ADHD service — FAQs

We dispense NHS ADHD prescriptions for patients who live in our local area (Urmston, Altrincham, Sale, Stretford, Wythenshawe, Brooklands, Hale, Bowdon, Manchester and the wider Trafford area). Most ADHD medicines are Schedule 2 controlled drugs, which need face-to-face collection and photo ID, so we ask that you live close enough to collect in person.

If you live further afield, please choose a community pharmacy near where you live and nominate them on the NHS app.

Start by calling 0161 948 5066 with your medicine name, brand, strength and quantity. We will confirm whether we have stock and give you an itemised price quote.

For Schedule 2 controlled-drug ADHD medicines (most methylphenidate brands, Elvanse, Amfexa, etc.) we must receive the original signed paper private prescription — we cannot legally dispense these from an email, photograph or scan. You can post it to us or drop it in.

For atomoxetine (Strattera or generic) and guanfacine (Intuniv), which are not controlled drugs, we can accept a valid electronic or paper private prescription.

UK law requires us to confirm the identity of the person collecting a Schedule 2 controlled drug. Acceptable forms of photo ID include:

• UK or EU passport
• UK photocard driving licence
• NHS-issued photo ID
• Other government-issued photo ID

If someone else is collecting on your behalf, please give them a signed and dated letter of authority along with their own photo ID. We will record the collector’s name and ID details in our controlled drug register, as required by the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.

To nominate us as your NHS pharmacy:

1. Open the NHS app (or NHS website if you prefer).
2. Sign in and go to Account > Your nominated pharmacy.
3. Search for Timperley Pharmacy, Altrincham.
4. Select us and save your nomination.

From your next NHS prescription onwards, your prescriber’s clinic will send the prescription to us electronically via the NHS Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). For Schedule 2 controlled-drug ADHD prescriptions, the prescriber may still issue a paper FP10(MDA) that needs to be brought in person.

ADHD medicines are issued one month at a time. Each repeat needs:

• For NHS: your prescriber to authorise the next issue (via EPS once nominated).
• For private: a new valid paper or electronic private prescription from your prescriber each month for non-controlled drugs, or each 28 days for Schedule 2 / 3 controlled drugs.

We do not auto-request your repeats on your behalf because brand-specific decisions are clinical decisions that sit with your prescriber. If you are concerned about timing, please ask your prescriber to issue a few weeks ahead of when you are due to run out, and let us know in advance so we can secure stock.

Brand-name methylphenidate products (Concerta XL, Xaggitin XL, Medikinet XL, Equasym XL, etc.) are not automatically interchangeable — their release profiles differ. Switching brands can change how the medicine works for you during the day. For this reason, NHS England and the MHRA advise that prescribers specify the brand for prolonged- and modified-release methylphenidate, and that pharmacies dispense the brand prescribed.

If your prescribed brand is unavailable we will:

1. Let you know promptly.
2. Suggest you contact your prescriber to discuss whether an alternative brand is clinically suitable for you.
3. Dispense the alternative only once your prescriber has issued an updated prescription naming that brand.

We will not substitute brands of ADHD modified-release methylphenidate without a new prescription from your prescriber.

ADHD medicine supply across the UK has been intermittent and brand-specific shortages can change week-to-week. We will always:

• Tell you what we currently hold when you call.
• Try to order in your specific brand if you give us advance notice.
• Let you know promptly if your usual brand is on a national shortage.

But until your valid prescription has been received and verified by the pharmacist, we cannot formally reserve stock. We do this to be fair to all of our local patients.

Our private ADHD prices follow the NHS Drug Tariff, which is published by NHSBSA on the first of each month. Generic methylphenidate prices in particular can move significantly month-to-month based on supply and demand.

Any price shown on this website or quoted on the phone is indicative — a snapshot at that moment. The final price you pay is confirmed at the point of dispense, and reflects the actual cost of the medicine to us on the day, plus our markup and dispensing fee.

If a price change is significant, we will tell you before we dispense so you can decide whether to proceed.

If we cannot get your prescribed brand from our wholesalers, here is what happens:

1. We let you know as soon as we have confirmed the shortage.
2. We suggest you contact your prescriber to discuss whether a clinically suitable alternative brand exists for you.
3. Your prescriber decides whether and how to switch — not us.
4. Once your prescriber has issued an updated prescription naming the alternative brand, we dispense it.

We will not change brands ourselves for ADHD modified-release methylphenidate, because release profiles differ between brands. For atomoxetine and guanfacine (which are not controlled drugs and do not have brand-specific release issues), generic substitution may be possible if the prescription allows it.

We dispense ADHD prescriptions across age groups, including:

• Children and young people, where a paediatric or CAMHS prescriber has issued the prescription.
• Adults, where a GP, psychiatrist or other appropriately qualified prescriber has issued the prescription.

For children, the prescription should be issued by, or under shared-care arrangements with, an appropriate specialist. For Schedule 2 controlled drugs we still require photo ID at collection — a parent or carer collecting on behalf of a child should bring their own photo ID and be prepared to sign the controlled drug register.

Clinical decisions about which medicine, brand and dose are right for any patient are for the prescriber, not the pharmacy. We dispense in accordance with the prescription written.