Information about your child's medicine
Plain-language guides to the medicines we prescribe, written for parents, carers and young people. Choose a medicine to read about it, or print a copy to keep.
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Repeat prescriptions
Please ask for a repeat prescription at least 14 days before your supply runs out. ADHD stimulants are controlled drugs and take longer to arrange, so this lead time matters most for them.
Monitoring appointments
We check how the medicine is working and look for side effects at regular reviews. For ADHD medicines this includes height, weight, pulse and blood pressure, which we'll ask you to measure and send to us.
Licensed and off-label medicines
Some medicines are prescribed "off-label" for children, meaning outside the ages or conditions on the manufacturer's licence. This is common and safe practice in child psychiatry when backed by good evidence. We'll always tell you if this applies.
Reporting side effects
Tell us about any side effects. You can also report them directly to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme, which helps keep medicines safe for everyone.
If you're worried about your child's safety now
We are a remote, appointment-based service and can't respond to emergencies. Call 999 or go to A&E if there is immediate danger. For urgent mental health advice, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111 or text SHOUT to 85258.