Private ADHD Titration
There is a national shortage of medication to treat ADHD symptoms. This is due both to manufacturing issues and an increased demand in the world.
Our service is able to provide private ADHD titration as an alternative to waiting for NHS funding through Right to Choose. Our assessment fees include the cost of a single prescription.
Titration
A highly skilled consultant psychiatrist will conduct a thorough assessment of your ADHD. This includes a medical history and an assessment using the common ADHD rating scales and questionnaires.
After your examination You will be advised if medication would be beneficial for your situation. This will be discussed at your follow up appointment (which can be done in person by video link, in person or via phone). Your physician will go over the different options for medication available. If you decide to start medication, we will help you the opportunity to increase your dosage to ensure the best balance of benefits and side effects for you.
This is a process which may take several weeks. It requires adjusting your child’s dosage slowly until the right balance is achieved. It is not uncommon to to titrate as high as three different medications before you can find the one that best fits your child’s ADHD. It is essential that parents are involved in the titration process and be on the lookout for their child’s behavior so they can inform the doctor if the medication is helping or causing adverse reactions.
If you decide to return to NHS treatment, you will receive an individual prescription for your medication. You will be required to pay the pharmacy. This is not included in the consultation fee. You must attend six monthly appointments to monitor your medication, which includes pulse and blood pressure readings. Annual exams are also required.
Follow-up appointments
Once the assessment is completed after the assessment is completed, you can make follow-up appointments with your psychiatrist. Typically, the appointment will take place on zoom video call, although in certain cases it is possible to schedule an audio only consultation (again at an additional cost).
At this point, we will discuss any treatment options and agree upon a bespoke individualised ADHD medication titration plan. This will include a review of your medication dosage and a discussion around any adverse effects you may be experiencing. These titration sessions cost PS150 for face-to-face sessions and PS60 via telephone or video consultation. Medication costs are additional and are paid directly to the pharmacy.
The psychiatrist will also ask you about your family history and the impact your ADHD symptoms impact your life, as well as any issues with relationships you may be experiencing or other mental health issues you might be experiencing. This is because ADHD is an inheritable condition, and it is essential to examine any family history that may indicate that you’re at risk of developing the disorder.
During this assessment it is vital that you are honest and honest with the clinician, as they will be using the information you provide to determine if you are able to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. This is an essential part of the process, as failing to do so could result in an inaccurate diagnosis, and thus an incorrect prescribing of medication.
If you decide to be treated for ADHD we’ll schedule an appointment for a follow-up visit with a psychiatrist that is skilled in this field. If you’d like to begin treatment right away it is possible to start treatment immediately following the diagnosis. Or you can wait two weeks to consider the implications of the diagnosis and your options.
We suggest that if you are unsure about your preferences, talk with your GP prior to scheduling your private assessment. Some providers have different guidelines regarding whether they require the submission of a GP letter. We also recommend to confirm that your GP accepts a ‘Shared Care Agreement which means that after you have been discharged from the clinic, you will be referred back to them for the medication prescription.
Medication
The medication process is an essential element of the process for many people who are seeking a private ADHD diagnosis. It isn’t always easy to obtain prescriptions from psychiatrists on the NHS. NHS waiting lists can be notoriously how long does adhd titration take and GPs might be reluctant to refer patients to specialist services.
One way to get around this is to ask your GP to refer you to Right to Choose (see psychiatry-uk and ADHD 360). You can pick a provider who offers a private assessment service and titration period adhd. This will help you reduce time and be more convenient, particularly when you are on a tight schedule.
If you are recommended by this method the doctor you choose will assess you and decide whether or not you need to be titrated on medication. You will be asked to fill in forms that are different for each provider, but the main ones are self-report questionnaires as well as medical histories from childhood and adulthood. These forms will assist your doctor identify any factors that might indicate that you shouldn’t be taking ADHD medications if they’re prescribed.
If you are titrated on medication, it is likely to include a mix of stimulants and non-stimulant drugs. They will be tested and monitored to find the most suitable combination for you. The titration procedure can be lengthy and may require multiple appointments before the dose becomes stable.
The frequency of your follow-up appointments will be contingent on the type and amount of medication you are taking. They can be scheduled for monthly or quarterly. Your clinician will check whether you are stable on the medication, record any adverse reactions you’ve experienced, and make any needed adjustments to ensure that you remain on a dose that is safe. You will also be required to attend a routine health check which can include blood pressure readings, pulse and weight as well as an annual review.
Some patients may be content with their medication and do not have to discuss their titration in more detail. If you need to discuss your titration plan or treatment plan more thoroughly it is likely that you’ll be sent back to the private clinic who performed your initial assessment. If this happens, the titration appointment will be included in their consultation fee, and they will be given their medication through private prescription (see Consultation fees above). This could cost more than an NHS prescription since the pharmacy will charge for the medication.
