Short version: the drug works for me with very few side effects, but I’ve built a tolerance, and I’m refusing my doctor’s suggestion to up the dose yet again.

Side effects: dry mouth and decreased appetite. I’ve been a horrible overeater before, so this drug puts me back to a normal appetite.

Started on 40 mg/day. First dose felt happier than any time in my life. I also had no choice but to focus. It was awesome. I was definitely a bit jittery. I am a runner, normally with a resting heart rate of 55, and the pulse rose to 90 the first few weeks I was on 40 mg. It’s since dropped back down.

I had NO trouble sleeping, although I should note that I virtually gave up caffeine as soon as I started Vyvanse, so that change probably eclipsed any side effects of the Vyvanse.

My fidgeting WAY better than it ever was before.

Unfortunately my body started to build a tolerance. The drug didn’t last nearly as well as it has before. I started fidgeting again, had trouble concentrating. The doctor upped the dose to 50 mg. I reached a point where I was building a tolerance to that. The doctor wanted to up the dose again, but I refused. I just didn’t buy the argument that the body builds a tolerance at a lower dose but doesn’t build a tolerance at a higher dose.

Back in December I took a full week off of stimulants entirely. First two days I was sleeping all the time, and I didn’t have the energy to focus my eyes to read text on a computer screen. By the end of the week I had cleared up. For instance I was able to function on 4 hours sleep with no caffeine.

By the end of that week I felt my old self returning, at least emotionally. Objectively I probably accomplished very little at work that week.

When I went back onto the drug (50 mg) it was quite powerful, but nowhere near as strong as the first time I took it. Got a lot done that day, had trouble sleeping that night.

I sometimes misuse the drug on the weekends. Fridays and Saturdays I may take one 50 mg dose in the morning and one 50 mg dose in the evening. I’m a guy in my 20’s, and the dating scene requires some late nights to meet women. I’m not asking for a sympathy card, just giving an honest anonymous account of a patient’s behavior on the drug. Vyvanse works better for me than 5 hour energy or Red Bull, and allows me to sleep better once the night is over.

Other things to mention – some of my lifestyle behaviors could be better to improve the effectiveness of the drug.

I used to self-medicate by exercising vigorously. For instance, I would go into the supply closet once every hour or so and do 50 push-ups just to get the blood flowing back to my brain. I had to run every day or I got depressed.

This is where a third party would play devil’s advocate with my account.

It’s hard for me to say objectively how much I’m actually getting done on the drug. The only way I can measure it is to say how I feel on the drug. When I feel like I’m building a tolerance, the thing that I notice most is that I don’t have the buzz that I had the first time I tried it. Maybe I’m not “high” from the drug, but I’m still getting my work done.

The other thing to note – I cut back on my exercising once I was on the drug. Other people drag themselves to the gym, my body had a primal urge that forced me to exercise. On the Vyvanse I didn’t feel the desire to exercise anymore. The amphetamine high replaced the need for the runner’s high. It’s not a stretch to assume that the lack of exercise has caught up with me. The other thing to mention is that I have not been seeking ADHD therapy, which I need to be doing.

I was on Concerta before for about 6 years, and It was not very “smooth” . I would feel really awkward with people, quiet, my eating habits were horrible, had trouble sleeping, and I just didn’t feel very “me”. Although i did notice it helped me focus in class, i felt more like a zombie that just couldn’t do anything else but focus.

My doctor reccomended me Vyvanse. I’m taking 30 mg right now, and I have to say. Its really something ! If I didn’t have this pill, I don’t know if i could be in university. Im so proud of myself and thankful for this drug. I can concentrate during a 3 hour lecture with ease (I’m actually really into it) . I used to gaze over at the prof, trying to concentrate but it would be foggy, and i couldn’t absorb any of the information. I feel so in control of what I’m doing, and it feels great. I’m happier forsure, and in terms of my “hyperactivity”, it really helps me stay leveled. I’m still the fun, outgoing me, but just a bit more in control

If i have an argument with someone, I’m very in control, and can feel confident that i’m not being inappropriate, and am not a loose cannon) . Everyone else notices the changes as well. It helps in all areas of my life, and I’m so happy to have decided to make the change. If ANYONE has add or adhd and is struggling in school, at home, or anything like that then i really reccomend making the change to Vyvanse because it really does wonders and I’m a much better me.

If i don’t take my medication, then i cant focus on my work. I remember trying to do a reading for a class, and i was saying out loud “i cant focus” and it was really frustrating cause i just could not pick up the information and i would read the sentence 10 times. Now i read it, and i stay focused on the task at hand and i gey my work done. I’m not “thinking about what im going to watch on tv later, and I’m not getting distracted on the computer” . If i had this during elementary school or high school i would have been a much better me. Parents , i’ve had adhd all my life, and i was really skeptical about medication, as my parents were. Trust me. This could very well be the solution for you.