Health minister Karin Smyth has said there are “no plans” to issue serious shortage protocols for ADHD medicine methylphenidate or other treatments such as atomexitine. 

In a statement issued today (January 17) in response to a written question from Liberal Democrat MP and health select committee chair Layla Moran, Ms Smyth said that although Labour is “aware of a supply issue” with methylphenidate prolonged release tablets, but added that as it is a Schedule II controlled drugs it would only be eligible for an SSP “under very restricted circumstances”. 

Ms Smyth said: “These supply issues are taking longer to resolve than the Department originally anticipated, and the Department is working with the respective suppliers to further improve the United Kingdom’s supply for the short and long-term as soon as possible.

SSPs may only be used when there sufficient supplied of an alternative product available, she said, adding: “Furthermore, SSPs are not suitable for all medicines and patients. 

“For example, patients with complex health needs may not be considered suitable for a supply in accordance with an SSP.

“In these cases, patients would always be referred back to the prescriber for any decision about their treatment before any therapeutic or generic alternative is supplied.”

Ms Smyth told the select committee chair that there are “no plans to issue a SSP for methylphenidate”.

She also said her department is “currently unaware” of shortages affecting ADHD medicines dexamfetimine, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine and guanfacine, or the medicines oestrogel, buproprionand and lamotrigine. 

“Therefore there are no plans to issue SSPs for these medicines,” said Ms Smyth.

House of Commons leader Lucy Powell MP told parliament yesterday (January 16): “The Department of Health and Social Care is working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve the supply issues with ADHD medicines, which is a global problem.”

Shortages of ADHD medicines have been widely reported since 2023. Last July, the NHS Business Services Authority reported a massive 28 per cent rise in the number of adults being prescribed ADHD drugs.