Nottingham mother struggling to get ADHD medication

The mother of a girl with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) said trying to get hold of her medication was "like trying to get gold".

There is a national shortage of ADHD medication, which the government said could last until December.

Kimberley Grant, 33, from Nottingham is a full-time carer for Miley, 12.

Ms Grant said her daughter's medication has been late for months and it affects her behaviour if she misses it.

"It's like trying to get gold at the moment, it really is. It's very frustrating," she said.

"I have to contact various pharmacies, various subscription services, just to get the medication that we're prescribed."

Ms Grant said her daughter was at risk of getting suspended from school if she did not take her medication

She said Miley found it hard to regulate her behaviour and emotions if she missed her medication.

"It has such a big effect on her education because she can't focus at school," said Ms Grant.

"She can get suspended, she can get asked to leave classrooms, all whilst struggling and going through a withdrawal so it's awful.

"It has such a strain on the household.

"We all feel it and it's out of our hands - there's nothing we can do about it but pray we can get our hands on it on time."

Ms Grant said she had no idea when the stress of getting the medication would ease.

"Pharmacies just tell me it's constantly out of stock or they need to order it - there's never been a reason," she said.

"We sometimes don't get a whole prescription, we probably get a week or two weeks and then it's the task of chasing again to get what you're owed."

A tornado of thoughts

Katie Roper, who also lives in Nottingham, was diagnosed with ADHD after she saw memes about the condition and recognised she shared the symptoms.

The 39-year-old said she relied on the medication to think clearly.

Katie Roper was diagnosed with ADHD after she saw memes about the condition

"When I'm not medicated I don't really do linear thinking very well," she said.

"It's like your brain is a bit of a tornado with all these thoughts.

"If I decide I'm going to do something, I might not know how to start.

"All the things have the same priority.

"You will get the thing done eventually, but it's not done efficiently."

Mrs Roper said she was not struggling to get hold of her medication right now.

Chris Hollis said the Department for Health had issued a national patient safety alert over ADHD medication

Chris Hollis, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Nottingham said the shortage was a global issue mainly caused by an increase in demand.

However, he said there were also some manufacturing issues.

"It's incredibly unsettling and difficult," he said.

"Prescriptions over the last few months have been harder and harder to get, sometimes long delays."

He said supply shortages had been going on for many months but it was now an issue of concern recognised by the government.

"In the last few weeks the Department for Health has issued what's called a national patient safety alert, which is saying to clinicians that they shouldn't be starting medications on a number of the products that are in short supply.

"That's designed to maintain supplies for patients but it's also causing disruption for those waiting to start treatment."

Mr Hollis said it had been suggested that the supply issue would be resolved by Christmas but it was still not clear.