Here are the main medicines UK specialists prescribe for adult ADHD, what each one is trying to do, and what the first few weeks can feel like. Medication is one option among several. Many people who try it find it helpful.
Many people start on a stimulant and adjust from there. The table below covers the options a UK psychiatrist may discuss with you.
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Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of nothing that I'm afraid to let people know.
Simone Biles, Olympic gymnastOn X (Twitter), 13 September 2016
NICE recommends it as a first choice for adults. It comes as short-acting tablets and as slow-release versions that last up to 12 hours. Some brands are not licensed for starting treatment in adults, so specialists prescribe them off-label, which is common and allowed.
LisdexamfetamineElvanse
Stimulant
Turns into dexamfetamine slowly in the body
NICE also recommends it as a first choice. It lasts around 12 to 14 hours and is licensed for adults in the UK.
DexamfetamineAmfexa
Stimulant
Direct stimulant
It lasts around 4 to 6 hours. Specialists may use it if lisdexamfetamine works for you but you need a shorter effect. In adults it is prescribed off-label.
AtomoxetineStrattera
Non-stim
Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
Licensed for adults. It is the main non-stimulant option. NICE suggests it if you cannot take, or have not benefited from, both first-choice stimulants. It takes several weeks to reach full effect.
GuanfacineIntuniv
Non-stim
Alpha-2 agonist
Licensed in the UK for ages 6 to 17, and sometimes prescribed to adults outside its licence. It can help with emotions and sleep.
Clonidine(off-label)
Non-stim
Alpha-2 agonist
Not licensed in the UK for ADHD, but sometimes prescribed alongside a stimulant to help with sleep or tics.
BupropionWellbutrin (off-label)
Non-stim
Keeps more dopamine and noradrenaline available in the brain
Not licensed in the UK for ADHD and not part of NICE guidance for adults. Specialists sometimes consider it if you also have low mood.
Not medical advice. Your psychiatrist decides on medication with you. Side effects, interactions and dose changes vary from person to person. This page is a general guide only.
This page provides general information and is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified clinician or prescriber about diagnosis, treatment or medication changes. Last checked September 2026.