People who take medication for ADHD are facing continued shortages of several commonly prescribed medicines. In September the NHS issued a national patient safety alert about disrupted supplies of methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine, initially expecting the problems to ease by the end of the year. This week, the charity ADHD UK reported that the main manufacturer of ADHD treatments has said the issues are now likely to continue until around April 2024.
The causes are largely global. Demand for ADHD medication has risen sharply in many countries as more adults are diagnosed, and manufacturing has struggled to keep up. The shortages are not limited to the UK, and they affect different strengths and brands at different times, which can make the situation confusing for patients and pharmacists alike.
Why it matters more at sea
For most people, a shortage means phoning around pharmacies or waiting a few days for stock. For a seafarer about to join a ship for weeks or months, it can mean sailing without enough medication, or switching to an unfamiliar alternative with no time to see how it suits them.
There are other complications too. Many ADHD medicines are controlled drugs, and the rules on carrying them differ from country to country. Some countries ban certain medicines outright, while others require permission in advance. A change of medication can affect your medical certificate, and stopping suddenly can be difficult at the best of times, let alone on a long watch rotation.
Planning ahead
The most important step is to talk to your prescriber early, well before you’re due to sail. Ask whether your usual medicine is affected, how long they expect supply to be a problem, and what the alternatives would be. Any change should be planned with your doctor rather than made on your own, ideally with enough time ashore to see how a new medicine works for you.
Plan your supply for the whole trip, with some to spare in case of delays, and get a letter from your prescriber explaining what you take and why. Check the rules for every country and port you expect to visit; our ADHD medication map explains what to check and how to ask for permission where it’s needed. Our guide to medical fitness at sea covers how seafarer medicals treat ADHD and its medication, and what to tell the doctor.
If a shortage, or anything else, leaves you struggling at sea or ashore, you don’t have to cope alone. Our help now page lists free, confidential support for seafarers around the world.
Update, 2025
By early 2025, the UK government reported that most of these medicines were back in stock, including all strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets, though some methylphenidate products were still affected. Local availability can take longer to recover, so it is still worth planning ahead.
Sources: ADHD UK · UK Parliament written answer, January 2025 · Welsh Government update, September 2024
