ADHD · Autism · Mental Health · Medications

Independent professional psychotropic support for complex clinical situations and patients who would benefit from additional time

Who I am and what I bring to your practice

I’m Penny Maxwell — independent consultant pharmacist, FANZCAP Mental Health and Paediatrics, lead author of the Child and Adolescent chapter of the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines (8th edition), and most recently co-lead pharmacist on the NSW Health ADHD co-management project across Hunter New England.

If you haven’t worked with a specialist pharmacist before — get ready. I don’t prescribe or diagnose. That stays between you and your patient. What I do is look at the whole picture: the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropics, comorbidity, pharmacogenomics, patient experiences and attitudes, legislation, policy, supply — and everything in between. Wherever the medication chain is under strain, that’s where I work.

Independent means no hospital system, no pharmaceutical ties, no outcome-linked funding. My recommendations are shaped by your patient’s situation, what’s available, and what the evidence and clinical experience actually supports. Nothing else.

The list of what I can help with isn’t exhaustive. If it involves medication in ADHD, autism or mental illness and needs experienced expert input — get in touch. Finding solutions that work is what I do.

Prescriber consultation and support

Penny works with you directly. No patient involved.

Quick consultation · $250 · 20 min

A 20-minute teleconference with a written summary of any recommendations discussed. For a specific prescribing question, a regulatory or legislative query, a second opinion, or just to bounce an idea with someone who knows this field.

Written enquiry · $440/hr

A detailed written response to a specific clinical question. Structured, documented, referenced.

I’d recommend starting with a quick consultation. Written enquiries often carry more complexity than the original question anticipates, and a short verbal conversation almost always produces a faster, more targeted result — even if it leads to a longer written piece.

Complex medication questions · $440/hr

• Patient-specific medication reviews
• PK/PD and interaction analysis
• Neurodivergence-specific medication expertise
• Transparent about thin evidence — what we know, what we don’t, and what clinical experience suggests

Workshops · coaching · prescribing supervision · POA

Learn to navigate the complexities of ADHD, autism and mental health prescribing — systems, legislation, evidence gaps, real cases — in a practical, agile format.

Refer a patient

Penny works with your patient and reports back to you.

Step 1: Refer via email

Include:

• Goal of referral
• Medical summary
• Medication list
• Relevant letters
• Patient contact details
• Preferred involvement level

Step 2: Penny contacts the patient or carer directly

Step 3: You receive a report

Structured, documented, ready for your records:

• Medication education
• SDM session details
• Medication history and review
• Warm handover for complex cases

First time referring? You can request a brief overview call first — free of charge.

Prescriber and patient together

Penny works with both from the start — or joins an existing situation.

Joining your MDT · $440/hr

• Clear documentation
• Hand over complex medication cases with confidence
• Non-judgmental specialist support

Joint sessions with patient present · $440/hr

• Specialist input in real time
• Complex shared decision-making
• Family conflict mediation

Planned check-ins and ongoing collaboration · $440/hr

• Uptitration support
• Monitoring
• Escalation pathways

Concierge

Comprehensive medication coordination — for prescribers, patients, and everyone involved in supply.

• PBS/authority/SAS navigation
• Overseas medication supply
• Shortage navigation
• Legislation translation
• Medication histories and monographs
• Multi-party liaison
• SafeScript/My Health Record review
• Coaching and support

The whole thing, handled. Available to prescribers, patients and carers. Scope and pricing agreed before work begins.

What clinicians say

[Testimonials coming soon — three quotes from a GP, a Paediatrician, and a Psychiatrist]