Fast answer
The UK’s ADHD medicines, at a glance
Five medicines are licensed to treat ADHD in the UK: three stimulants — methylphenidate (e.g. Concerta XL, Medikinet, Equasym XL), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse) and dexamfetamine (Amfexa) — and two non-stimulants — atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Intuniv). After the national shortages of 2023–24, official supply has largely recovered, though stock can still vary by pharmacy.
On this page
- The short answer
- Which medicines are licensed for ADHD in the UK
- Stimulant vs non-stimulant
- Who can take ADHD medication — and from what age
- Why prescriptions are limited to about 30 days
- The 2023–24 shortage and where supply stands now
- Live UK availability
- What to do if your medicine is out of stock
- Frequently asked questions
The short answer
Five medicines are licensed to treat ADHD in the UK: three stimulants — methylphenidate (brands include Concerta XL, Medikinet and Equasym XL), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse) and dexamfetamine (Amfexa) — and two non-stimulants — atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Intuniv). Stimulants are usually tried first; non-stimulants are options when stimulants aren’t suitable, aren’t tolerated, or don’t work well enough. For adults, only lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine are licensed to start treatment. Methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine are controlled drugs, so prescriptions are limited to about 30 days at a time. After the national ADHD-medicine shortages of 2023–24, official supply has largely recovered, though stock can still vary by pharmacy. The live, official-source status of each medicine is in the table below.
Which medicines are licensed for ADHD in the UK?
In the UK, methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine are licensed for managing ADHD. They fall into two groups.
Stimulants
Stimulants are the first-line drug treatment for most people with ADHD under NICE guidance. They work on the brain’s dopamine and noradrenaline signalling to improve attention and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity.
- Methylphenidate — the most widely used ADHD medicine in the UK. It comes as short-acting (immediate-release) tablets and as several modified-release / prolonged-release brands, including Concerta XL, Xaggitin XL, Matoride XL, Delmosart, Medikinet and Equasym XL. The brands are not always interchangeable because they release the drug at different rates across the day.
- Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse, Elvanse Adult) — a long-acting medicine that the body converts into dexamfetamine. It is the only stimulant licensed to start treatment in adults in the UK.
- Dexamfetamine (Amfexa, and Dexedrine in some forms) — a shorter-acting stimulant, used less commonly.
Non-stimulants
Non-stimulants are options where stimulants aren’t suitable, aren’t tolerated, or don’t give enough benefit. They generally take longer to reach full effect than stimulants.
- Atomoxetine (Strattera) — a non-stimulant licensed for children (from age 6) and for adults, including starting treatment in adults.
- Guanfacine (Intuniv) — a non-stimulant licensed for children and young people aged 6–17 when stimulants aren’t suitable or haven’t worked.
Stimulant vs non-stimulant: how they compare
| Stimulants (methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine) | Non-stimulants (atomoxetine, guanfacine) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical place in treatment | First-line for most people (NICE NG87) | Used when stimulants aren’t suitable, tolerated, or effective |
| How fast they work | Effect is usually noticeable quickly | Build up over days to weeks |
| Controlled drug? | Yes — methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine are Schedule 2 | No |
| Licensed to start in adults? | Lisdexamfetamine only | Atomoxetine only |
This table describes how the medicines are categorised and licensed in the UK. It is not a recommendation — which medicine (if any) is right is a decision for you and your specialist team.
Who can take ADHD medication — and from what age?
ADHD medicines are licensed for children and young people from the age of six, and NICE does not recommend medicine for ADHD in children under five. Whether to start medicine, and which one, is decided by a specialist after assessment — medicine is one part of a wider plan that can include education, support and psychological therapies.
For adults, the licensing is narrower: in the UK only lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine are licensed to start ADHD treatment in adults. Adults who were stabilised on another ADHD medicine as a child and are still benefiting may continue it under specialist guidance even where the adult licence is more limited.
We don’t cover dosing here — doses are individualised and set by your prescriber.
Why ADHD prescriptions are limited to about 30 days
Methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine are Schedule 2 controlled drugs. In practice this means a prescription can usually only cover about 30 days’ supply at a time and must meet specific legal requirements. It’s worth ordering repeat prescriptions in good time so a gap doesn’t leave you without medicine — and, during periods of patchy supply, checking availability before your current supply runs low.
The 2023–24 ADHD medication shortage — and where supply stands now
From late 2023, the UK saw national supply problems affecting several ADHD medicines — methylphenidate prolonged-release products, lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse) and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets — driven largely by a sharp rise in demand outstripping manufacturing supply. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Community Pharmacy England issued supply notifications, and many patients struggled to fill prescriptions through 2024.
Through 2024 and 2025, supply of most of these medicines recovered, though with intermittent regional gaps — stock could be available at one pharmacy and not another. As of the latest official data, MediWatch is tracking no active national DHSC shortage across the main ADHD medicines, with some historic supply pressure still noted on individual guanfacine strengths. Because this picture changes, the table below links through to the current status from official sources rather than relying on this paragraph.
Live UK availability — ADHD medicines (official-source)
Each medicine below links to its live MediWatch status page, which reflects official DHSC, NHSBSA and MHRA supply data and updates as sources change. For the authoritative current position, always open the live status page — a status printed on a guide can go out of date, so MediWatch links you to the live record instead of freezing one here.
Source data checked 28 June 2026, 17:17 UTC
| Medicine (brand) | Class | Live official status |
|---|---|---|
| Methylphenidate prolonged-release (Concerta XL, etc.) | Stimulant | Check live status → |
| Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse, Elvanse Adult) | Stimulant | Check live status → |
| Dexamfetamine (Amfexa) | Stimulant | Check live status → |
| Atomoxetine (Strattera) | Non-stimulant | Check live status → |
| Guanfacine (Intuniv) | Non-stimulant | Check live status → |
Want the whole class on one page? See the live ADHD medication shortage tracker, or set a free alert to be told the moment your medicine’s official status changes.
What to do if your ADHD medicine is out of stock
If your pharmacy can’t supply your ADHD medicine:
- Ask the pharmacy to check their wholesalers and nearby branches — supply is often patchy rather than absent, and another local pharmacy may have stock.
- Don’t stop or switch on your own. ADHD medicines aren’t freely interchangeable — the modified-release brands in particular release differently. Any change should be made by your prescriber.
- Contact your GP or specialist team if a gap is likely, so they can advise on the safest plan for you.
- If you’re at risk of running out urgently, read our guide to getting an emergency prescription in the UK.
- Set a free alert so you’re told the moment the official status of your medicine changes — get ADHD shortage alerts.
Frequently asked questions
Methylphenidate is the most widely prescribed ADHD medicine in the UK, available as short-acting tablets and several modified-release brands such as Concerta XL.
Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse) and atomoxetine (Strattera) are licensed to start ADHD treatment in adults. Adults already stabilised on another medicine as a child may continue it under specialist care.
The national shortages of 2023–24 affecting methylphenidate prolonged-release, lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine have largely eased, but local stock can still vary. Check the live status for the current official position.
Methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine are Schedule 2 controlled drugs, so prescriptions are limited to around 30 days at a time. Atomoxetine and guanfacine are not controlled drugs.
Related guides
Live ADHD shortage status
Per-drug official availability, updated from DHSC/NHSBSA data
Getting an emergency prescription
Safe UK routes if your medicine is out of stock
Talking to your GP about alternatives
How to raise switching when supply is patchy
Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine)
Live status for the most-tracked ADHD medicine
Track your ADHD medicine free
Get an alert the moment your medicine’s official status changes
Get ADHD shortage alerts →Written by the MediWatch editorial team. Reviewed for source alignment on 29 June 2026. This page is information, not medical advice — always speak to your GP, pharmacist or specialist team about your own medicines, and it does not give doses. Report an accuracy issue.