Private ADHD Titration
There is currently a national shortage of medication that helps to treat ADHD symptoms. This is due to manufacturing problems and an increased demand in the world.
Our service is able to offer private ADHD testing as an alternative to waiting for NHS funding through Right to Choose. Our assessment fees cover the cost of a single prescription.
A comprehensive assessment of your ADHD symptoms will be carried out by a highly experienced consultant psychiatrist. This includes a thorough medical history, as well as an evaluation using the typical ADHD questionnaires and rating scales.
After your examination You will be advised whether medication is appropriate for your situation. This will be discussed at your follow-up appointment (which can take place in person, by video link or over the phone). Your physician will go over the various options for medications available. If you decide to start taking medication, we will offer you to titrate your dose to optimize the benefits/side-effects balance for you.
This is a process which could take a few weeks, and involves adjusting the dosage of your child’s medication slowly until the right balance is achieved. It’s not uncommon to need to adjust three or four medications before determining the most effective one for your child’s ADHD symptoms. It is important that parents participate in the titration period adhd process and keep an eye out for their child’s behavior, so they can inform the doctor whether the medication is helping or causing adverse reactions.
If you do not decide to return to NHS treatment, your medication will be issued with a private prescription which you’ll have to pay for at the pharmacy (this is not included in your consultation fee). You will be required to attend six monthly appointments to monitor your medication – this includes blood pressure and pulse readings. Annual exams are also required.
Follow-up appointments
After the evaluation is completed after the assessment is completed, you can make appointment with the psychiatrist. Typically, the appointment will take place via a zoom video call, although in certain cases it may be possible to have an audio-only consultation (again at an additional cost).
At this point we will discuss treatment options and come up with a unique ADHD medication titration strategy. This will include a discussion and review of your medication dosage and any side effects that you might be experiencing. These titrations cost PS150 for face-toface sessions and PS60 via telephone or video consultation. The pharmacy will charge you for any charges for medication.
The doctor will also ask you about your family background and the impact your ADHD symptoms can have on your life, as well as any issues with your relationships that you may be experiencing or other mental health problems that you may be experiencing. This is because ADHD can be an inheritable condition, and it is crucial to look into any family history that may suggest that you are at risk of developing the disorder.
It is essential that you are honest and truthful with the clinician during the assessment, since the information they receive will be used to determine whether your ADHD meets the diagnostic criteria. This is an essential step in the process, since a failure to do so could result in an inaccurate diagnosis and consequently an inappropriate prescription of medication.
If you have decided that you’d like to be treated for your adhd titration waiting list, we will then arrange a follow up appointment with one of our psychiatrists who specialize in this field. This can be scheduled in the wake of your diagnosis if you want to start treatment right away or within two weeks if want to consider the implications of your diagnosis and the possibilities that are available to you.
We suggest that if are unsure about your preferences, talk with your GP prior to booking your private examination. Certain providers have different policies regarding whether or not they require the submission of a GP letter. We also recommend to check if your GP accepts a “Shared Care Agreement’, which means that once you are discharged from the clinic you will be referred back to them for the medication prescription.
Medication
For many people who seek an official diagnosis of ADHD treatment is an important aspect of their journey. It isn’t easy to obtain prescriptions from psychiatrists on the NHS. NHS waiting lists are notoriously long, and GPs can be reluctant to refer patients on to specialist services.
Inquiring your GP to refer through Right to Choose is one way to avoid this (see psychiatry – UK and ADHD 360). You can choose a service that provides a private assessment service and titration. This can reduce your wait time considerably and can be more convenient if you are working and have a hectic schedule.
Once you have been recommended by this method the doctor you choose will evaluate you and determine whether or not you’re required to be titrated on medication. You will be asked to fill in forms that differ by doctor but the most common ones are self-report questionnaires and medical histories from childhood and adulthood. These forms will allow your doctor to determine if there are circumstances that indicate you shouldn’t take ADHD medication, even if they have been prescribed.
If you are being titrated the medication will consist of stimulants and nonstimulant medications. These will be carefully trialled and monitored to determine the most effective combination for you, taking into account any existing conditions you have. The titration period adhd can be lengthy and may require multiple appointments before you are stable.
The frequency of your follow-up appointments will depend on the type and quantity of medication you are taking. They can be scheduled for monthly or quarterly. Your clinician will check whether you are safe with the medication, record any side effects you have experienced and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that you remain on a dose that is safe. You will be required to go to an annual review and a regular health check-up that includes blood pressure, pulse, and weight measurements.
For some individuals, it may be that they are satisfied with their medication and don’t require an additional discussion regarding their titration. If you’re required to discuss your titration plan or treatment plan more thoroughly, it is possible that you will be referred back to the private doctor who performed your initial assessment. If this occurs, the titration consultation will be included in the consultation fee and they will be given their medication via an individual prescription (see Consultation fees above). This may cost more than prescriptions from the NHS because the pharmacy will charge for the medication.
