Stimulant Prescribing for GPs

If you are agreeable and able to take over stimulant prescribing for a paediatric patient:

1-            Please apply for authority to prescribe on Script check online. ScriptCheckSA, or the form can be found in the forms and resources section of the drugs and dependence unit website S18A+non-MATOD+Authority+Application+Form.pdf (sahealth.sa.gov.au).

2-            Use the paediatrician’s letter as correspondence to attach to your application as confirmation that the patient has a diagnosis of ADHD requiring pharmacological management. This meets the DDU requirement for GP’s to have “explicit written support of a relevant specialist medical practitioner” to apply for the authority (ref: Drugs of dependence | SA Health)

3-            Please allow for up to 3 months for the Drugs of Dependence Unit (DDU) to approve your application for authority to prescribe. Stimulant scripts are provided for up to 6 months.

4-            Stimulant scripts expire after 6 months even if the patient still has repeats. Please ensure that your patient books at least six monthly appointments with you, or sooner, depending on the script dispensing duration specified by the DDU in your authority.

5- With every visit, please inquire about the effects and side effects of stimulants. Please check growth (weight and height), cardiac examination and blood pressure. The Medicine consumer information (CMI) sheet may be provided to the family but can also be found on MIMS, www.pbs.gov.au, or https://www.nps.org.au medicine finder, or TGA consumer information.

6- A paediatric patient’s stimulant medication plan may need review and adjustment from time to time. Specialists are often heavily booked. The family should be encouraged to book a review appointment at least every year or two whilst the child is growing and developing. Alternatively, if it is difficult to obtain a timely paediatrician review, and a review is needed, the child could be referred to see a psychiatrist for an item 291 review. Some psychiatrists may focus their practice on ADHD management.