NHS Right to Choose ADHD medication for adults

ADHD medication can be incredibly effective, but it’s a personal decision.

If ADHD symptoms are impacting your daily life—whether it’s in your relationships, work, or personal tasks—medication could be a helpful tool.

Talk to your clinician about your concerns so you can make an informed decision.

Yes, ADHD medication can be beneficial no matter your age.

Many adults experience significant improvements in focus, productivity, emotional regulation and other areas after starting treatment.

While it’s common to feel a range of emotions about not being diagnosed earlier, medication can still make a meaningful difference in your daily life, work, and relationships.

Not necessarily. ADHD medication is a tool to help you manage your symptoms, but it doesn’t mean you’ll need it forever.

Some adults use medication long-term, while others find that they only need it during certain periods, such as high-stress work environments.

The goal is to give you more control over your symptoms, and you can always work with your clinician to adjust or stop the medication if it’s no longer needed.

Some people worry that ADHD medication will make them feel 'flat' or emotionless.

While it can improve focus and reduce impulsivity, which can lead to emotional changes, it shouldn’t numb your emotions. If you notice emotional changes that feel uncomfortable, talk to your clinician about adjusting the dose or trying a different medication.

ADHD medication primarily targets attention and impulsivity, but many adults report secondary improvements in anxiety and mood, especially when their ADHD symptoms are better managed.

However, ADHD medication isn’t a substitute for treating anxiety or depression, and some people may need additional treatment for these conditions.

ADHD medication can be taken in combination with other mental health medications but please always let your clinician know if you are taking these.

ADHD medications are not addictive when taken as prescribed, but they can lead to dependence if misused.

It’s important to work closely with your clinician to ensure you’re using the medication correctly.

Many adults find that medication helps them build better routines and focus, and over time, they may need less of it or even stop it entirely.

Your clinician will monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.

While medication is a powerful tool for many adults with ADHD, there are also non-medication strategies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), ADHD coaching, mindfulness, exercise, dietary advice and organisational tools or apps that can help.

Many people find the best results come from a combination of medication, psychological support and behavioural strategies.

Shared care is a formal agreement between your GP and the specialist provider who is monitoring or treating your condition that your GP is willing to take over the prescribing and monitoring of your ADHD medication.

Once you are stabilised on the medication, and if your GP agrees to Shared Care then your GP will monitor your physical health and will issue your prescription. We will then invite you back at least once per year for a comprehensive review with a specialist clinician.

If you're receiving ADHD medication through shared care, you’ll usually have a full review every year with a specialist clinician at Clinical Partners. These reviews are important to make sure your medication is working well for you and to make any changes if needed.

Sometimes your GP might request an earlier review. This can happen if you're experiencing side effects or if your current medication doesn't seem to be helping. If that’s the case, Clinical Partners may temporarily take over your care again to help adjust or stabilise your treatment. Once your medication is working well again, your care can be handed back to your GP.

Shared care means that responsibility for your treatment is shared between Clinical Partners and your GP, depending on what’s needed at the time. The goal is to make sure your treatment stays safe, effective, and tailored to you.

Yes, you will still have annual check-ups with us to review your overall treatment. We understand that continuity of care is important and will always aim for your annual review to be with the clinician that undertook your titration. If adjustments to your medication are needed, your clinician will manage those changes.

The agreement will usually stay in place unless your condition changes and you require additional treatment or support or until you no longer require medication. For example, if there are significant changes in someone's health, they may be returned to specialist care for closer monitoring and adjustment.

If your GP is unable to enter a shared care agreement with us, we can still support your ongoing care through our Right to Choose medication service. This means:

• You’ll receive monthly repeat prescriptions

• You’ll need to attend medication reviews at least once every 12 months

Before each monthly prescription, you’ll need to provide your up-to-date height, weight, pulse, and blood pressure. If you have questions about how this works, we’re happy to guide you through the process.

If you still wish to pursue shared care, we recommend speaking with your GP directly to understand their reasons. They may offer an alternative arrangement, or you might choose to register with a GP who is open to shared care.