A look at “Literature Review and medication outcomes for CYP with dual diagnosis of ADHD and Autism in UK NHS CAMHS Service” by E. S. Lenku and S. Olety (2026)
When a young person is both autistic and has ADHD (often called AuDHD), things can get more complicated, including when it comes to medication. This short UK conference abstract, from clinicians in a Manchester-area NHS child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), combines a brief literature review with a look at their own service’s records.
What they found
From the research literature. The authors report that children and young people with AuDHD often:
- respond to ADHD medication more slowly than those with ADHD alone;
- are more sensitive to side effects;
- experience more pronounced emotional dysregulation, which can widen the range of side effects such as irritability and agitation.
Stimulant medications appeared generally more effective for ADHD alone, while non-stimulant options showed promise for reducing some cardiovascular side effects, like raised heart rate or blood pressure.
From their own service. They reviewed the records of 21 young people on the ADHD treatment pathway, 13 of whom had both diagnoses. Medication changes were most often made because a medication wasn’t working well enough, sometimes because it wasn’t tolerated, and occasionally because it wasn’t being taken. Emotional dysregulation and agitation were common reasons for adjustments.
Their conclusions. UK NICE guidelines recommend standard ADHD approaches for AuDHD, but the authors highlight that lower starting doses are advised given increased sensitivity. They call for individualised, cautious treatment, careful monitoring, and non-medication support alongside.
A grain of glitter ✨
This is a conference abstract: a brief summary, not a full peer-reviewed paper. So we can’t see the methods of the literature review or the details of the service data. The service evaluation is tiny, at 21 young people in one clinic, and the reported percentages don’t add up neatly for a group of that size, which suggests the figures need checking in a fuller write-up. The non-medication suggestions include “social skills training”, an approach some autistic advocates criticise when it focuses on teaching neurotypical behaviour.
Still, its central message is consistent with wider clinical experience: AuDHD young people often need a more careful, individual approach.
Why this matters
If you’re the parent of an AuDHD young person, or AuDHD yourself, and medication has felt like a frustrating process of trial and error, you’re not alone. It often takes longer to find the right fit. It’s entirely reasonable to ask your prescriber about starting low, going slow and monitoring closely. Medication is also only one part of the picture; support for emotional regulation, sensory needs and understanding your neurotype matters too. Any changes to medication should always be discussed with the prescribing clinician.
A unicorn with wings may need a slightly more bespoke saddle, and that’s absolutely fine.