ADHD Treatment & Medication Support
Following an ADHD diagnosis—whether made by our service or another provider—Dr Athina Zakynthinaki can provide specialist medication treatment and ongoing clinical monitoring.
Treatment is individually planned. The aim is to identify whether medication is appropriate and, where it is, to find the medication and dose that provide meaningful improvement while keeping side effects to a minimum.
Before medication is started
Before prescribing, we review:
the diagnostic report and assessment information
your child’s medical and mental health history, including any current medication
relevant family history, including heart conditions
baseline height, weight, pulse and blood pressure
Where clinically indicated, we may ask for an ECG or specialist advice before starting treatment.
Starting medication
Starting medication involves regular follow-up appointments to adjust the dose and monitor response and side effects. Most children need several reviews before settling on a stable dose. The number varies from child to child, depending on how they respond.
Between appointments, you’ll be asked to complete short monitoring forms: weekly for the first four weeks, then monthly. These help us track progress and spot side effects early. Dose adjustments are based on clinical response, side effects, and feedback from your child, your family and, where appropriate, school.
Follow-up appointments and prescriptions issued outside appointments are charged individually. The cost of medication charged by the pharmacy is not included. Please see our Fees page for current fees.
ADHD Annual Review
Children and young people on ADHD medication need ongoing specialist oversight, including at least one comprehensive review a year. The annual review covers symptom control, daily functioning, education, side effects, physical health measurements, and whether the medication and dose remain right for your child. It doesn’t replace any monitoring needed during the year.
Repeat prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions are not automatic. Each request is reviewed by Dr Zakynthinaki before anything is issued, and a repeat may be held until monitoring forms or physical measurements are up to date. Please request repeats well before your child runs out (14 days for ADHD medicines, which are controlled drugs and require paper prescriptions to be posted).
Diagnosed by another provider
If your child was diagnosed elsewhere, please send the full diagnostic report with your enquiry. A summary letter or an online screening result isn’t enough.
To be accepted, the diagnostic report must show that the assessment met NICE guidance (NG87). It should:
be written by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD, with their name, professional registration number (GMC, HCPC or NMC) and the date of the assessment
include a full developmental and psychiatric history
include information from more than one setting, such as home and school, showing that difficulties are present across settings and affect daily life
include an assessment of your child’s mental state
consider other explanations and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, low mood, autism, learning difficulties or sleep problems
state clearly the diagnosis made and the criteria used (DSM-5 or ICD-11)
If a report doesn’t meet these standards, we may not be able to prescribe on the basis of it.
An existing diagnosis doesn’t guarantee that we can start or continue medication. Before prescribing, we also need a GP summary, cardiac and medical history, recent physical measurements (height, weight, pulse and blood pressure), feedback from school, and details of any previous ADHD medication. All families start with an initial psychiatric assessment.
Transferring medication management
If your child is already taking ADHD medication and is transferring from another provider, we will review their diagnostic report, treatment history, current prescription, response to medication, side effects and recent physical measurements.
Please continue obtaining medication from the existing prescriber until we have confirmed in writing that prescribing responsibility has been accepted. Treatment should not be stopped or transferred abruptly without an agreed clinical plan.
Ongoing and annual review
Children and adolescents taking ADHD medication require ongoing specialist oversight, including a comprehensive review at least annually.
The annual review considers symptom control, daily functioning, educational progress, side effects, adherence, physical health measurements and whether the current medication and dose remain appropriate. It also reviews whether treatment should continue and whether any adjustments or additional support are required.
An annual review does not replace any monitoring or appointments required during the year.
Shared care with your GP
Once your child is on a stable dose, we can ask your GP to consider shared care. Under shared care, the GP usually issues routine prescriptions and we keep specialist oversight. The GP decides whether to accept, based on local NHS and ICB policy. If the GP declines, private prescribing and monitoring can continue through our service at our standard fees.
For further information, please see our ADHD Shared Care and Prescribing page.
Important information about remote treatment
We prescribe only where treatment and monitoring can be provided safely remotely.
Families must provide reliable physical measurements when requested, and tell us promptly about side effects, changes in health, and treatment from other clinicians.
We are not an emergency or crisis service. In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice, contact your GP or NHS 111.
