ADHD Medication Chester
Specialist ADHD Medication and Lifestyle Treatment for Adults
The Lifestyle Pharmacist provides private ADHD medication in Chester, with online and face-to-face treatment reviews for adults who already have an ADHD diagnosis.
The service is led by Stephanie Kenzie, Senior Clinical Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber, with extensive experience in mental health, general practice and ADHD treatment.
New patients receive a 45-minute appointment to discuss starting ADHD medication or reviewing current treatment. Time is also spent looking at lifestyle factors such as sleep, food, physical activity and emotional wellbeing, as these may affect ADHD symptoms.
The aim is to help each patient understand their treatment, make informed choices and find an approach that works for their individual needs.
Client Reviews
Adult ADHD Medication Review
A 45-minute new patient appointment is available for the initiation of ADHD medication or a review of current medication, together with a lifestyle prescription.
Patients will need to provide confirmation of their ADHD diagnosis, along with relevant documentation from a reputable source.
During the appointment, available treatment options are discussed, including which ADHD medications may be most suitable. Current medication can also be reviewed to assess how well it is working, whether it is causing unwanted effects and whether another option may be more appropriate.
Lifestyle factors are also considered as part of the review.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a mental health condition that begins during childhood development but often continues through adolescence and into adulthood.
Common ADHD symptoms can include:
These symptoms can lead to significant difficulties in everyday, social and working life.
ADHD is also commonly seen alongside other clinical problems, including substance misuse, unstable mood, anxiety, depression, forensic problems and emerging or established personality disorders.
Follow-up studies of children with ADHD have found that the condition often continues into adult life. Around 15% retain the full diagnosis by the age of 25, while a further 50% remain in partial remission, with some symptoms continuing and causing difficulties later in life.
How Can the ADHD Clinic Help?
The service may be suitable for adults who:
Stephanie Kenzie
Senior Clinical Pharmacist & Independent Prescriber
How Is This ADHD Service Different?
The Lifestyle Pharmacist has extensive experience working as a hospital mental health pharmacist, within general practice and in ADHD care.
Treatment advice is tailored to the individual and based on available clinical evidence.
Time is taken to understand the patient, rather than only looking at individual symptoms.
The service also considers how different medicines work together. Medication is often prescribed by several specialists, and the effect one medicine may have on another health condition can sometimes be overlooked.
The wider picture is considered, including general health, lifestyle and current challenges.
Long-term follow-up is also available to monitor treatment and progress.
Who Is Eligible?
Patients must:
The ADHD Medication Process
Step 1 – Information Gathering
Patients will be asked to provide evidence of their ADHD diagnosis.
They will also receive forms to complete before the appointment. These include information needed to create a patient record, details about lifestyle and questions about ADHD symptoms and how they affect everyday life.
This information helps provide a more complete understanding of each patient.
Time is spent reviewing the forms before the consultation so the appointment can be properly prepared.
Step 2 – The Consultation
Patients receive a 45-minute face-to-face or video consultation.
The appointment covers available treatment options, possible contraindications, potential side effects and clear treatment goals.
Physical monitoring is also required before ADHD medication starts. This includes blood pressure, pulse and weight at baseline and throughout treatment.
Lifestyle is also discussed, including how areas such as sleep, diet, exercise and emotional wellbeing may affect ADHD symptoms.
Contact with the patient’s GP is strongly encouraged. This helps establish whether the GP may be willing to accept a shared care agreement and take over prescribing once treatment is stable.
Any patient who requires an ADHD prescription must give permission for The Lifestyle Pharmacist to update their GP.
Step 3 – Treatment Plan
Step 4 – Follow-Up
A follow-up appointment is usually arranged within four weeks of starting ADHD medication.
This appointment looks at:
A further appointment is required two to four weeks after each medication dose adjustment.
Ongoing support can also be provided between follow-up appointments where needed.
Step 5 – Shared Care Agreement
Once the patient is stable on their ADHD medication, a shared care agreement can be requested from their GP.
This would allow the GP to take over the prescribing of the medication.
A GP does not have to accept a shared care agreement. If it is declined, the patient may need to continue funding private prescriptions.
If shared care is accepted and the GP issues prescriptions, the patient must continue to remain under specialist care.
A 20-minute annual review with The Lifestyle Pharmacist is required to remain compliant with NICE guidance.
A further review may also be required if ADHD symptoms change or if the patient wishes to change medication.
Where The Lifestyle Pharmacist continues to issue prescriptions directly, a follow-up appointment is required every six months.
ADHD Medication Treatment
NICE guidance recommends stimulant medication as a first-line pharmacological treatment for adults with ADHD.
Stimulant medication increases levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain by blocking their transporters. It may also help stimulate the release of dopamine and noradrenaline.
How Can ADHD Medication Help?
ADHD medication may:
Possible Side Effects of ADHD Medication
Possible adverse effects can include:
The suitability, benefits and possible side effects of medication are discussed as part of the patient’s treatment review.
Dopamine and ADHD
Dopamine is thought to play an important part in ADHD.
Stimulant medication increases dopamine levels in the brain and can help improve ADHD symptoms.
Dopamine is involved in the brain’s reward system. People with ADHD may need a greater sense of reward and can show reduced activity in the areas of the brain involved in reward.
Dopamine also plays a role in working memory and inhibitory control. People with ADHD can experience difficulties with these cognitive functions and may show reduced activity in the brain circuits associated with them.
Lifestyle and ADHD
ADHD treatment is not only about medication.
The Lifestyle Pharmacist also looks at how a person lives, eats, moves and sleeps, as well as their emotional wellbeing.
These factors may affect ADHD symptoms and wider health.
By considering medication and lifestyle together, the service aims to provide a more complete and personalised approach to treatment.
This may include looking at:
The aim is to help patients make practical changes that can support both ADHD treatment and general health.
Cost of ADHD Medication
Working With the Patient’s GP
It is important for patients to discuss their ADHD medication review with their GP.
The GP remains an important healthcare professional because they hold information about the patient’s wider medical history and help coordinate care with other services.
The Lifestyle Pharmacist may need to work with the GP around prescribing and any investigations that are required. This may include tests such as an ECG.
Once ADHD medication is stable, a shared care request can be made so the GP may take over prescribing. This is not guaranteed, and the GP may choose not to accept the request.
Any concerns raised by the GP can be discussed with The Lifestyle Pharmacist.
Stephanie Kenzie
Senior Clinical Pharmacist & Independent Prescriber
Stephanie Kenzie has extensive experience in mental health pharmacy, general practice and ADHD treatment.
Her approach combines ADHD medication reviews with consideration of wider health and lifestyle factors.
Patients are given time to discuss their treatment, understand the options available and make informed decisions about their care.
ADHD Medication Chester – Request an Appointment
The Lifestyle Pharmacist provides private ADHD medication treatment in Chester for adults with an existing ADHD diagnosis.
Appointments are available face-to-face or by video and include medication review, treatment planning, lifestyle support and ongoing follow-up.
To discuss ADHD medication or arrange an appointment:
Call 01244 680 214
Or use the online contact form to request an appointment.