I can’t get hold of my ADHD medication. What do I do now?

We know how difficult working with dyslexia can feel sometimes. And that can go doubly so if you’re one of the 25 - 40% of dyslexic people who also have ADHD .

And that can go triply so if you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have been struggling to get hold of their medication in recent months.

?

What’s going on??

There’s a nationwide shortage of ADHD medication due to unsolved issues in the supply chain. Many who choose to medicate for ADHD— often after paying privately for assessments due to 10.5-year waiting lists— haven’t been able to get their prescriptions. Pharmacies just aren’t getting the stock in to dispense, and people are waiting for a call with unfilled scripts for months.

Authorities have hinted that things would be resolved by November, and then April, and the most recent government statement in the press implies September .

ADHD experts everywhere are warning we’re about to face an epidemic of job losses because of it . And some people have already found themselves having to quit , too.

?Double trouble: Working with dyslexia and unsupported ADHD

Medicating for ADHD isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Some people choose to medicate, some don’t, and people find they respond differently to medication. Many adults who have dyslexia and ADHD choose to, because working with the effects of two neurodivergences impacting your day-to-day can feel incredibly stressful.

ADHD medication is often described as helping people concentrate and stay on-task, and without it, a lot of people are finding it impossible to do the work they need to do. Folks with ADHD and dyslexia might find that their dyslexia symptoms feel amplified too, because of the extra cognitive load and uptick in stress.

Here’s what you can do next.

?? Take care. Although it’s the worst thing to hear, there’s not a lot we can do except wait. Do things you enjoy, get enough sleep, and reach out to a therapist or medical professional if things get too much.

?? You might want to talk to your employer. Slides in productivity often equal uncomfortable conversations, and we’re in an era of mass lay-offs, so some folks have opted to disclose (if they weren’t already) and explain the situation. You’re certainly not legally obligated to do so, though.?

?? Ask for support at work. You might want to seek Reasonable Adjustments , and ask if there’s a possibility of adjusting your KPIs for this period. If you’re on a success-based progression structure, you might be able to get your unmedicated months adjusted out of your final totals or grade.

?? Switch to a generic. The drugs in shortage are methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, guanfacine and atomoxetine. Usually you’ll be prescribed a certain brand of one of these, but some people have had more luck in the pharmacy lottery by switching to a generic brand . Your doctor can advise you on this.?

??Struggling to find local stock? You can check the stock of any medication near you in any UK Boots pharmacy using their online stock checker , although you won’t be able to switch between different drugs or dosages without re-titration .

???Make your voice heard. If you feel able to, tweet the relevant authorities for updates and keep up the pressure. You could write to your MP too: we’re likely going to see a wave of new MPs in the coming weeks, fresh in their roles and who are going to want to prove themselves around community issues like this.

????Train hard! ?If you’re the one in charge of ensuring that ADHD colleagues are supported during this difficult time, you can always boost your company’s knowledge by seeking out appropriate workplace neurodiversity training for you and your staff.

We know it’s not that easy for anybody with ADHD who’s struggling to access their medication at the moment, especially those juggling another neurodiversity like dyslexia too.

If you have any tips that we haven’t covered that might help fellow ADHDers— or even if you just want to vent and share your own experience of the shortage— let us know in the comments below. ??