Private ADHD Titration
There is a national shortage of medications that treat ADHD symptoms. This is due to manufacturing issues and a growing global demand.
Our service offers private ADHD adjustment instead of waiting for NHS funding via Right to Choose. Our assessment fees cover the cost of a single prescription.
Titration
A thorough evaluation of your ADHD symptoms will be carried out by a highly experienced consultant psychiatrist. This includes a complete medical history, and an assessment using the standard ADHD questionnaires and rating scales.
After your examination You will be advised if medication would be beneficial for your particular situation. This will be discussed at your follow-up appointment (which can be done in person, via video link or by phone). Your doctor will go over the various options for medications available. If you decide to start taking medication, we can help you the opportunity to increase your dosage to optimize the benefits/side-effects balance for you.
This is a process which can take several weeks, and requires adjusting your child's dosage gradually until the proper balance is achieved. It's not uncommon to have to adjust up to three different medications until you discover the one that best suits your child's ADHD. It is important that parents take part in the titration and be aware of their child's behavior so that they can let the doctors know whether the medication is helping or causing adverse effects.
If you decide to go back to NHS treatment you will receive a private prescription for your medication. You will be required to pay the pharmacy. www.iampsychiatry.com is not included in the consultation fee. You must keep up with your appointments every six months to monitor your medication. This includes pulse and blood pressure measurements. Annual checks are also required.
Follow-up appointments
After the assessment is complete, you can schedule follow-up appointments with your psychiatrist. The appointment is usually done by video conference using zoom. In some circumstances, it might be possible for an audio-only consultation to be conducted (again with an additional cost).
We will then go over the options for treatment and then decide on the most appropriate, customized ADHD medication titration. This will include a discussion and review of your medication dose and any adverse effects you may be experiencing. These titration sessions cost PS150 for face-to-face sessions, and PS60 via telephone or video consultation. The cost of medication is additional and are paid directly to the pharmacy.
The psychiatrist will ask you questions regarding your family history, the impact of your ADHD symptoms on your life and any relationship problems or mental health issues that you might be suffering from. ADHD can be a genetic condition, and it's vital to assess your family background to determine if you're at a higher chance of developing this disorder.
It is essential that you are honest and open with the clinician during this assessment, as the information they get will be used to determine if your ADHD fits the diagnostic criteria. This is an important step, as an incorrect diagnosis could result in an inappropriate prescription of medication.
If you've decided you'd like to receive treatment for your ADHD, we will then set up 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 are eager to begin treatment immediately or within two weeks if prefer to take time to think about the implications of your diagnosis and the options that are available to you.
We suggest that if you are unsure of your preferences, you speak to your GP prior to scheduling your private examination. Certain providers have different policies on whether or not they require the submission of a GP letter. Make sure that your GP accepts a Shared Care Agreement, which means that you will be referred to them once you leave the clinic to get a prescription medication.
Medication
For many people who want an official diagnosis of ADHD, medication is an important element of their treatment. Finding an appointment with an NHS psychiatrist can be a hassle and lengthy. NHS waiting lists can be notoriously long, and GPs may 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). You can pick a provider who offers an assessment on your own and titration. This can help you save time and be more convenient, especially when you are on a tight schedule.
After you've been referred through this route, your chosen clinician will assess you and decide whether or not you need 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 forms and medical histories from childhood and adulthood. These forms will help your clinician determine if there are circumstances that indicate you shouldn't take ADHD medications, when they've been prescribed.
If you are titrated, the medication will be a combination stimulants and nonstimulant medications. The combination will be carefully tested and monitored to find the most suitable combination for you, taking into account any current conditions you suffer from. The titration can be long and may require several extra appointments before you are stable.
Based on the type of medication you are taking, follow-up appointments can be scheduled either monthly or quarterly. The appointment will involve your doctor checking to see if you are taking the correct medication, noting any adverse effects you have had and making any adjustments needed to ensure that you remain on a safe dosage. You will be required to go to an annual review and a routine health exam that includes pulse, blood pressure and weight measurements.
For some people it could be because they are happy with their medication and don't need any further discussion on their titration. If, however, they require further discussions regarding their titration and treatment plan it is possible that they will be referred back to the private clinic that conducted their initial assessment. If this occurs, the titration appointment will be part of their consultation fees and they will receive their medication through a private prescription (see Consultation fees above). This could cost more than an NHS prescription as the pharmacy will charge for the medication.