Borough residents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have spoken out about how an shortage in medication has affected them.

The medication has been a problem across the world due to demand and manufacturing problems.

It has been reported that the situation has improved but some patients are still experiencing problems.

Whitefield resident Joanne Cohen said she has been struggling to get medication for her son Sam for the past couple of months.

Joanne said: “What worries me more than anything is if I can get it, I've got for the next couple of weeks, then what happens? And nobody can give you an answer.”

Sam was diagnosed with ADHD aged seven and began medication within a year of diagnosis.

Now aged 22, he has been on medication for 15 years.

A sudden stop in taking the medication is not something that can happen, Joanne said.

She added: “It’s not like paracetamol, if you don’t take it nothing happens, he needs them.“

Joanne said the process of trying to get his medication is “chaotic”, stating that as soon as the pharmacy rang it was like a race to get there.

Multiple pharmacies across the UK have struggled to get certain medications in stock but Joanne feels abandoned.

She said: "You shouldn't have to ring round to get a tablet that you need. You can't just stop them.”

After managing to get medicine in October for Sam, Joanne is now worried again for this month and what it means for her son.

She said: ”We can't take that risk that we're not going to have any. And it worries me.

“I don't understand why, and nobody can tell you why. All they say is, no, we can't get hold of them. Nobody's telling them anything."

Meanwhile, Janine Mclear, 46, who lives in Tottington, was diagnosed with ADHD in 2016 and started taking medication shortly after.

Her medication is essential for helping her to sleep, regulate her appetite, and even things as simple as a conversation.

Without it she said “she’s all over the place" and has been struggling during the shortage.

Coming off the medication "is not an option", Janine said.

She said: “I've got three kids with disabilities, so I'm always at hospital. I have to function for them.”

Getting meds has always been a struggle for Janine but the last two months have made her increasingly worried about the future.

She added: “Last year I had a nervous breakdown because I'd been without my ADHD medication."

Unable to get help from her local pharmacy, Janine phoned pharmacies all over Lancashire and even contacted some in Cheshire but was unable to get her original dose. She is now having to cope with a lower dosage.

Feeling left in the dark, she is concerned for the future.

She added: “I’m scared I may have another nervous breakdown and that just isn’t an option.”

In response to the current situation, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We understand medicine shortages can be distressing but we want to reassure patients we are working intensively with manufacturers to increase supply for the UK and ensure continuous access to ADHD medicines for those who need them.

"Some of these supply issues have now been resolved, but we know issues remain with others. These are expected to be resolved by the end of the year.

"We have issued communications to the NHS to advise healthcare professionals on how to minimise disruption for patients and keep them informed amid these supply issues.

"Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns as they are best placed to discuss how they might be affected and the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines."

“We are working intensively with manufacturers and asking them to increase supply for the UK.

"Manufacturers have responded to our call to action and have increased supplies and adjusted future demand forecasts to meet the current growth in demand for the UK.

"We will continue to work closely with individual suppliers to ensure stock continues to be made available and they are able to meet the growth in demand.”