Running out of ADHD medication days before the London Marathon – GP refused shared care, 111 won’t help. What can I do?

Hi all, I’m hoping someone might have advice because I’m hitting a brick wall.

I’m prescribed Elvanse through the NHS via Psychiatry UK. My NHS GP has previously refused a shared care agreement, so they won’t prescribe it.

I requested my repeat prescription on 6 April specifically because I am running the London Marathon next week and wanted to make sure I had enough medication in time. I was told it was sent to the pharmacy on 7 April, but the pharmacy said they hadn’t received it. While I was chasing this with the prescriber, the prescription suddenly appeared on the system and the pharmacy confirmed they received it on 14 April.

It still hasn’t been dispatched, and I now have one tablet left. The pharmacy are citing “bank holiday delays” and I’ll get my prescription “in a few days” but I leave for London next week.

I’ve tried the following:

- Contacted the prescriber – they refused to issue a new prescription

- Contacted my GP – they refused an emergency prescription due to no shared care agreement

- Called 111 – they said they can’t clinically assess me because I don’t have new or worsening symptoms

So I’m now days away from the marathon, at risk of running out of medication, and nobody seems willing or able to help. I’ve been advised running it when stopping cold turkey with POTs is dangerous. I’ve spent hundreds on the race, travel, accommodation and raised thousands for charity.

I’m not necessarily trying to assign blame. I just need to understand what options exist at this stage.

Questions:

- Is there any route to obtain an emergency supply in this situation?

- Can an urgent treatment centre or pharmacist help with a short-term supply of a controlled drug?

- Has anyone dealt with a similar shared care / private prescription gap before?

- If this ends up affecting my ability to run, is there any formal complaints route I should be starting now?

Any practical advice would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance.