United KingdomTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
EuropeLast checked 14 Sep 2026High confidenceHow we rate a record
United Kingdom treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 4 come in on paperwork with a supply cap and 3 need only your prescription.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything United Kingdom records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 90 days' supply
Visitors can bring up to 3 months' supply without a licence if the medicine was lawfully prescribed and dispensed to them in the country where they live. This is Home Office policy, not an exemption written into the law. The medicine must be carried on you or in your hand luggage. More than 3 months' supply will be taken away at the border. Carry a letter from your prescriber. GOV.UK says the letter must include your name, the dates you are travelling to or from the UK, a list of your medicine with how much you have, the doses and the strength, and the signature of the person who prescribed it. The Home Office also asks for the dosing frequency and the prescriber's professional registration details, and says it must be clear from the letter or prescription that you are not carrying more than 3 months' supply.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Restrictedmax 90 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 90 days' supply
Class B and Schedule 2 expressly, as a stereoisomer of amphetamine: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 Part II para 2, and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, Schedule 2 para 7. The same traveller rule applies as for the other ADHD stimulants.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a valid prescription.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Restrictedmax 90 days' supply
Class B and Schedule 2 as salts of amphetamine: Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, Schedule 2 para 8 (salts), and Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 Part II para 3. The same traveller rule applies as for the other ADHD stimulants.
- Intuniv (guanfacine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
- Qelbree (viloxazine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
Rules by drug class
Narcotic (opioids)
Prescription- Quantity
- 90 days. Up to 3 months' supply
- Permit
- Not required up to 90 days' supply. Above that, it is. Apply at least 30 days ahead. Personal licence only to exceed 3 months; contact DFLU ~1 month ahead. No public form.
- Documents
- prescription, doctor letter
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Restricted- Quantity
- 90 days. Up to 3 months' supply
- Permit
- Not required up to 90 days' supply. Above that, it is. Apply at least 30 days ahead. Same as narcotic class.
- Documents
- doctor letter
Connecting through United Kingdom
No specific airside-transit guidance; assume entry rules apply if you clear immigration.
Responsible authority
Home Office: Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU)
dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk; 0300 105 0248
Sources
The sources behind everything above, so you can check it yourself rather than take our word for it. Always confirm the current rule with the source before you travel.
- Take medicine in or out of the UKGovernment, 2023-07-21
- Travelling with medicine containing controlled drugsGovernment, 2023-04-11
- Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: When to declare goods to UK customsGovernment
- Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Banned and restricted goodsGovernment
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (revised): importing or exporting a controlled drug is banned unless regulations exempt it or a Home Office licence allows it, s 3Government
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (revised): carrying your own medicine through the border is exempt only for Schedule 4 Part II drugs, reg 4(2); not Schedule 2 ADHD medicinesGovernment
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (revised): possessing a Schedule 2 drug for use as a practitioner directs, reg 10(2)Government
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (revised), Schedule 2: amphetamine, lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate are Class B, Part II para 1; dexamfetamine as a stereoisomer, Part II para 2Government
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, Schedule 2 (revised): lisdexamfetamine in para 1; amphetamine and methylphenidate in para 6; their stereoisomers, including dexamfetamine, in para 7Government
- Home Office controlled drugs list (updated 1 April 2025): amphetamine, lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate all Class B, Schedule 2Government
Your trip pack
A doctor's letter for United Kingdom, filled in with your medications and your stops, ready to sign.
The rules above are free and stay free. The pack is the paperwork that goes with them: a checklist for each stop in travel order, a printable PDF, and the letter to take to your GP.
Build your trip packCommon questions
This page organises publicly available government information and links. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules change and enforcement varies, so always confirm with the official sources above or the United Kingdom embassy or consulate before travelling.