Private ADHD Titration
There is currently a nationwide shortage of medication to treat ADHD symptoms. This is due to manufacturing issues and an increased demand in the world.
Our service provides private ADHD treatment instead of waiting for NHS funding via Right to Choose. Our assessment fees cover the cost of one prescription.
Titration
A comprehensive assessment of your ADHD symptoms will be carried out by a highly experienced consultant psychiatrist. This includes a complete medical history, as well as an evaluation using the standard ADHD questionnaires and rating scales.
After your evaluation, you will be informed if medication is considered to be beneficial for your situation. This will be discussed at your follow-up appointment (which can be scheduled in person via video link or by telephone). Your clinician will explain the different options available for you to take medication and if you decide to begin taking medication, we will suggest titrating dosage to ensure the benefits/side effects balance for you.
This process can take a few weeks and involves gradually adjusting your child's medication until the right balance has been achieved. It's not uncommon to need to adjust two or three medicines before finding the best one for your child's ADHD symptoms. It is important that parents take part in the titration and keep an eye out for their child's behavior so that they can inform doctors whether the medication is working or causing adverse effects.
If you decide to return to NHS treatment, your medication will be issued with a prescription from a private pharmacy that you'll have to pay for at the pharmacy (this is not included in the consultation fee). You will need to attend six-monthly appointments to monitor your medication. This includes the measurement of pulse and blood pressure. Annual checks are also required.
Follow-up titration process
Once the assessment has been completed, you will be able to book appointment with the psychiatrist as necessary. Usually the appointment will take place via a zoom video call however in some instances it may be possible to schedule an audio only consultation (again at an additional cost).
At this point, we will discuss any treatment options and decide on a custom-made ADHD medication titration plan. This will include a discussion and review of your medication dose, as well as any side effects that you may be experiencing. The cost of these titration appointments is PS150 for face-to face sessions and PS60 for online or phone video consultations. The cost of medication is additional and are paid directly to the pharmacy.
The psychiatrist will also ask you about your family background and the impact your ADHD symptoms have on your life, as well as any relationship issues you might be having or other mental health issues you may be experiencing. This is because ADHD is an inheritable condition, and it is important to examine any family history that might indicate whether you are at risk of developing the disorder.
It is essential to be honest and open to the doctor during this assessment, as the information they gather will be used to determine whether your ADHD is in line with the diagnostic criteria. This is an important step, since the wrong diagnosis can result in an inappropriate prescription of medication.
If you've decided you'd like to be treated for your ADHD, we will then schedule a follow-up appointment with one of our psychiatrists who specialise in this area. This can be done at the time of your diagnosis if you are eager to begin treatment right away or within two weeks if prefer to take time to consider the implications of your diagnosis and the alternatives available to you.
If you aren't sure what your preference is We suggest you speak with your GP before booking your private appointment as certain providers have different policies about whether they require an GP referral letter or not. We also recommend to confirm that your GP accepts a "Shared-Care Agreement that means that once you are discharged from the clinic you will be sent back to them to get the medication prescription.
Medication
For many people who want a private diagnosis of ADHD treatment is an important part of their journey. It isn't always easy to obtain a prescription from a psychiatrist on the NHS. NHS waiting lists can be notoriously long and GPs might be reluctant to refer their patients to specialist services.
One method to circumvent this is to ask your GP to refer you through Right to Choose (see psychiatry-uk and ADHD 360). This means you can select one that provides a private assessment and titration service. This can cut down on wait time significantly and is more convenient when you are working and have a hectic schedule.
After you have been referred, your clinician will evaluate your condition to determine if you require medication adjustment. You'll need to fill out forms that are different for each provider however the most commonly used ones are self-reporting questions and medical histories that go to your childhood and into adulthood. These forms will help your clinician determine if there are any reasons that suggest you shouldn't be taking ADHD medication, even when they've been prescribed.
If you are being titrated the medication will be a combination stimulants and non-stimulant drugs. The combination will be carefully tested and monitored to determine the best combination for you, taking into account any current conditions you suffer from. The titration procedure can be long and may require several extra appointments before your dose is stable.
Depending on the kind of medication you're taking, follow-up appointments could be scheduled monthly or quarterly. This will involve your clinician checking that you are taking the correct medication, noting any adverse effects you've experienced, and making any necessary adjustments to ensure that you're on a dose that is safe. You will be required to go to an annual review as well as a routine health examination which includes pulse, blood pressure and weight measurements.
Some patients may be content with their medication and do not need to discuss their titration further. If you need to discuss your titration plan or treatment plan further it is likely that you'll be sent back to the private doctor who performed your initial assessment. In this scenario, the titration will be included in the consultation fee. The medication will then be administered via an individual prescription. It could cost more than an NHS prescription as the pharmacy will charge for the medication.