ADHD: ‘We’re sharing and rationing meds to get by’

A year ago, life for many people in the UK with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) became unpredictable and disorientating as their medications suddenly became scarce. They were told the shortages would be over within months - but people with the condition tell the BBC it is still a problem.

Spending two hours on hold to her pharmacy or GP each day has become the norm for Lorelei Mathias, 44, who has struggled to get a consistent supply of her prescription ADHD drugs since the shortages began last September.

The Brighton-based author and comedian, who created the web series Life in ADHD, says she has gone "against advice" and started rationing, hoarding and sharing pills with friends on similar prescriptions to make sure they all have enough.

"I have many friends who are also really struggling and splitting pills or shutting down from work as they can't function without it," she says.

When the UK government issued a patient safety alert, external warning last September about a shortage of many ADHD medications, it said it expected the disruption to end by December 2023.

Dr Ulrich Müller-Sedgwick, a consultant psychiatrist for adult neurodevelopmental pathways at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, says production and manufacturing issues are a factor.

He says: "There’s only a limited number of factories where these medicines are actually produced. They're stimulants, so there’s also quite a high security standard in these factories and they’re not easy operations to run."

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says most supply issues have been resolved and it is working with manufacturers on the remaining problems.

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Source BBC News, 27 September 2024

Related reading on the hub:

• Medication supply issues: A pharmacist’s perspective
• Medication supply issues: Mast cell activation syndrome

Have you (or a loved one) ever been prescribed medication that you were then unable to get hold of at the pharmacy? 

• Was there an impact on your health (physical and mental)? 
• Were you told the reason for it not being available? 
• Was the issue resolved? If so, how long did it take?
• If you are still impacted by medication supply issues, have you been told when you will be able to access them again?

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