Vyvanse Dosage: How to Get the Right Dose
ByVyvanse is the newest medicine for ADD or ADHD in the USA. I have written several articles on this blog on Vyvanse, and have had great feedback and comments from readers of this blog. For example – if you want to find out if vyvanse works, visit this post to read many people’s first hand experiences.
One question which many people ask is about the dosing of Vyvanse.
This article will provide you with the answers you need to get the right dosage of Vyvanse.
Research studies compared the dosing of Vyvanse with Adderall XR. What this research showed was the following:
- Vyvanse 30 mg = Adderall XR 10 mg
- Vyvanse 50 mg = Adderall XR 20 mg
- Vyvanse 70 mg = Adderall XR 30 mg
The recommendations for the starting doses of Vyvanse are as follows: Doctors should start Vyvanse at 30 mg, and then gradually increase the dose to 50 mg, and then up to 70 mg if needed. Of course the doctor would monitor response to the medicine (i.e. if there is a great response and ADHD is controlled at 50 mg, then there is no need for 70 mg of Vyvanse). The doctor will also monitor for side effects – i.e. if there are too many side effects at 70 mg, then the dose may need to be dropped to 50 mg of Vyvanse.
The importance of the ‘conversion’ dosing listed above relates to those people who may switch from one stimulant medicine to Vyvanse. Using the information above, you can figure out how to change your dose of Adderall XR to Vyvanse.
When it comes to the available strenghts of Vyvanse, Vyvanse is now available in the US in the following dosage strengths:
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
- 40 mg
- 50 mg
- 60 mg
- 70 mg
In Canada, all of the dosage strenghts are available except for the 70 mg dose. The dosage recommendations above are the general recommendations for dosage. That said, your doctor may start lower, and may take a different approach to your dosing. When Vyvanse was first release, there were fewer strengths of the medicine available – i.e. only 30mg, 50 mg and 70 mg. Now, there are the ‘in between’ doses as well (the 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg). This does give doctors more flexibility in adjusting the dose to tailor it to suit you.
If you are switching from Concerta to Vyvanse, then you will need to follow these rough guidelines (and of course, talk to your doctor – who can personalize the information to suit your treatment):
- Concerta 36 mg = approx. Vyvanse 30 mg
- Concerta 72 mg = approx. Vyvanse 50 mg
I have to say that the dose changes from Concerta to Vyvanse are based on logic, and not on research.
Here is the logic:
- Concerta 36 mg works out to approx. 8 mg of regular ritalin three times daily.
- That is approximately 5 mg of regular adderall twice daily.
- That works out to approximately Adderall XR 10 mg once daily.
- Since Adderall XR 10 mg daily is equal to Vyvanse 30 mg, once can guess that Concerta 36 is equal to approximately Vyvanse 30 mg.
[Click here for a full review of how to calculate concerta doses.]
There are two important points to remember here:
- Even though I can suggest what the equal doses are, you may react differently to any one medicine. Only testing, monitoring and talking to your doctor will help to sort out what the right dose is for you.
- Please talk to your doctor about your individual care. Even though this blog article may help you to find the right dose of Vyvanse based on a combination of my review of the research and my opinion, your doctor is an expert in your care.
Thank you for reading, and please post any comments or your experiences with the dosing of Vyvanse in the comments below.
Dr. Kenny
(Updated May 2010)
Amy,
Thank you for the info on “Therapeutic Window”. Good stuff, also read some of the Q&A with Dr. Parker. Seems like a bright guy. I was unaware of how important it is to eat a Protein based Breakfast. I think this could have a lot to do with how “Toxic” I have been feeling on these meds.
Are you the same Amy from Blog #93/94? If so, I feel the same way when I am coming down from the meds, very edgy, frustrated, etc. I also previously used the Adderral and XR version, I would say that trhe Vyvanse is smoother, just not sure it’s the right med for me. Just came back from Psych visit, going to try 1 month of Vyvanse and then possibly a Methylphenidate drug like Concerta. Not sure what is the right thing at this point. I am not lovin the Vyvanse, just can’t seem to relax while on it, very stressed, feels like I am on speed…anyway, I’m ramblin….Thanks again!
BTW: liked your ideas on trying to get a routine down, makes sense, I just can’t seem to get out of the house in the AM, and constantly LATE!!! Now I am really outta here! Peace
Poster Child,
Yes, I am the same Amy from blog #93/94. I’m doing better with the frustration when the Vyvanse is leaving my system. I switched from 70 mg to 50 mg and have seen less frustration, etc. My only complaint is getting sleepy in the afternoon between 2 and 4 pm. If I keep moving and don’t sit down, I can get through it.
I’m glad the link helped you understand the therapeutic window. I too have found that I function much better on a high protein breakfast. Eggs work the best for me, but peanut butter is a quick and easy choice. If I eat carbohydrates, I am tired within an hour or two, and hungry too. I’ve always been that way though; needing high protein in the morning, regardless if I’m on an ADD medicine or not.
A routine and having a “launching station” helps me get out the door on time. What I mean by a “launching station” is we have a place for our keys by the calendar and some small shelves under the key rack. These shelves are used to place things like sunglasses, cell phones,and other items that I/we may need when leaving the house. The only way this system works is if you put your keys and other stuff away as soon as you get home! That’s the biggest challenge for me! It’s funny how something so simple can be hard. I still have a difficult time getting anywhere on time. It’s a constant struggle for me. I always think I have just a few more minutes to squeeze something in like laundry or an email. That’s what really gets me in trouble!!! I have my good days and bad. So far, more good days recently than bad.
Have a great week!
Amy
For the past month I have been taking 30mg of Vyvanse. I have noticed I am only getting about 5 hours out of it. Once it wears off my day is gone as I feel so tired and lathargic. I have no energy or motivation to even walk the dog much less go to the gym or mow the grass. I just got back from my Dr. and he wants me to take 2 30mg pills at once I guess to see how long I get out of 60mg. I need something that gives me at least 10 good hours. Is there such a thing? are there combinations that have worked for others that give 10 hours? we discussed adding Aderall….
Ginger – Vyvanse is often thought to be the most likely to last longer. Hopefully by increasing the dose, the medicine will last longer…
HELLO MY NAME IS AUDREY IM A MOTHER OF THREE. MY MIDDLLE CHILD IS SEVEN AND HAS BEEN DIGANOSED WITH ADHD. WE HAVE BEEN TAKEING VYVANSE SINCE THE NEW YEAR OF 2008. I CAN SAY IT WORKS GREAT WWE STARTED OF ON 30MG AND IT STARTED WEARING OF ABOUT LUNCH TIME AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO WE UPPED IT TO 40MG WE HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR TWO YEARS ALL READY BUT JUST GOT UP TO 50MG. MY SON HAS DONE SO GOOD IN SCHOOL WITH HIM BEING ON THIS PILL. THE ONLY SIDE AFFECCTS WE HAVE FACE IS HE WONT WANT TO EAT ANYTHNG N IS ALWAYS LICKING HIS LIPS. ALL I CAN SAY IS I WOULD RECOMMNED THIS TO ANY PARENT AND WOULD USE THIS AGAIN IF I HAVE TO
I am 15 years old and i have just stared using Vyvance, and i have been resaeching this medication latly cause i’m worried that it has illigal drugs like Adderoll and i know that it has Speed in it, and i just want to know does Vyvance contain Meth???
Amber – when Vyvanse is taken as prescribed, it is safe, and it is not addictive. It does not have meth in it.
Amy,
Thanks for responding! I will work on the “Launch Station”, makes sense. Met with my doc last night and told him I am having great response to the Vyvanse since I started eating the Protein breakfast. I explained to him that there is a lot of info about the Protein being very important when using these ADD meds, he was dumbfounded, said he didn’t know much about that.
Anyway, we’re considering bumping my dose to 50 mgs,but sticking with the 30 for another 4 weeks. I tried (2) 30′s after my 8th day on the med and it was way too much for me, jitters and neck/shoulders all stressed out. I am hopeful that 50 will be just right. Thanks again for sharing. Peace!
Poster Child,
Glad the information work. Interesting that the doctor was surprised by the protein bit. I know doctors have so much on their plate these days. I really don’t see how they keep up with it all and constant changes.
Let me know how the 50 mgs go if you go that route. I am still on the 50 and it seems to be working OK. We are considering trying a small break this summer (I don’t work in the summers) to see how I respond.
Peace too!
Hi guys,
My son had been on Vyvanse probably almost a year, and his Vyvanse 70mg seemed to be wearing off around 2:00pm. I switched him to a new psychaitrist, because we weren’t getting anywhere with the old one. The new lady increased his Vyvanse to 70mg twice daily–he is thirteen years old and barely 100 lbs (his father and I are petite). He is also on Celexa and Risperdal…it’s been about a week, and he’s been doing well, but today he complained of twitchy feelings in his extremities. I’m going to call the doctor in the morning, but I’m worried that this dose has really exceeded the recommendations. The pharmacist at first refused to fill it, until she could talk to the doctor.
Is this dosage unheard of, or just a little unusual?
Rose,
The recommended maximum of vyvanse is 70 mg. As a Canadian doctor, I have had less time to use this medicine, and I don’t have familiarity with high doses. I’ll leave that for you to talk to your doctor about.
Hi~
I was finally diagnosed with ADHD, what a relief! Being as i’m over 30! Anyway, I started on Vyvanse 30 mg. capsules. And this will probably sound so impatient, which I am. However, I started them today and didn’t feel much. Maybe something, but after reading a lot of these posts, I should have had a faster result. And after years of talking about this, i’m finally here! Relief is in site and I’m anxious I guess. Anyway, my DR. said we would play with the dose, but how long should I give it before I call in!
Thank-you for anything you can tell me!!
Heidi
Dr. Handelman,
I am curious if there is any information that indicates problems associated with taking Vyvanse and Ulcerative Colitis acting up. I have been using Vyvanse for 7 weeks and all of a sudeen I am having a Flare-up. Prior to starting Vyvanse I was doing great. This could just be coincidence. Just checking on this, couldn’t find anything on the web. Thank you!!!!
Hi ‘Poster Child’,
I am not aware of any link between vyvanse and UC. I would ask your doctor to check with Shire, the maker of Vyvanse. My experience in the past when I ask about a potential link to a relatively rare medical issue is the company often comes back with a report saying ‘in post marketing data, this is an extremely rare event’ – or something that is not that helpful.
However, if there is a link, this may show it.
Good luck
Dr. Kenny
Dr Kenny,
I am the unofficial spokesperson for Vyvanse. I love this medication. It has truely changed my life. I am 26 years old and had been on ADD medication since I was 8. Unfortunately, all that helped me in the past was Adderall and that had HORRIBLE side effects. I can say that Vyvanse is perfect for Adults suffering from ADD/ ADHD. I take 1 70mg pill at 7:30 am and my energy is consistent through out the day. My moods have settled and I have a cheerful demeanor all the time now. So if anyone is considering Vyvanse, you should give it a try. My experience has been one billion times better with this drug than with Adderall.
@Amy, I had a similar experience when I didn’t have protein in the morning. Another quick way to have breakfast is a soy protein shake made with fruit and yogurt. It will make the day amazing.
peace and love
Hi Dr. Kenny Handelman,
I swtiched from 36 mg of Concerta to 40 mg of Vyvanse last week. at first I was sleepy and kind of out of it, but it helped my level of hyperactivity and focus and it also helped my bulimia (I have recently had a relapse of bulimia after a few years without). However I’ve felt twinges in my chest and I haven’t been able to breathe deeply for a few days. I’ve also been so jittery one day I even took a valium to calm down. Yesterday I was really scared and had a relapse of my bulimia. I called 911 and they told me my heartrate was high so I went to the ER. My EKG was normal and I was told it was probably the medication. (I also take levothyroxine for low thyroid function, and they said that might be the problem.) I was told to take half a pill today instead of the whole thing before going off it entirely. I took half the capsule today and I feel the same, jittery and more hyper than I’ve ever been in my whole life (and I’m type 2 predominantly hyperactive type ADHD).
I never experienced this with concerta. I’m going back to my doctor this week to discuss it, but do you have any suggestions? Is this common?
June – this can be a side effect and it is really best to review it with your doctor as soon as you can.
My son has been on Vyvanse now for approx. 4 months. We noted an improvement in the beginning but over the last 6 weeks that has disappeared. He was started at 80 mg per day and we have just recently gradually increased until we are now at 120 mg per day. I have read comments where 70 mg is the maximum daily dosage. Please clarify as his doctor has instructed us to go much high than 70 mg as you can see above.
Angry son – Vyvanse’s recommended max is 70 mg in the US and 60 mg in Canada (Health Canada interpreted the data differently than the FDA did in the US). That said, doctors can go higher than recommended doses if needed – as long as it is deemed safe for your son – by the doctor.
I have recently taken 80mg of vyvanse so I could concentrate on my test and do better at studying. I need to know if 80mg is to much. I’m 5’8 130 pounds.
Hi everyone this site has been very helpful to me so far. I have struggled with ADHD all my life but recently started taking meds for it. I started out on 20mg adderallxr it wasnt lasting and it was very up and down. 10 mg was added at noon and it helped but i would still start feeling zombie like around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. My doc changed meds to ritlin 10mg two times a day, it had me so messed up i felt like my nose was going to bleed and my head felt real heavy. He recently put me on vyvanse 30MG in the morning and it has been pretty good so far i have only taken it 2 days. I did notice that around 2pm it was like i crashed. Should i ask the doc to up it or is that pretty normal? i dont really want him to change it because i feel really good on it and not many side effects. Some of you were talking about the high protien, does that really work?
i am a long term aids person and have trouble having energy. Doctor did give me provigil but was pricy at $10.00 a pill was wondering if vyvance or atteral might work better.
Bobby – I don’t know if adderall or vyvanse could be used in that way – but it may be helpful. You can ask your doctor…
My son recently started on Vyvanse 20mg and has been bothered by chronic dry mouth and a yellow tongue. No matter how much water he drinks, he’s still dry and yellow.
Thoughts?
““““`My 10 year old grandson recently started on VyVanse–first 30mg then 40mg, 50mg and now 60 mg. He talks non-stop–he moves non-stop and thinks he do anything he chooses to do, never mind what adults say.
He started using profanity at school and got suspended and has now been accused of stealing.
Something tells me this not the med for my grandson and it’s a shame because he said he felt so much better on it than Adderal XR
Bobby,
I have ADD, Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. I have been on provigil and adderall. Some doctors do prescribe amphemtamines for Chronic Fatigue although its sometimes hard to find the right one. I think the Adderall does help better than the Provigil with the fatigue. I know there was a Doctor in Northern Ohio that specializes in the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue and this is part of his plan. The only thing is that these medications work different on each patient. People who are hyperactive stimulants such as Adderall calm them down whereas people who arent brings them up. It is most definitely worth checking into. Many doctors are so worried about the DEA that they wont do hardly anything but then there are others that will try anything to help their patient. Good luck and hope this helps.
I have five years of sobriety and don’t want to jeopardize it by taking this drug. Dr. Handelman, do you have any experience working with recovering addicts? I am not a fan of uppers, I was rather addicted to opiates from chronic pain. My doctor started me on 20mg. I can study but also feel kinda jittery, and I notice my pain level has decreased. Do you know why this is? Do you know the long term effects of Vyvanse?
Recovering – Vyvanse can be taken if you are a ‘recovering addict’. That said – you will need to monitor how you feel with it with your doctor.
If your pain has decreased -that’s great! I don’t know of data to show that vyvanse helps to decrease pain.
The jittery-ness will hopefully settle.
I recently was prescribed Vyvanse and didnt like it. After consulting with my wife and doctor, we upped the dosage a few times. I am now taking the 50′s and life has never been better. The anxiety even went away substantially. I do suffer from the dry mouth and bad taste in my mouth, but I carry mints with me now to offset that.
I am curious if I should try to go to a higher dosage and see if I get better results or how do I know my limit to what amount is best for me?
Hi all,
I am 28 Year old female who was diagnosed 4 years ago after being misdiagnosed for 15+ years with Anxiety Disorder. It turned out that my anxiety was caused by my mind always being all over the place, and not being able to focus. I was prescribed 15 mg Adderall XR and it was like putting on glasses for the first time and being able to see. My anxiety greatly decreased and for the first time ever I was able to live up to my potential. My apartment was also clean, and my checkbook balanced, etc…
After being off all ADD meds for a year because of losing my health insurance I’ve found online that Shire offers a patient assistance program with Vyvanse and will pay for my prescription for a year based on my income being under a certain amount. So I did a little research on it and decided to try it. (www.vyvanse.com has more info on this program)
Today is my first day on Vyvanse 20mg which I think, based on the equivalency chart above, is less than 10 mg Adderall xr. I think this is way too low. It has been exactly 2 hours and although I feel very clear headed, and the mindless chatter of my mind is gone I also don’t feel like I am concentrating very well, or have the motivation I used to get with Adderall. I can concentrate well on something for a few minutes but that is all. I also felt dizzy, and lightheaded at first, and sleepy for the first hour and a half.
Basically now I just feel a little more clear, and mildly motivated. But it keeps going up and down, and I’m only concentrating for a few minutes.
My questions are:
Did anyone else start out on the lowest dose, 20mg?
How long does it take to balance out, until you can up your dose (with dr’s permission)?
What do you think 20mg Vyvanse is equivalent to in Adderall XR?
Does food hinder the absorption? I ate breakfast before my pill this morning.
I’m just confused b/c I was so excited to get back on track with the hurricane mess my ADHD has left me for the past year, and this is not anything like the first time I took Adderall XR. I want Vyvanse to work b/c I can’t afford the Adderall XR and they only offer assistance with Vyvanse – go figure.
One more thing!!
I have no dry mouth, no clenching, and I am a little hungry and could definitely eat. I know these side effects are usually the norm with ADHD stimulants and I was expecting them. With Adderall they all went away as my body became adjusted to the medication, but the fact that I am not experiencing them AT ALL with my first dose of Vyvanse makes me think this dosage is way too low. That and the above post I just wrote about how my concentration is only mildly affected.
Sue,
Hi! I am a 37 year old mom who has a diagnosis of ADD. I’ve dealt with this my entire life, but was not diagnosed until 8 years ago. I experienced the benefits of medicine within the last 8 years and it amazes me how much the RIGHT medicine can help us ADD/ADHDer’s. It sounds like your grandson needs to go back on Adderal XR if his physician approves it. I would speak with his physician ASAP and tell him/her exactly what you said on the blog. Better to get this under control during the summer so he can have a better school year in the fall. I am assuming that he is off from school this summer. Maybe he could try Adderal XR during the summer to see if that works for him the best. On a side note, I have taken a month’s break from Vyvanse and notice that I need to get back on it ASAP!
I am off from work during the summers, but now know that daily medication along with life skills definitely improves my life, husband, kids, etc.
Take Care,
Amy
@ADHDGirl28
You may want to consult your doctor about this. I had the same issues and we upped it a few times. Now Im on the 60′s, and I feel normal. I do get the cotton mouth and bad taste in my mouth, but I deal with it. To me its an easy thing to deal with if thats what it takes to feel normal again.
Hyrum – Thanks! I am going to speak with my dr tomorrow, since today is still a “holiday.”
I’m on day 3 (I skipped yesterday) and for the first time today the medicine made me a little shaky and feeling sped up right at the 1 hour mark but then quickly settled into normalcy. I do feel a little more focused than I did the first day, but still have a lot of absentmindedness and I still don’t feel the motivation I had with Adderall.
I am going to try this out for the month, hopefully up my dosage tomorrow, but if I can’t get the same benefits I got from Adderall I’m going to have to find a way to switch and pay for it.
My son was recently put on 20mg of Vyvanse (He is 8 years old, and thin at around 60lbs) and it seems to be doing well. The main concern I have is his lack of appetite and the fact that he says it makes him feel “dizzy”. His dad was so worried about him not eating that he threatened to take him off of it. So, I made a compromise with dad: we have started opening the capsules and putting half of the medicine either in a drink, or on his food. We both agree that this seems to be working great. He doesn’t seem to be hyped up or lacking focus, plus he is eating.
My question is, is this OK from a medical standpoint? I’m assuming that he’s getting 10-15mg each time, if we measure it correctly.
Leigh – that makes sense to me – best to talk to the doctor about it.
My daughter was seeing a psychiatrist and diagnosed with ADHD in highschool. She was put on 30 mg of vyvanse at the time and it seemed to work. Then she went away to college and did not take medication. A year later, she is returning to college and has asked our family dr to put her back on the vyvanse. The dr is putting her back on 40 mg. My question is about dosage. My daughter went from 200 lb to 250 lbs. Is dosage based on weight. If so, when i read about the other dosages people are on, 40 mg does not seem enough for someone of 250 lbs. What do you think. she has not started the medication yet. Waiting till september when she returns to college. Where can i find recommended dosages.
BF – dosing is not generally weight based. Generally doctors will start low and then bring the dose up based on response and side effects. So, finding the right dose will be a process with the doctor. Your daughter may consider starting the medicine in the summer to adjust the dosage before school starts.
Dr. Handelman,
I was taking 60 mg of Adderall XR. In May my doctor swtiched me to Vyvanse, 120mg. I thought this seemed awfully high so asked her if that was the right dosage. She contacted a fellow physician who works with children w/ ADHD and found that she had calculated the dosage incorrectly and reduced mine to 80 mg. While 80 mg makes a difference, my time on the 120mg made it clear that was a better dosage for me. I’ve asked her to reconsider increasing me to 120mg but she’s holding firm. I’m wondering if she’s hesitant to do so given my background of alcoholism (I have been in recovery for 5 years). Blood pressure has averaged 122/64 so I know that’s not a concern. In addition to your website and articles, are there other sites I can use as references?
Carol – I’m sorry, I don’t have any references for you on using high dose Vyvanse for you to take to your doctor.
I just started taking vivance 30 ml capsules. This is my second day. I am just dizzy and have no appatite at all. I was really wondering how long this will last. Or do I need to bump down to 20 ml capsules.
Please help
Hello, im 15 and im taking vyvanse 30 mg, and i have been using it for a while, at the beginning of the i worked great, i focused better my grades got higher and everything was fine.
But lately i havent felt as focused as i used too, i dont know if it was a placebo effect, sense the focused effect lasted for a long time.
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the really informative site! I do have a question, though. Up until a few weeks ago, I had been taking 10 mg of Dexedrine ER twice a day. I want to switch to Vyvanse because it’s only one pill a day, would probably have fewer “peaks and valleys,” and my new insurance company is fussy about covering Dexedrine. What would be the Vyvanse equivalent of this? I know that Dexedrine is stronger than Adderall. I will of course ask my new doctor about this when I see her, but it would be helpful to have something to go on, in case she’s entirely clueless about ADHD meds.
Also, what are Vyvanse’s effects on blood pressure relative to Dexedrine? It gave me moderately high blood pressure, though I was able to keep it down with lifestyle changes.
Thanks!
My friend pretty recently was diagnosed with ADD at age of 24 in December/January. He was started on Concerta 36 in the beginning, and quickly went up to 90, then 108mg. He stayed at 108 for a few months. Now his doctor has him on Vyvanse… I haven’t done a ton of research, but he’s on 150mg Vyvanse daily now… is this normal?
From what I have read, it seems like 150mg is a lot.
I’m concerned, because we were very close friends and roomates when he was diagnosed, and we’ve moved out since then, and I don’t see him very much any more, so I’m trying to figure out whether I need to be concerned….
He has lost weight since starting on meds; there are changes to his personality, but I don’t know whether those are attributed to the meds also….
I started on 30 mg of Vyvanse and went off it after a week or two because it seemed to make me anxious. I’ve taking 5 mg of Adderall 3 times per day, and that helped, but lately it doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything anymore.
I decided to give the Vyvanse another try and I think I’m doing better with the anxiety, but both times I’ve tried Vyvanse I had the crash around 2pm that others have mentioned. I can’t get by without a nap on the days I take it.
I assumed this meant it was no longer working after 2pm, but if that’s so, it’s only giving me around 6 hours. Can that be right?
I have also been on Vyvanse 20mg for about 2 weeks now. I really think it helps me a lot, although it does seem to cause a strange sensation in my chest..like the need to breathe in more heavily (does that sound strange?). Anyway, I like the Vyvanse a lot, but as several have mentioned, it does not seem to be an 8-hour med–more like 4-5 in my case. I usually end up taking a 2nd dose around lunchtime in order to get me through the day. I just wonder if this is the intent of the drug, or is it supposed to last longer?
My son has also been taking 20mg of Vyvanse (but has developed some very pronounced eye-twitching). Doctor changed him to Adderal 10mg 2 times a day to see if a lower, but more prolonged dosage might help with that. So far I have not seen any difference, but I have DEFINITELY seen a difference in his school performance. Beforehand, I could not for the life of me understand how I could point to something on his homework, and within 2 seconds he had NO IDEA what I’d just said or pointed out–homework (and I’m sure classwork) was torture for us both! He is doing MUCH better with the Vyvanse, and seems to enjoy school more than before! I talked to his 2nd grade teacher, counselor, math/reading tutor, and the principal and they all agreed that they had seen great gains in him in just the 2 months he had been on the medicine. =)
My son is almost 10 and we just put him back on Vyvanse after summer vacation. He was on Vyvanse (30 mg) in the spring with great results, no side effects (besides not being hungry at lunch). We put him on Strattera over the summer to see if he would eat more and to take him off stimulants for a while. School started and he was not doing well with Strattera so we put him back on Vyvanse (30 mg). He did well in school but could not go to sleep until 3:00 am. This happened twice and then we went to the doctor. He prescribed melatonin and an antihistamine to help him sleep.
Why would Vyvanse affect his sleep now when it wasn’t an issue 3 months ago? Will we gradually be able to take him off the antihistamine so he won’t have so many drugs in his system all of the time? Can we take weekend “holidays” from the drugs or will that make things worse in the sleep department?
Dr Kenny, where are you practicing? I tried to find you at Brampton but ended up with another doc that I was NOT pleased with. Not the down to earth manner I had with you years ago with my daughter.
See http://www.drhandelman.com for info.
I wonder what the equivalent dosage of vyvanse would be for 10 mg of Focalin….
I have had gastric bypass and am taking vyvanse 70mg once per day. It’s expensive so, I told my reg doc that I wanted to change ADD to a generic, HOWEVER, I can’t take and extended release medication bc my body will not absorb, told the nurse this approx 10 or more times, went to pk up my rx today and low and behold, she wrote me an rx for Adderall XR 10 mg!!!!
First of all 10 mg is no where the 70 I have been taking and it is for extended release?! (I wanted addrall bc it comes in generic form whereas Vyvanse does not, so, what would be the equlivient of 70 mgs of Vyvanse?) How could my doc be so ignorant? GRRRRRR!
Shawna,
We had a similar experience going from Vyvanse 20 to Adderal XR 10mg. It was almost like going from drinking whole milk to drinking skim milk. There was a very watered-down effect, and I asked to doctor to put him back on Vyvanse (only took him off of it initially because of his very noticeable eye twitching, and I didn’t want him to get made fun of at school for it). I guess if eye twitching is the worst symptom he has, we should be grateful. But I do agree that we didn’t have great results with Adderral either–but I know that everybody’s body chemistry is different.
Is Vyvanse 20mg advailable in Canada. And can a 5 year old take it for ADHD
momof2boys – yes, Vyvanse 20 mg is available in Canada. It is officially approved for 6 years old and up, but if your doctor prescribes it for your 5 year old, then he can take it.
This article is excellent and very helpful. Do you have the references for the research mentioned in the article? Either way, I know by experience that the conversion equivalents are accurate for me.
Also, it seems difficult to find ongoing support for the behavioral changes and techniques for living that are NEEDED to live a more focused life, I’m thinking something like a 12-step, once-a-week (more at first), support group that is inexpensive and local. The printed materials and web sites, for me, are not effective because I’m not interacting with a person about MY situations, and HEY, I’M ADD! I GET DISTRACTED!! I NEED PEOPLE!! Any ideas?
My doc just switched me from Concerta to Vyvanse because of palpitations. Was on 36 Concerta, he said 50 Vyvanse was equivalent. According to your logic, 50 Vyvanse will be 2x my 36 Concerta. New script filled, but now nervous about starting. How could my doc miss this by 100%, or am I missing something here?
Is it possible that 20 mgs of Vyvanse would be more effective than taking 40 mgs? I just started taking the medication and my doctor wanted me to try both dosages for a week. I noticed a difference right away with the 20 mgs, but now that I’m taking the 40 mgs I feel like I am back to where I started. Sort of focused, but still having troubling getting motivated or concentrating. Can that be right?
I had to take my son off of Vyvanse because he was getting severe neck tics. I was bummed because it was working so well. He was taking 30 mg of Vyvanse. The doctor took him off the Vyvanse and we took a medication vacation until his tics wore off. The doctor then prescribed Concerta, 18 mgs. I am not seeing any improvement in his ADHD behaviors. What is the conversion rate for Concerta/Vyvanse?
My son has been taking Vyvanse for about 3 yrs now. He was doing great on 50mg and then it just seem to stop working for him I have been increase it by 10mg and he is now up to 80mg and it still does not seem to be working. Why is this happening??
I had a rather disturbing visit with my physician last week. About six months ago he switched me from 60mg of Adderall per day (I would take 30mg in the am, and the other around lunchtime) to 30mg of Vyvanse. This was due to cost, and I could get the Vyvanse via patient assistance for free.
During this time, I have told him that I just don’t feel the same. I can’t concentrate or finish anything. My energy level is zero. When I told him I didn’t feel like the Vyvanse was doing the job, he disagreed with me. I reminded him that with my prior psychiatrist I took 70mg a day of Vyvanse, and perhaps it was dose related. With him, we did begin at 30mg/day, but gradually found that 70mg worked best.
He then told me he was concerned that I was exhibiting “drug seeking behavior”. I understand how these drugs work, and I also know that finding the right dosage is important. We never even tried that.
He said that my lack of energy meant we should add an anti-depressant to the four drugs I am currently taking. He also said that IF I did have ADD (or more accurately I believe, ADHD), then these drugs should calm down my hyperactivity. I’ve never been hyperactive, and was under the impression that not all persons with ADD suffer from hyperactivity.
At this point, I’m not sure what to do. The 30mg of Vyvanse isn’t really doing anything, in my opinion…although mixed with four other drugs, who knows? I told him since it seemed ineffective perhaps we should just drop it.
He said he didn’t want to make any changes, yet at the same time he added Effexor to the laundry list of drugs I take daily. Honestly, the Effexor seems to make me more tired and out of sorts. I’m not sure how to approach this with him at this point.
Shelly – that’s a hard situtation. If a previous doctor had you on vyvanse 70 mg, and 30 mg isn’t working right… then it seems you need the higher dose! Hopefully you can work this out with the doctor you have. If not, you may need to find another doctor!
Dr. Kenny I was wondering for an adult ADHD patient what is a good dosage of Vyvanse and how often is it increased and how many intervals. I live in Canada
Hi Deb,
For adults – Vyvanse can go up to 50 mg, or 60 mg. In the US, it is approved up to 70 mg, I believe.
Generally people start at 30 mg and increase in a week or two up to 50 mg.
I hope that helps.
my dr put me on 50mg vyvanse and i feel so jittery but sleepy. do you have any recommendations on how to get over that feeling. i also feel a little rush and then the jitters. the exact opposite of adderal which made me a sleep, calm zombie.
Wendy, whatever happened with your son’s sleep patterns while on Vyvanse? You mentioned he wasn’t falling asleep until 3am! What was the experience with Melatonin and the antihistamine? Sorry to learn of his subsequent neck tics; is this a common side effect to Vyvanse?
Thanks for responding, Dr. Kenny. I am going to have a frank conversation with my doctor next week. I’ve done my research (I have access to PubMed) on the differences between Vyvanse and Adderall…chemical composition, activity, and dosage equivalence. I have a few regarding “recommended dosage” when switching a patient from Adderall to Vyvanse, mainly done by Shire Pharmaceutical. I have papers indicating that it’s never “one size fits all” when it comes to dosing these types of drugs.
I also have a printout of my prescription history going back about two years. (It’s pretty frightening to me how many different drugs I have been prescribed in just two years). It does show that he had me on 45mg of Adderall just prior to switching. That was down from 60mg/day, which I felt was too much.
I’ve spoken with my psychologist, and will again prior to my appointment. She’s given me some good tips as to how to try and handle the situation. I have a lot of questions I need answered after my last visit. I need to ask those in a calm and reasonable manner. I suppose I will see how it goes.
I’d like to thank you for this blog. It’s an excellent source of information and allows those of us who suffer from ADD/ADHD, or who have loved ones that do, an outlet and form of support.