Vyvanse Dosage: How to Get the Right Dose
Vyvanse 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.
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
Technorati Tags: Vyvanse, Vyvanse dose, Concerta, Adderall, Adderall XR, ADHD, ADD, ADHD Medication
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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November 28th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I am a 45 year old man. After losing countless relationships due to mood changes and rage, and after much therapy, I am now taking Vynanse. This has change my life!! I thank God that my outburst of anger can be controled by anger management practices and Medication. My question is. Will I have to take Vynanse for the rest of my life. In the last year since I have started Vynansee for my ADHD, the only time I have lost control of my anger is when I was without it for 5 days. Is it just a fact of life for me that I need to acept that I need this med?
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:58 am
My 7 yr old daughter started vyvanse 30 mg yesterday 12/1/07. W/in 30 minutes of taking it she turned into almost a zombie. Her eyes were glazed over for the first 1-2 hours, she said she was dizzy and she just wanted to sleep. I tried taking her shopping and she was too messed up to walk that I had to put her in the cart, shop quick and take her home to bed. After a couple hours she started watching TV and playing a video game, so she was up, but had no pep. She had 3 20 second boughts of crying expressing frustration with the video game. She also chewed on her tongue for about 9 hrs. I asked if something was twitching and her answer was basically that was was “doing it on purpose”, but couldn’t stop. She had never done that before. It was what I would consider to be a tic. When she got up this morning, that was gone. . She wouldn’t eat and she couldn’t fall asleep til after midnight. I knew there were going to be side effects, but she seems to have gotten all of them. The dr said there would be an adjustment period of about a week. I wasn’t sure which of these side effects would be for the first week versus which normally go on and on. I did give her her pill for today just about 15 minutes or so ago and will be checking on her shortly. Please comment.
December 4th, 2007 at 1:04 am
Hi Kim,
Thank you for sharing your experience.
All I can say is this: You need to talk to your child’s doctor to ask if you should be continuing and what to do about it.
I can’t really say more - for two reasons:
1) as a Canadian doctor, I can’t prescribe Vyvanse yet - so I don’t have personal experience.
and
2) I can’t make treatment suggestions on a blog! You need to talk to a doctor about these concerns.
All the best (and please come back and let us know how it goes, if you’d be willing)
Dr. Kenny
December 4th, 2007 at 1:06 am
Dave A,
Yes, some people need to take medicine for the long term. I am reluctant to say ‘for the rest of your life…’ because that’s a long time!
Talk to your doctor about this question and see what he/she says.
Dr. Kenny
January 6th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Dr. Kenny,
The Vyvanse is really helping. The 30mg dosage had to be adjusted to 50mg. I do seem to need alot of cognitive therapy, which I can’t find the time to get. I think 70mg may be my Dr’s next advice, we’ll see on next apppointment.
The Dr. saved my life using by diagnosing the ADHD. I was at the end of my rope, and today am improved enough at least to seek more answers, and more help. Self-esteem issues and having a fuller life still somewhat out of reach at this moment, but again, this doctor has given me much hope. JH
January 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Dr. Kenny,
Hi. I was diagnosed with ADD 7 years ago, I am 34 yrs old. I’ve taken Adderall XR 30 mg in the past with much success, but was switched to Concerta 56 mg a few years ago because of all the hype about Adderall being addictive. A good friend of mine thought I was acting different on the 56 mg, but my husband didn’t see anything strange. After her comments, I thought I was acting strangly too, so I told my physician & he switched me to Concerta 27 mg. The power of suggestion!!! I took Concerta for 2 years. It only helped a little, but I never said anything because I didn’t know what else they could do for me and is was helping just a bit. I took over a month break in December 2007 from Concerta and my ADD symptoms came back, full blown within a month and a half. My physician just prescribed me Vyvance 30 mg and I started it on Tues, Jan 15th. It is working great, but wears off between noon and 2 pm. I spoke with my physician’s nurse on Thursday to share my results on the Vyvance 30 mg. She said that I would need to wait until my current prescription for Vyvanse 30 mg is finished before they can increase it. Is this because it is a controlled substance and there are certain restrictions on how much ADD stimulant drugs they can prescribe within a month?
Thanks.
P.S. I made a post last night under the name of “L-” to tell my story. I was too embarassed to use my real name because I was parinoid of “people” I work with and others finding out my story. I really don’t care anymore if they were to find out. Am I crazy??? Thanks again for all of your information.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Hi I am 15 years old but i am the size of a grwon man. I am now as of today on 100 mg of this medication and I would say it works. W\Switching over form Concerta to this medication made me feel very high and stone and light headed. But now it is worth it because i am starting to like it.
July 27th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I TAKE 100 MG OF VYVANCE AT 170 LBS.
IS THIS DOSE EXCESSIVE?
August 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Vyvanse Dosage: How to Get the Right Dose | ADD ADHD Blog.com…
Vyvanse 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….
August 14th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Vyvanse Dosage: How to Get the Right Dose…
Vyvanse 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….
August 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Vyvanse Dosage: How to Get the Right Dose…
Vyvanse 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….
August 25th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
100mg isn’t really excessive. 100mg of Vyvanse is like 50mg of Adderall XR which is not uncommon at all. Vyvanse (and most other adhd meds) don’t seem to matter much on the age and weight of the patient. Doctors used to think it mattered but there can be a grown man at 300 pounds taking 30 Vyvanse and a 16 year old 110 pound kid on 100mg. It varries from patient to patient.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
i am 49 and started on 30 mg and weigh about 125 lbs. It worked great at first but could not sleep (woke at 3:30) and finally got so tired of not sleeping stopped and restarted and it just does not seem to do much except I still am waking at 3:30. My son is on 30 as well, should I be taking more or would this make the sleep matter worse?
October 30th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I was on 30 mg and the sleep thing went away, in fact I slept great, but then the effect started to wear off, I was upped to 50 mgs and the sleep was only disturbed on night 1. now effects (focus better) seems to have worn off again. I cannot find sites which recommend what dosages I should be on based on weight. I do not have the hyper thing going - just total disorganization and focus (switching around from thing to thing). Both are greatly helped at first. Can anyone (Doc?) answer or point me to a site with guidelines. My doc seems clueless and i start a new job next week and have to go for a refill or up in mgs tomorrow which was, but do not want to suggest an increase if it will make me zoomy…. ANY thoughts would be appreciated!!
November 19th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I was experiencing a new life after taking Vyvanse. I took 30mg for about a week and then the doctor bumped it up to 60 mg for 1 1/2 weeks. When I asked her to please let me go up to 70 mg - she told me this was the wrong drug for me. I am devastated. I have read about people who needed even higher doses for the best results. I have lived for 54 years with ADHD and I have had 2 1/2 weeks of really feeling that I belonged in my skin.
Do patients have any rights?