Supply shortage of medicines for ADHD

The Department of Health and Social Care has alerted us that there is a national supply disruption of the medication prescribed to help manage ADHD symptoms.

There are several reasons contributing to the supply disruption, including:

• An increase in demand for medication to manage ADHD.
• A change in the companies who produce and supply the medication.

This has led to difficulties in meeting the supply needs of patients.

Please refer to our partners website for the most up-to-date supply information:

Please note, the above reflects the national situation. However, stock availability may be subject to local variation. Availability is changing on a daily basis (both coming into stock and going out of stock).

There are some steps that you can take to help minimise the effect on you or your child:

1. Please only order your prescription when you need it. It is important not to stockpile medicines.
   
2. We have advised GPs to prescribe any ADHD medicines on a separate prescription for you so you can take this prescription to a different pharmacy.
   
3. If one pharmacy is unable to obtain supplies, please try a different pharmacy. The following link will help you find pharmacies in your local area: Find a pharmacy
   
4. Be prepared that your medicine may change but this will be clearly communicated to you by your doctor and/or pharmacist. Please speak to a healthcare professional if you have any questions about this.
   
5. Please do not share your medication with anyone else.

If your medication is a regular repeat from your GP, please contact your GP practice.

If you are receiving prescriptions from a specialist service, please contact the service.

Specialist team refers to:

• Adult ADHD service;
• Child development centre;
• Children services or child and adolescent mental health team, e.g. The Lighthouse Centre.

If you or your child are with a specialist team, their contact details will be on your appointment letter.

Your GP or member of your specialist team will talk to you about your options if you need to change medication or medication strength.

Specialist services, GPs and community pharmacies are working together to ensure the disruption to the supply of ADHD medication affects patients as little as possible.

Your community pharmacist can help you if you or your child receive medicine which looks different compared to usual, they will be able to provide information on what type of medicine it is and how it works. Please liaise with community pharmacies for stock availability.