Start with an assessment, not a product
In the UK the usual first conversation is with a GP. Take examples: what school was like, what happens at work, what a partner or parent has noticed, and what you have already tried. A specialist assessment may include a developmental history, a review of other mental and physical health, and sometimes questionnaires that have been validated — which ADHD Screening UK is not. In England, some people ask their GP about Right to Choose when a referral is made. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland organise this differently. Waiting times can be long. A private assessment is still a medical assessment; it should not be a same-day label from a website.
Understanding and the environment
NICE guideline NG87 puts information, and changes to the environment, early. That can mean written follow-up after meetings, one task visible at a time, external reminders, body-doubling, and protecting sleep. These are supports. They are not a cure, and they are not a reason to skip assessment if life is impaired.
Psychological approaches
Structured psychological treatment, including CBT adapted for ADHD, is used to build strategies around planning, emotional regulation, and the stories people tell themselves after years of criticism. Coaching exists and is lightly regulated by comparison. Therapy is not a substitute for diagnosis when medication is being considered, and medication is not a substitute for learning how to run a week.
Medication, in outline only
When a specialist judges medication appropriate, the classes discussed in UK guidance include stimulants (such as methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine) and non-stimulants (such as atomoxetine, and in some circumstances guanfacine). A prescriber considers heart history, blood pressure, pulse, weight, mental health, pregnancy, and other medicines. Doses are individual. They are monitored and reviewed. This site will not suggest a drug, a dose, or a source.
Do not buy stimulant medicine online. Do not take someone else’s prescription. Do not stop a medicine you have been prescribed because a website, including this one, made you unsure. Speak to the prescriber.
Questions worth taking to a clinician
- What else could explain this picture?
- What do you need from someone who knew me as a child?
- If we treat, what will you monitor, and when will we review?
- What adjustments would help even before a final formulation?
- What should I do if my mood, sleep, or substance use is also in the picture?