Your GP can enter into a “Shared Care Agreement” (SCA) with your specialist to facilitate prescribing your ADHD medication. This can only be done under certain terms, which should have been outlined and explained to you by your specialist, and reflect the NICE Guidelines. Below is a reminder of these terms. We will assume you agree to these terms if you accept prescribing from general practice. If you do not, then please inform us and we will pass the prescribing responsibility back to your specialist.
Please note: It’s the responsibility of your specialist to complete the “Shared Care Agreement” and send this over to the GP practice. The practice does not have the capacity to chase up the “Shared Care Agreement” from your specialist provider- and any requests to do so will be rejected. If you are concerned that the practice has not received the “Shared Care Agreement”, then please contact your specialist directly. Your provider will need to submit the agreement in the NHS Sussex format. We will only be able to prescribe your medication once we have received this. You will find this form in the link below
https://int.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/clinical_documents/methylphenidate/
- I understand, and have been counselled by my specialist, about the risks and benefits of medication including its side effects and limitations.
- I have been investigated for and initiated on medication by my specialist and am established on a stable medication dose.
- I understand that treatment will be stopped if I do not attend annual treatment reviews with my specialist.
- I understand that the treatment will be stopped if I do not complete monitoring review questionaries for my GP- this should be done every 6 months.
- I will keep my contact details up to date with my GP and specialist so that any follow up appointments will not be missed.
- Any alteration in the medication, dose, change of brand or formulation must be done by the specialist. They will ensure that I am re-established on a stable dose before asking my GP to take over the prescribing again. I will also allow adequate time for the specialist to send correspondence to my GP
- I understand that treatment may have to be stopped under certain medical circumstances which make it unsafe to continue. This includes a high blood pressure, high heart rate, a stroke or signs of a stroke, new or worsening seizures or serotonin syndrome. At this point I will require a specialist re-assessment before the medication can be restarted.
- Where appropriate I will contact the specialist myself to arrange the required follow up appointments including annual reviews or to get answers to outstanding requests for advice sent by my GP.
- I will stop immediately and inform my GP if I am trying for a pregnancy or am pregnant, and I understand there is a need for a specialist to oversee my treatment during a pregnancy
- I understand that consuming alcohol and/or taking illicit drugs whilst taking ADHD medication can lead to serious and unknown consequences. This is not recommended and I agree to abide by this recommendation. In cases of alcohol or substance addiction, I agree to stop my ADHD medication and seek urgent help from my specialist or GP.