Mental Health/Adult ADHD

Hi all,

I spend a lot of time fighting with my own brain and most of my doctor visits are for mental health treatment. I don't do therapy, but I'm on medication for anxiety, treatment resistant depression, PTSD, and my personal least favorte: Adult ADD, inattentive type. My biggest hurdle and my greatest fear before moving is how I'm going continue to receive treatment and how I'll be viewed by doctors. I've heard some horror stories about how poorly mental health issues can be handled in the UK, especially in regards to ADD in adults. (I find it absolutely absurd that it isn't a widely recognized diagnosis, but I won't get into that.)

Receiving treatment is very important for me, especially as I will be in university and will really need to be in top fighting shape. So I guess my questions are:
1) What in the world am I supposed to do about my Adderall prescription? The ADD medication is the most important treatment on my list. I saw another thread about it but it was quite old so I'm trying to sniff out some updated information.
2) Will it be particularly difficult for me to find the care I need?  I'm also on a medication called Geodon as well as Metformin for my PCOS. I don't know if those are available in the UK.

Thanks for any help y'all can give.

I registered with a doctor as soon as I arrived in the UK, made an appointment, took samples of what I take and received repeat prescriptions for my medications. Some of the names have changed but the drug constituents are the same, and I didn't have any problems.

However I can't comment on mental health care but would think that if you take Geodon you will be referred to a specialist for care, and the same for your PCOS.

One option would be to have your US doctor write a prescription for a one year supply.  You would need to fill it in the US (to do a one year supply, I had to do it via mail order), but then you'll know you have it.

Your success with continuing your current treatment plan will depend on the availability of the drug in the UK (the drug I had filled for a year was not yet available in the UK) as well as your GP.  I used to take Ambien on occasion (as needed) in the US, particularly when I traveled to help me sleep.  I have not had success in getting a prescription for it here.

You're probably not going to be able to get a year's supply of Adderall before you leave the U.S., because it's a controlled drug.  I guess YMMV, depending on your state's laws.  But given the hoops people have to jump through just to get it month-to-month, I find it unlikely.

It is possible to import it to the UK, with a prescription, but it's very expensive, and there's a ton of red tape.  

Also, understand that it's probably not going to be as simple as just having your new GP write a prescription.  Even with a previous diagnosis, and prescription history, I had to wait to see a psychiatrist, who then had to recommend the prescription to my GP.  And even though I'd taken Adderall, specifically because I didn't do well on Ritalin, she insisted that I start with Concerta.

Luckily, Vyvanse is now available in the UK-- although it's called Elvanse here.  It's not exactly the same as Adderall, but it's a lot closer, and it's working pretty well for me, personally.  About the only other option is straight-up Dexamphetamine,  but they seem to prefer to save that as a last resort.  

Good luck.  Just stay calm, and be prepared to do a lot of educating, and self-advocating.

ETA:  The Metformin shouldn't be a problem.  Just be prepared for everyone to assume you're diabetic, even though they're staring right at your records.

Thanks everyone for the info. I'll probably try to get a year of metformin and geodon just so I don't have to worry about a gap in treatment. Unfortunately woadgrrl is right; Adderall is a controlled substance which is why I was concerned about it. But, the information about Vyvanse is really good to know as I've had 2 doctors try to put me on it but it was just too expensive for me to pay for monthly.

woadgrrl, did you experience any resistance from the psychiatrist when you needed the ADHD treatment? I'm really concerned about stigmas attached to certain diagnoses & I'm not sure how good I am at fighting for myself. I know I should start working on self-advocating. I read that GPs can turn down people so I'm worried about my laundry list of dumb problems complicating things for me. I only just started really taking ahold of my medical treatment in the US after years of stupidly avoiding it so I'm still learning how to deal with doctors and whatnot.

Hey, sorry I missed your reply before.  Who'd have guessed I wasn't paying attention? :p

Anyhow, I was really worried, as well.  What I experienced wasn't so much flat-out resistance, as abysmal ignorance.  I think the general understanding of ADHD is a good 10-15 years behind current research.  For adult ADHD, it can be even worse, because there's still a strong belief that ADHD is something that people just 'grow out of,' as if you wake up the day after you leave high school, to find your brain's been magically rewired.  I had to do a lot of patient, calm explaining and educating, and because it required a referral to a consultant, and then back-and-forth communication between the consultant and GP, it took a while. 

Unfortunately, how your new GP, or a psychiatrist, responds is a matter of luck.  Which isn't really any different than the U.S.; some doctors are brilliant, some suck.  Personally, if you find one that sucks, don't get lulled into thinking 'well, it's the NHS, I'm stuck with it.'  Find another doctor, even if you have to travel further.  Write to PAL (patient advocates) and the heath board, and complain.  If you're not getting anywhere, write to your MP! 

The NICE guidelines are clear; this is a real thing, that they need to address, no matter what age you are.  And since you've already received treatment for it, as an adult, they can't just pretend you don't have it.  You'll be fine, eventually.  Just do all the research you can, and be prepared to explain the facts.