2025.11.16 – Continuing ADHD Medication as an Expat in the Netherlands

Posted byLeonardo Tomás CardilloPosted inUncategorized

Key Takeaways

At a glance

  • Online medical platforms may refuse to prescribe controlled medicines such as methylphenidate, even when there is a valid prescription from abroad.
  • In the Netherlands, the practical route to continue ADHD medication runs through a local general practitioner and, when needed, a specialist.
  • Pharmacies can only dispense prescription ADHD medicines when they receive a valid Dutch prescription that complies with strict drug laws.
  • Health insurance is mandatory for most long-term residents and is the financial backbone of accessing care and medication.

Story & Details

A familiar expat dilemma

A new arrival in the Netherlands turned to an online doctor service, MobiDoctor, looking for continuity of ADHD treatment. The person had a valid prescription from a doctor in Mexico for methylphenidate 36 mg and hoped simply to continue that treatment while settling into life in a new country.

The online consultation brought an unexpected roadblock. Because methylphenidate is a controlled medicine, the service explained that it could not issue a prescription under its own regulatory framework. What had seemed like a quick digital solution suddenly left the patient wondering how to obtain necessary medication in the Dutch system.

Looking for help in the right place

The question naturally shifted to the broader support network for internationals. The person reached out to IamExpat, a platform that provides practical information on life and services in the Netherlands, asking whether there were pharmacies or partner services that could fill the foreign prescription directly and whether contacting a local specialist would help.

The answer was clear and concise: the path forward runs through the Dutch healthcare structure itself. Rather than an ad hoc workaround, the recommendation was to engage with a general practitioner and, where helpful, the patient’s own Dutch health insurer. Those are the two pillars that actually open doors to safe, legal access to controlled medication.

How the Dutch system sees controlled ADHD medicines

Behind that simple advice is a firm legal framework. In the Netherlands, medicines such as methylphenidate are classified under the Opium Act, a law that regulates substances with a risk of misuse or dependence. Official guidance emphasises that many ADHD medicines fall into this category alongside strong painkillers, certain sleeping pills and medicinal cannabis. They are handled with extra care by both prescribers and pharmacies.

For a patient, this means that even if a prescription exists from another country, the Dutch system will generally require its own assessment before treatment continues. A Dutch doctor must decide whether the diagnosis, dosage and treatment plan fit national guidelines. Pharmacies are then allowed to dispense only when they receive a valid Dutch prescription that meets all legal and professional standards.

The role of the general practitioner

The general practitioner, or huisarts, is the usual starting point. Registration with a local practice gives access to consultations, medical history building and referrals. For someone already diagnosed with ADHD abroad, the GP can review previous reports, prescriptions and treatment response. When the case is straightforward, the GP may oversee care directly; when it is more complex, referral to a psychiatrist or another specialist is common.

IamExpat’s own healthcare guides highlight this structure: prescription medicines are available only from pharmacies, and those pharmacies dispense on the basis of prescriptions from Dutch-registered health professionals. The GP is the hub that keeps the system coherent and helps patients navigate the next steps.

Health insurance as the financial backbone

Health insurance ties the system together financially. Long-term residents are normally required to take out Dutch health insurance within a set period after arriving in the country. Basic insurance covers consultations with a general practitioner and many forms of specialist care, including mental health services. Medication is covered according to national reimbursement rules, with some costs falling under the annual deductible.

For an expat seeking to continue ADHD medication, this means that the insurer is not just a place to send bills. The insurer can often advise on which specialists are in network, how referrals work and which ADHD medicines are reimbursed or subject to co-payments. That practical information matters when a treatment that was routine at home must be re-established in a new system.

What a realistic pathway looks like

Taken together, the story points to a realistic, step-by-step pathway for someone with a foreign prescription for methylphenidate who has just moved to the Netherlands:

First comes registration with a general practitioner in the local area. At the first appointment, the patient can bring the foreign prescription, letters from the original doctor, and any diagnostic reports. These documents help the Dutch doctor understand the diagnosis, previous treatment choices and any side effects or concerns.

Next, the GP assesses whether ADHD medication is still indicated and whether the existing dose makes sense in the new context. If more specialised input is needed, the GP can refer the patient to a psychiatrist or another mental health professional familiar with ADHD treatment in adults or children.

If the assessment supports ongoing medication, a Dutch prescription can then be issued. The patient registers with a nearby pharmacy, which keeps a record of prescriptions and dispensed medicines. That pharmacy becomes the point of contact for repeat prescriptions, checks on stock and any questions about side effects or interactions with other medicines.

Finally, the health insurer plays its part in confirming coverage, explaining any out-of-pocket costs and ensuring that the patient understands how repeat prescriptions and reimbursements are handled over time.

Why this route matters

For someone who has already been through the journey of diagnosis and treatment elsewhere, it can feel frustrating to take these steps again. Yet the structure serves a purpose. Online doctors are limited in what they may prescribe for safety and regulatory reasons. Local doctors and pharmacies are held responsible for monitoring how controlled medicines are used, and for making sure that treatment decisions fit the legal and clinical standards of the country.

The story that began with a blocked online prescription therefore becomes a map of how the Dutch system works: cautious with controlled medicines, but open to continuity of care when it is based on proper assessment, documentation and local oversight.

Conclusions

A careful, workable way forward

The experience of reaching a limit with an online doctor and then being pointed toward a general practitioner and insurer is not a dead end. It is the system doing what it is designed to do: bringing controlled ADHD medication under the supervision of local professionals who can see the whole picture.

For expats who arrive with a long-standing diagnosis and a foreign prescription, the message is steady and reassuring. Collect the paperwork, register with a general practitioner, talk openly about current treatment and be prepared for a review. When the medical case supports it, Dutch doctors and pharmacies can provide the continuity that ADHD medication requires, within a framework that protects both the patient and the wider public.

Sources

Further reading and viewing

Appendix

ADHD medication

Medicines used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including methylphenidate, are considered controlled in the Netherlands. They are usually prescribed after a careful diagnosis and are monitored closely for effectiveness and side effects.

Apotheek

The Dutch term for a pharmacy. It is the only place where prescription medicines such as methylphenidate can be dispensed, and it works with detailed records and strict checks for controlled substances.

General practitioner (GP)

The first point of contact for most medical issues in the Netherlands. The general practitioner coordinates care, holds the central medical file, and often decides whether treatment can be continued or whether referral to a specialist is needed.

IamExpat

An information platform aimed at internationals in the Netherlands. It publishes guides on healthcare, health insurance, housing, work and other aspects of daily life, helping newcomers understand how local systems work.

Methylphenidate

A stimulant medicine commonly used to treat ADHD. In the Netherlands it is regulated as a controlled substance, and prescriptions and dispensing are subject to additional safeguards.

MobiDoctor

An online medical consultation service used by people in different countries. For controlled medicines such as methylphenidate, it operates under strict prescribing limits, which can prevent it from issuing prescriptions even when patients have been treated elsewhere.

Opium Act

The main Dutch law governing controlled substances, including some painkillers, sleeping pills, ADHD medicines and medicinal cannabis. It sets conditions for prescribing, dispensing and travelling with these medicines.

Telemedicine

Medical care delivered at a distance through digital tools such as video consultations, chat or online platforms. It can provide convenient access to advice and basic care, but often has restrictions on prescribing controlled medicines.

Published by Leonardo Tomás Cardillo

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardocardillo

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