or DS can change the nominated pharmacy back to the one at home.

brill, thanks @EndlessLight !

Have you registered with patientaccess.com? If not, I would recommend doing so. You or your son can then electronically ask for a repeat prescription, which takes 2 minutes, and name your preferred pharmacy. The prescription will then be sent electronically to that pharmacy each time you reorder medication. If Concerta is in stock, it is very easy and quick.