Medication review for young people
A specialist appointment to check whether a young person's mental health medication is still helping, is at the right dose, is safe, and is being monitored properly, and to plan any changes carefully.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- A medication review checks whether a young person's mental health medicine is still helping, is at the right dose, is safe, and is being monitored, and plans any changes carefully.
- Psychiatric medicines should be started and overseen by a specialist, are one part of a wider plan that usually includes therapy, and must never be stopped abruptly.
- ADHD medicines need regular monitoring (growth, pulse, blood pressure) and at least yearly review; antidepressants need a close watch for any early increase in agitation or self-harm thoughts.
- If a young person talks about self-harm or not wanting to be here, get help: 999 or A&E in an emergency anywhere in the UK, Samaritans 116 123, Papyrus HOPELINE247 0800 068 4141, text SHOUT to 85258. For urgent mental-health support, in England, Scotland or Wales call 111 and choose the mental-health option; in Northern Ireland call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your psychiatrist will give you advice for your situation.
Checks the medicine is still helping and at the right dose
As a route to start or change medication without proper specialist assessment and oversight.
The specialist reviews how the young person is doing, checks side effects and any measurements, and agrees a clear plan with the family.
A clear written plan covering what to take, what to watch for, and the next review.
The specialist reviews how the young person is doing, checks side effects and any measurements, and agrees a clear...
You leave with a plan: what to take, what to watch for, what monitoring is needed and when, and when to seek help...
Changes are made gradually. It can take days to weeks to see the effect, and side effects may settle as the body...
The medicine is reduced step by step, never stopped abruptly, with a watch for any return of symptoms or...
What is a medication review for young people?
A medication review is an appointment to look carefully at a young person's mental health medication: whether it is still helping, whether the dose is right, whether there are side effects, and whether monitoring is being done as it should be. It is also a chance to think about whether the medication is still needed.
Medication for mental health conditions in young people, such as medicines for ADHD, or antidepressants for significant anxiety or depression, should be started and overseen by a specialist, usually a child and adolescent psychiatrist, alongside other support such as talking therapy. Medication is rarely the whole answer on its own.
Reviews matter because young people grow and change, conditions evolve, and both benefits and side effects need watching over time. Some medicines need regular checks, for example of height, weight, pulse and blood pressure, and some need other monitoring.
A key safety point runs through all of this: psychiatric medicines should not be stopped suddenly. Any change, including stopping, should be planned with the specialist, usually step by step, to avoid withdrawal effects or a return of symptoms.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
ADHD medication review
Checking whether medicines such as methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine, atomoxetine or guanfacine are still helping, with monitoring of height, weight, pulse...
Antidepressant (SSRI) review
Checking the benefit and side effects of medicines like fluoxetine for significant anxiety or depression, watching especially for any increase in agitation or thoughts of...
Review of other psychiatric medicines
Some young people take other medicines, for example for psychosis, bipolar disorder, tics or sleep, each with their own monitoring needs, reviewed by the specialist.
Considering stopping or changing
A review may plan a gradual dose change, a switch, or a careful, step-by-step withdrawal (never an abrupt stop), with a plan to watch for returning symptoms.
Preparing for your appointment
- If a young person is in crisis or unsafe, treat that first with 999 or A&E; a routine review is not for emergencies.
- Bring the current medicines, doses and a note of when they are actually taken.
- Note any side effects, changes in mood, sleep, appetite, energy or behaviour since starting or last changing the medicine.
- Note how things are going at school, at home and with friends.
- Bring any recent measurements or monitoring results if you have them.
- Write down questions, including any wish to change or stop the medicine, to discuss rather than act on alone.
- Involve the young person in the conversation in a way that suits their age.
What happens
At a medication review, the specialist asks how the young person has been: their symptoms, mood, sleep, appetite, energy and behaviour, and how things are at school, at home and with friends. They ask about benefits and any side effects, and how reliably the medicine is being taken.
Depending on the medicine, there may be physical checks. For ADHD medicines, this usually includes height, weight, pulse and blood pressure, because these need watching over time. For antidepressants, there is particular attention to mood and to any increase in agitation or thoughts of self-harm, especially early on or after a dose change. Other medicines have their own monitoring.
The specialist then discusses the options: continuing as you are, adjusting the dose, switching, or planning a careful, gradual reduction if stopping is being considered. Medication is looked at as one part of a wider plan that usually also includes talking therapy and support at home and school. The young person's and family's views are central to the decision.
A clear plan is agreed: what to take, what to watch for, what monitoring is needed and when, and when the next review will be. Crucially, any change, including stopping, is planned and usually made step by step, never abruptly.
Is this appointment right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- As a route to start or change medication without proper specialist assessment and oversight.
- In an emergency or where there is immediate risk, which needs urgent help rather than a routine review.
- As a substitute for the wider plan: medication alone is rarely the whole answer and should sit alongside therapy and support.
- Where stopping a medicine is being considered without a planned, gradual reduction and monitoring.
Delay or rearrange if…
- There is an immediate safety emergency; deal with that first.
- Recent monitoring or tests needed for safe prescribing have not yet been done.
- A young person is too unwell or in crisis to take part and needs urgent support first.
- Important information, such as recent side effects, other medicines or safeguarding concerns, has not yet been gathered.
Alternatives to discuss
- Talking therapy such as CBT, which is often first-line and may reduce the need for medication.
- Support at school and home, and behavioural approaches, especially for ADHD.
- A planned, gradual reduction of medication where it is no longer needed, rather than continuing automatically.
- A different medicine or dose where the current one is not right.
- Watchful waiting with close support where a young person is stable and a change is being considered.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- Checks the medicine is still helping and at the right dose
- Picks up side effects and keeps monitoring (such as growth, pulse and blood pressure) on track
- Considers whether the medicine is still needed
- Plans any changes safely, gradually and with the young person involved
- Keeps medication joined up with therapy and other support
- Gives the family a clear plan and a chance to ask questions
Risks & complications
- A review is a check and a plan, not a treatment in itself
- Side effects may be identified that need managing
- Dose changes can take time to settle and to show their effect
- It can be unsettling to discuss changing or stopping a medicine that has helped
- Symptoms returning if a medicine is reduced or stopped, which is why changes are gradual and monitored
- Withdrawal effects if a medicine is reduced too quickly
- Needing to try a different medicine or dose to get the balance right
- A serious medication reaction or interaction needing prompt action
- An increase in agitation or thoughts of self-harm when starting or changing an antidepressant
The single most important point is that psychiatric medicines should never be stopped abruptly: any change, including stopping, must be planned with the specialist and usually made step by step, to avoid withdrawal effects or a return of symptoms. With ADHD medicines, regular monitoring of growth, pulse and blood pressure matters; with antidepressants, watch especially for any early increase in agitation or self-harm thoughts. Ask what to watch for, what monitoring is needed, and who to contact between reviews.
Published figures to discuss
It would be misleading to attach fixed percentages to a medication review, because benefits, side effects and the right dose vary from one young person to another and change over time. The clearest safety points are well established: psychiatric medicines should not be stopped abruptly; ADHD medicines need monitoring of growth, pulse and blood pressure; and a small number of young people can have an early increase in agitation or suicidal thoughts when starting or changing an antidepressant, which is why monitoring is close. The review exists to weigh benefit against risk for the individual.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side effects not monitored systematically | Avoidable | Weight, height, pulse, blood pressure, sleep, appetite, mood and school functioning may all need review depending on medicine. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Stopping suddenly causes withdrawal or relapse | Medicine-dependent | Antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants and sleep medicines have different tapering and safety considerations. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Polypharmacy or interaction | Higher in complex cases | Medication should be reviewed alongside over-the-counter products, substance use and physical health. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Medication used without a current goal | Common long-term review issue | A good review asks what has improved, what has not, and whether non-medication support is in place. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no physical recovery. 'Afterwards' means following the agreed plan, watching for benefits and side effects, keeping up any monitoring, and the next review, with any changes made gradually.
- Settling-in side effects after a dose change that often ease over days to weeks
- Needing time to judge whether a change has helped
- Some ups and downs in symptoms while the balance is adjusted
- Mixed feelings about changing or stopping a medicine
- Regular monitoring appointments or measurements between reviews
Aftercare
- Follow the agreed plan and take medicines exactly as directed.
- Never stop or change the dose suddenly on your own; always plan changes with the specialist.
- Watch for side effects and, for antidepressants, any increase in agitation or thoughts of self-harm, and report these promptly.
- Keep up any monitoring, such as height, weight, pulse and blood pressure for ADHD medicines.
- Keep medication joined up with therapy and support at home and school.
- Know who to contact between reviews if there are concerns, and attend the next review.
- Keep crisis numbers handy: 999 or A&E for emergencies anywhere in the UK, Samaritans 116 123, Papyrus HOPELINE247 0800 068 4141, text SHOUT to 85258. For urgent mental-health support, in England, Scotland or Wales call 111 and choose the mental-health option; in Northern Ireland call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or your GP out-of-hours service.
- Current medicines, doses and timing noted
- A list of side effects and any changes in mood, sleep or appetite
- How things are going at school, home and with friends
- Recent measurements or monitoring results, if any
- Questions written down, including any wish to change or stop
- Crisis numbers and a between-reviews contact saved
- The next review and any monitoring appointments booked
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Any talk of suicide, feeling hopeless, or wanting to escape life: call 999 or go to A&E now
- A new or increasing urge to self-harm, especially after starting or changing an antidepressant
- Becoming much more agitated, restless or distressed soon after starting or changing a medicine
- Signs of a serious reaction, such as a rash, swelling, fainting, chest pain or a racing or irregular heartbeat: seek urgent help
- A medicine stopped suddenly, by accident or otherwise, with withdrawal effects or returning symptoms: contact the specialist
- A marked worsening of mood, behaviour or the original symptoms
- For urgent but non-emergency mental-health support: Samaritans 116 123, Papyrus HOPELINE247 0800 068 4141 (under 35s), text SHOUT to 85258. In England, Scotland or Wales you can also call 111 and choose the mental-health option; in Northern Ireland call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or your GP out-of-hours service
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your psychiatrist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A good review leaves a young person and family with a clear, safe plan: a medicine that is helping at the right dose, side effects managed, monitoring on track, and the medication joined up with therapy and other support. It should also be clear what to watch for, who to contact, and when the next review will be.
A review cannot guarantee a perfect outcome, and getting the balance of benefit and side effects right can take time and adjustment. It is a checkpoint in ongoing care, not a one-off fix, and the plan is expected to change as a young person grows and their needs change.
How long a young person needs medication varies a great deal and is reviewed over time, never assumed to be forever. Some medicines are used for a period and then carefully reduced; others are continued while they help, with regular review. Because young people grow and change, doses and the need for medication are revisited, and any change is planned and gradual. Decisions are shared between the young person, family and specialist.
Related tests, treatments or support
Medication is usually one part of a wider plan. For ADHD, it sits alongside support at school and home and sometimes behavioural approaches; for anxiety or depression, it is usually combined with talking therapy such as CBT. A review looks at the whole plan, not just the tablets, and considers how medication, therapy and support are working together. Other medicines and physical health are also taken into account to avoid interactions.
Follow-up & long-term care
Follow-up depends on the medicine. ADHD medicines are reviewed by the specialist at least once a year, with monitoring of growth, pulse and blood pressure in between, and a GP may share care under an agreement. Antidepressants are reviewed more closely early on and after dose changes. After any change, follow-up is sooner. You should always know who to contact between reviews if concerns arise.
- Take medicines as directed and never stop or change them abruptly
- Keep up monitoring, such as growth, pulse and blood pressure for ADHD medicines
- Attend reviews, at least yearly for ADHD medicines and sooner after changes
- Keep medication joined up with therapy and support at school and home
- Report side effects, mood changes or any self-harm thoughts promptly
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- Getting the balance of benefit and side effects right can take more than one adjustment.
- Doses are revisited as a young person grows, and the need for medication is reviewed, never assumed to be permanent.
- Any reduction or stop is planned and gradual, with a watch for returning symptoms.
- Reviews are repeated regularly and sooner after any change.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A clear written plan covering what to take, what to watch for, and the next review.
- Defined monitoring (such as growth, pulse and blood pressure for ADHD medicines) with results acted on.
- Close early monitoring after starting or changing an antidepressant, with attention to agitation or self-harm thoughts.
- Medication coordinated with therapy and support, and any shared care with the GP made clear.
- A named contact between reviews and crisis routes for out of hours.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether the review is with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or another specialist
- The length and complexity of the appointment
- Any physical checks or tests needed (such as height, weight, pulse, blood pressure or blood tests)
- Whether a letter or report is provided, for example for the GP or school
- How often reviews and monitoring are needed
- Coordination with therapy and any shared-care arrangement with a GP
- Who carries out the review and their specialist qualifications
- What the appointment includes, such as physical checks or tests
- What monitoring is needed and how often reviews will happen
- Whether a letter or report (for GP or school) is included
- How medication changes and any shared care with a GP are handled
- How urgent concerns are handled between reviews, and the cancellation policy
On the NHS? Medication reviews for young people are available on the NHS, usually through CAMHS or a specialist; private review may be used for choice or speed, with the same specialist oversight and monitoring.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Not explaining that medicines must never be stopped abruptly and how changes will be made.
- Not setting out the monitoring needed (such as growth, pulse and blood pressure for ADHD medicines).
- Failing to mention the early risks of starting or changing an antidepressant.
- Treating medication as the whole answer rather than part of a wider plan with therapy and support.
- Not involving the young person, or being unclear about who to contact between reviews.
Marketing red flags
- Starting or changing medication without proper specialist assessment and monitoring.
- Offering quick prescriptions or dose increases without review or physical checks.
- Suggesting medicines can simply be stopped when symptoms improve.
- Promising medication alone will fix things, without therapy or support.
- Poor arrangements for monitoring, follow-up or contact between reviews.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the psychiatrist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the psychiatrist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good psychiatrist will welcome every one of these.
- Is this medicine still helping, and is the dose right for my child now?
- What side effects and warning signs should we watch for, and what should we do about them?
- What monitoring is needed (such as growth, pulse and blood pressure), and how often?
- Could we consider reducing or stopping, and if so, how would that be done safely?
- How does the medication fit with therapy and support at school and home?
- Who do we contact between reviews if we have concerns, and when is the next review?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the psychiatrist who carries out my appointment, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this appointment not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Why does my child's medication need reviewing?
Can we just stop the medication if my child seems better?
What monitoring is needed for ADHD medication?
What should we watch for with antidepressants?
Who should oversee my child's mental health medication?
Can we get medication reviews on the NHS?
Will my child be on medication forever?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — ADHD in children and young people (treatment and medicines) NICE NG87 — Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management NICE NG134 — Depression in children and young people: identification and management Papyrus — HOPELINE247 (0800 068 4141) Samaritans — call 116 123 free, any time nidirect — urgent and emergency care (Northern Ireland) nidirect — GP out-of-hours service (Northern Ireland) NHS England — 111 mental-health crisis support NHS inform Scotland — urgent mental-health help NHS 111 Wales — mental health and wellbeing nidirect — mental health emergency / Lifeline (Northern Ireland)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
Related guides: ADHD medication management for children · ADHD assessment in children · Depression in children and teenagers · Anxiety in children and teenagers · Child and adolescent mental health assessment