Vyvanse: No Addiction with ADD/ADHD Medication
ByAlthough many people worry about ADD/ADHD medication leading to addiction in children and teens who take it – there is solid research now that shows that when children and teens take ADD/ADHD medication as prescribed, there is a significant reduction in the long term risk of drug and alcohol problems (it is reduced by almost 75%).
However, there are still people who abuse ADD/ADHD medications. In the Toronto area, regular ritalin pills (i.e. 10 mg tablets) can be bought on the street for approximately $5. Why? Because people will crush them and snort them to get high.
The newer and long acting ADD/ADHD medications – including Concerta, Adderall XR, Biphentin, Metadate CD, Ritalin LA, Focalin XR – are much harder to abuse because of their long acting nature. However, in theory, a creative drug abuser could figure out a way to extract the active ingredient and get high, by snorting it or injecting it.
What’s the difference with Vyvanse?
Because Vyvanse is a ‘pro-drug’, it cannot be abused.
A pro-drug means that the active medicine is bound to a protein, so it doesn’t work as an amphetamine when it is first taken. It only starts to work after it is swallowed and goes through the liver (the first step a medicine takes when leaving the stomach). When it goes through the liver, the liver cuts off the protein, and then it becomes an active medicine.
If Vyvanse is taken any other way – snorted, injected, or any other way in an attempt to get high, it will just be inert – i.e. it won’t work at all.
The only way Vyvanse is active – is if it is swallowed and then passes through the liver.
Vyvanse is the first stimulant medicine made available with zero potential for abuse.
When it comes to the other medications with low abuse potential – these include the long acting stimulants – including: Concerta, Adderall XR, Biphentin, Metadate CD, Ritalin LA, Focalin XR, etc.
When it comes to the only other medication with zero potential for abuse, that is the non-stimulant for ADD/ADHD, Strattera. This is also a good option, however if someone needs a stimulant medicine with no potential for abuse, Vyvanse is the medication to choose.
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vyvanse
I am 26 and was just prescribed vyvanse. I have mixed feelings on taking a daily medication like this, but my dr. suggested I try it for a month. My main questions and concerns are regarding the length of time one should take this drug and the possible withdraw symptoms.
I took my first 30mg pill today and definitely felt a huge difference as far as focus, productivity, etc. I really liked the way I felt today, I am just scared of not being able to function if I don’t take it.
Should I go with out on weekends? more than that? Are there any other ways to help prevent withdraw/increasing my dosage? How long should I take vyvanse?
Concerned Student
It IS still possible for this drug to be abused by using a bit more creativity than it takes for the XR’s to be abused(which really is so easy to break that I wouldn’t even consider that being creative). This just adds one different form of abuse protection that might be slightly harder to break than XR’s but none the less IT IS STILL ABUSABLE!!! The author of this article needs to do his research… EXTRACT data a bit more from more sources
hint hint
I was on Vyvanse 30mg for 6 weeks. I stopped immediately when I found out I was pregnant (my psy told me to do this ahead of time). I have been extremely depressed, with severe mood swings, fatigue and suicidal thoughts. This started about 3 days after dtopping the medication. I am diagnosed Bi-Polar and have been on Lamictal 100mg for about 18 months. When I told the doctor that we needed to do something, because I am a complete mess, she gave me Strattera (I took the first pill this morning). After a few searches, I am starting to think this is related to the withdrawal from Vyvanse. I have had withdrawals from other medications (mostly anti-depressants) when the doctors told me that it wouldn’t be a problem. So I have two questions here:
1. Is it possible that what I am experiencing is related to withdrawal from the Vyvanse?
2. Is Strattera any better for the baby? I haven’t been able to find any real data related to Strattera and pregnancy. Meanwhile, while there are issues with amphetamines use during pregnancy, every single case I have found of birth defects and health problems has been related to abuse. I’m afriad of taking the Strattera when I have no idea what the effects on the baby may be.
I have begged the OB office to see me and so far they have refused. They insist that I wait until my ultra-sound in 3 weeks. Meanwhile, I am not at all convinced that my psychiatrist has any first hand knowledge with ADHD meds and pregnancies or any experience with pregnancies (other than her own) at all.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m feeling pretty lost right now.
Lucy – the best resource I know for up to date info on medicines in pregnancy is The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto’s Mother risk program: http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp Try to access their service to get answers re: strattera and stimulants.
Regarding ‘withdrawal’ from Vyvanse – very hard to say – you could be feeling this way from hormones etc.
i know your post is pretty old but 1)if you are bi-polar you should not be on any add or adhd medication. it will just make the bi-polar tendencies worse & 2)if you are pregnant, you shouldn’t take anything really. everyone is a complete mess when pregnant & 3)i take vyvanse and my experience has been: the only effect it has is calming me down which my whole family and my husband love, i have no side effects, no withdrawals and no stomach issues. i take 60mg per day and only notice a drastic decrease in my anxiety. I have tried adderrall and 70mg of vyvanse and both make me sick and give me headaches and make me sleepy. So I would say, refuse any stimulant medication. Bi-polar people need to calm down not be stimulated. Also, birth control can cause bi-polar symptoms if you are sensitive to estrogen. Sorry but it sounds to me like you just take too much medicine for problems that are probably not correctly diagnosed, which I have experienced both not pregnant and pregnant. Vyvanse is not going to help depression. It will help anxiety, OCD & inattentiveness. I say, you need to deal with addiction issues before trying any other medicine.
My 7 yr old son was diagnosed with ADHD (mostly hyperactive impulsive type) with Opposition (ODD) about 7 months ago. He started on Biphentine and was quite successful in terms of managing his hyperactivity & ODD. Biphentine worked well, but though mosts dr.’s believe it is a long lasting one, it only lasts really well for about 7 hours…(he seemed to plateau in the afternoon. The specialist decided to change to Strattera this summer. Ok- horrible! After 2 weeks his behavior was unmanagable to the point that biphentine had to be re-added into the mix. We are currently reducing strattera to get him off and get him just on the Biphentine and than make a switch to Vyvanse. Any thoughts? I am a first time blogger here and reading everyone’s blogs…is comforting knowing I am not alone. Thank you:)
i would not give my child this medicine. Unlike they say, it is highly addictive. Snorters are starting to abuse it straight from the bottle. They tell me they love it more then adderal or ritalin. This is what i’ve seen myself out on the streets.
I have had ADD my entire life. My Dad has it as well. When I was younger my parents focused on keeping me entertained. I had many after school activities, tons of books to read, started waterskiing lessons at 5 years old and was encouraged to attempt anything I wanted even if I didn’t finish it. At 25 my ADD finally affected my life. I got married, had a baby and went back to school for pre-med. I now take Vyvanse 70mg per day (as stated above) and have experienced tremendous results. Unless your kid is violent and completely out of control, I would say avoid drugs as long as you could and find other ways to entertain him. If he’s completely unmanageable,as in violent and/or failing in school, intuniv is a great option. But beware, he’ll probably try to start selling any meds at some point. So I would literally administer his usage until he is done with college. Just my thoughts…
Hi
I have sort of known that I had ADHD since I was young, teachers sorta knew, parents were in denial, didn’t want me labeled, didn’t want to put me on ritalin.
After high school, I decided to take aromatherapy to see if I could “cure myself” – sort of works, but not enough – more supplemental.
So now that I am an adult and its been affecting most areas of my life, especially school, uni, and social, I decided to get properly checked and yes surprise I do, so I have been asked to take Vyvanse, and for the first time ever yesterday, I could concentrate, and my mind was not running everywhere, and I talked with people normally, and didn’t feel guilty or anxious for nothing, and didn’t pull my hair out.
However, in the evening, when I suppose I was “coming down” though mind wise I was fine, I had heart palpitations, vomiting, diarreah, and migranes which I never get.
Just wondering does anyone know if these symptoms go away after a while, or even get better? Or even any tips on dealing with these symptoms would be fantastic, ie what is better to eat and drink at what time of day, or anything else.
Thanks so much.
Sophia
sorry for the long post.
Hi,Sophia
I also have adhd and i was started on concerta and it made me very sick(lost 25 pounds in one month) So they put me on vyvanse and i have the same symptoms ive been on the medicine for almost 2 years and i still get stomach ache migraine(extremly bad) and i wasnt able to sleep they lowered my dosage 30mg and it hasnt helped much and also my mind still races 24/7.It depends on how your body reacts to it,itsounds like your body is having the same issues with vyvanse as mine is.
So I have just read all of the postings, and I am disappointed that so many people do not understand that add/adhd meds can ONLY be abused by those that want to abuse them. If you actually NEED the medication, it can change your life for the better. If you don’t need it, of course you get high, your body is already chemically balanced without the drug, whereas people who need have a chemical IMbalance that is helped by taking vyvanse or other medications used to treat adhd. My son and I both use this product, and our lives have improved 100% from just being able to focus, be productive, and have normal mood levels. I say that any of you who know how to ABUSE this drug are on the wrong type of medication or you have been severely misdiagnosed.
I agree. I feel absolutely no kind of high from vyvanse or adderall. I feel less anxiety and according to family I focus more and can actually finish a load of laundry. If you are getting high on this or feel that you “need” it, you are addicted and need to stop.
Not addictive? I was prescribed a 70 mg dose of vyvanse. And it makes me feel like I’m on speed. The comedown feels like the world is coming to an end and now if I skip a dose I feel like a junkie with no fix. Vyvanse is highly addictive and I don’t even have the same personality anymore.
My wife has been prescribed this medication, now she can go without it. she used to sell it for $15 a pill to the junkies untill she tried it herself.It is very addictive from what i’ve seen.
that is bull im so effin mad after readin this a 26 yr only having to take 30 mg while here i am a 15yr 5’11 150pounds and i have to take 70 mg i effin hate it so much but i have to take it i cant eat or sleep until 3 in the morn nd i have to wake up at 6 to get ready for school then start the cycle over again i effin hate my life
Betsy- that’s not true at all. I actually have ADHD and I have had these withdrawal symptoms and had dependency on it.
The bottom line is. If you dont abuse it, it wont abuse you. Take Care and God Bless!!!
Having a my 7 yr old on meds was not an easy thing to swallow…However, his behaviour has improved 50% and as a family we are different.
Being a teacher I also see both sides. For your body to properly adjust, increments need to be very slow. If a large dosage is given from the get go, than you will experience many side effects.
My son for the most part has maintained his weight, and has grown. His sleep to be honest is affected marginally…goes to bed about 45 min later. If the dosage is incorrect, you can have the following symptoms (insomnia, over exhaustion, lethargic, weight loss…). My son isn’t being followed by a pediatrician…he is being followed by the head chief ADHD specialist (children’s hospital where we live).
Once a correct dosage is found…things can get better. It isn’t a quick fix. We don’t just medicate him and assume all will go well. He has done play therapy…to social skills. It is a work in progress. But it has taken a good amount of time to get where we are.
Bottom line…it works for some ppl but not all…
Best of luck!
Look, Some say it has no side effects.. I am one that is a strong willed, Goal oriented, very positive loving person… I was diagnosed with add at 19, i began taking 30′s, but i made it a point that i would NOT use this medicine as a crutch! So i would take ONLY as needed and not on the weekends… in fact i had not taken it in a few months and i was fine… I was actually increased to 40mgs before i stopped taking it. This past semester i decided to take math 100 and i actually needed this medicine… so I took 40mgs once a day 5 days a week forr about 2 months. in the middle of those 2 months i had 2 or 3 small panic attakcs, and one very big one and i thought I was having a stroke or something at the time, then i was scared and heart rate was still up and i wasn ‘t right for the next 3 days… ever since then i haven’t been myself… then ran out and my classes were over so i decided to stop taking them about 2 or 3 weeks ago… I am having THE WORST TIME OF MY LIFE… I am SO scared… I am having these weird hot flashes, I feel lost confused, dumb when i am speaking, no confidence and very depressed… unexplained tingling sensations all over in my hands chest feet legs and head, i feel tension in my neck… I am very scared, some people say im just going through withdrawls… but i hope it didnt do any permanent damage.. I can hardly function, I am very scared, and i am not the person that is ever scared of anything… Please use this medicine VERY careful if you care to take my advice… It has made my past few weeks horrible and very scary…
Reading all these posts is quite interesting. I started almost a year ago on 30 mg. I really only had three issues…sleep and the feeling when I was coming “down” off of it in the evenings and headaches(not horrible, just irritating). I adjusted the time that I took my meds so that the sleep issue went away, I started taking it earlier in the day until I found the balance that I needed. The other issue of the come down seemed to have went away on its own as my dosage increased. I’m at 50 mg and don’t plan on going up anymore. The last one with the headaches ended up being one that seems to be normal according to other blog sites…..dehydration….the side effects for it don’t list it….increased water intake, and that one is gone also. As far as taking it everyday, if I don’t have anywhere to go and nothing serious planned, I don’t take it. I haven’t noticed any withdrawals from not taking it. I haven’t not taken it for three or four days, its only been a day here and there. I have had great success with this medication and would suggest it for others. Dosage needs to be increased slowly and with time in between increases to be able to determine the proper dosage.
B.S. my little sister dosent need to take them and buys them off the street . now she has to have them every day + multiple energy drinks . with not knowing if she realy has add or adhd she is addicted big time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
to emily… for a while there i was really scared of what it did to my body… It gave me horrible anxiety and anxiety attacks and after that it made me very paranoid about that there was something constantly wrong with me, like i had a disease, I hardly even know who i was, like my sense of self worth and priority was very low… I made it a point i wouldn’t use the medicine as a crutch, just to take the edge of at the times i needed it the most but i decided to take it for over 2 months straight for my math class then i stopped cold turkey because i felt it made me sick not right. Then all of the sudden i became very depressed and confused all day long, scared, awkward, unsociable, couldn’t talk to people when i wanted to, felt stupid all of the time, couldn’t make sorts of things, couldn’t concentrate, didn’t want to do the things i like to do, i could hardly even hear myself think… I just wanted to lay down and watch tv, and sometimes i just wanted to sleep, all day… Im normally a heavy eater and workout for my powerlifting sport that i compete in, I didnt even have an apetite or want to work out… Its been around a month now and im finally just starting to feel like myself again and man does it feel great… hopefully soon i’ll be back to 100% me! ADD is a gift, you just have to DISCIPLINE yourself, but most people these days want to fix it with a pill… for some, they really do need it and that is fine… but some people would fair better without it, like myself…
Emily, Im not saying this to scare you but to make you aware, side effects are different for many people… None of that may even apply to her at all, she may be able to just stop without any problems, but there’s no sure way of knowing. But if she gets to where she doesn’t want them, make sure she weens of it till she gets to the very low dosage over at least a month i guess… I wish it upon no one to go through what i did. It was scary.
For me, this stuff works. I can concentrate, communicate, and chill better than at any point in my life. When I don’t take it, the world doesn’t come to an end; the symptoms of this condition simply come back (I have inattentive). Before this medication, having a conversation longer than two sentences was difficult for me and I had few friends. Now, I’m developing friendships and my personality, which was pretty much completely internalized, is starting to come out. I was daydreaming my entire life. I have had no side effects, and the onset and duration of this medication is smooth. I feel like I can live for the first time. Hopefully, the success of Vyvanse will continue for me, but if it doesn’t, I’ll stop.
to Mike, i can completely relate to you, I was the same way for a long time… everything internalized and daydreaming all the time… its really like living in another world… like you notice things no one else would ever see… But I had the same positive effects from the medicine as you did, plus I did better in school… but It didn’t agree with me I guess. I do wish i could take it but im afraid to now. But I hope it continues working for you and gives you no complications, I know what its like to be able to feel like you can finally live. But i did learn while i was on it, that you should drink lots of water!
Been taking vyvanse 60 mg for several years. The meds work great if taken properly. I’ve had my own issues with abusing this medication. Sometimes taking more of my dose just to get through the rest of the day. Which has the effect of not being able to sleep. Then taking my sleep med to counteract the side effects. I’m kind of in a snowball now. Sometimes being up all night and having to take more just to get through the next day. So I would say, yes this drug can be abused and addictive. Just be careful. My 8 year old nephew takes it and has actually been invited to join his gifted and talented program at school. Since he can now focus – he was held back just a year ago. He is one of the smartest kids I know, but cannot focus without the aid of this med. So my advice be careful. It can start to rule your life if you abuse it. And YES it can be abused!!
I’ve been diagonised with ADHD since i’ve been 5 years old. I’ve taken everything in the book for ADHD and nothing has helped me, only hurt me. Ever since I started taking Vyvanse I’ve lost 30lbs. ( I just started taking it a few months ago. ) Vyvanse does increase my attention span, but it also has increased my Bi-Polar disorder, I’ve gone up from 500mg of Depakote to 1000mg a day. This still doesn’t work. I’m 18 years old, 110lbs. I tried several times to quit taking this pill but the withdrawels has caused me to go to jail for disorderly conduct at school, lost communication with my mother, several broken doors, hundreds of dollars in repairs for TV’s, game controllers, and holes in walls. I’ve lost all my friends because of my anger from withdrawels from this medicine. I’m only on 30mg and it’s already ruined my life. The only upside, because of the severe nauseua, anger, and sleep loss, I’ve gotten my medical Marijuana Lisence. If I could go back in time, I would punch my psychiatrist in the face for even mentioning this medicine. It’s not worth it.
I have read the many comments above reflecting different experiences with Vyvanse. Thank goodness for those who took the time to leave a few positive comments or else someone who has never tried ADHD medications could get scared off without ever giving it a chance.
It was not mentioned above that not every medication works for every person. I think I heard in a conference on ADHD that about 84% of people have beneficial results from ADHD medication. There IS a small percentage of people who will not have any result from ADHD medications, and then there is a tiny percentage of people where an allergic or adverse reaction may be experienced from ADHD medications.
The important thing is to tell your prescriber EXACTLY what symptoms you are experiencing, and a good way to do that is by keeping a journal with as much detail as possible along with times, dates, and dosages of which medication were taken so your prescriber can determine whether there is too low or too high a dose or an allergic reaction.
Finally, because I read of such tempermental reactions to taking Vyvanse at another website, I asked a prescriber why people would experience such symptoms. I was told that most often, when agitation occurs, the dose of Vyvanse is too high. I don’t know everything about Vyvanse and your prescriber is the best person to check with for questions about your medications, hormones, and interactions. What I DO know is the internet is a great place for information, but not necessarily the most reliable resource. Check with your MD or ARNP, and if they don’t know enough about ADHD or Vyvanse, ask them to consult with someone who does.
You can also ask your pharmacist questions about medications.
Hang in there and keep hope.
Response to Robin:
You have created the perfect case for why it is vital to take the medication AS DIRECTED by your prescriber.
Of course, if you mess with your dosage, you are very likely to experience adverse symptoms.
Anything can be abused, even ice cream. Take my word, I’ve abused it! (You can’t see my waistline.)
To Sylvia:
I have heard that it is hard to notice one’s appetite while taking ADHD medications, and that may the reason for the stomach issues, heart palpitations, vomiting, and diarrhea that you described experiencing when you started Vyvanse. So it’s important, just as someone mentioned about having to remember to drink more water to prevent dehydration, (also important for your teeth and gums because excessive dryness can cause adverse results), it is equally important to eat a good meal before taking the first dose, and having small snacks or meals every few hours. I prefer protein snacks which is great for ADHD brains, but I think there are some types of ADHD/ADD which benefit from some other food groups.
To: Concerned Student:
I asked a prescriber about taking medication only on weekdays, and was told that it is best to be taken daily.
ADHD medication is taken as long as it is helping with focus and attention. It is the most highly researched medication and most doctors will agree that it is out of your system the same day. I have counseled many many clients taking Vyvanse and have never heard of withdrawal symptoms from discontinuing the medication, even from people who were recovering addicts. It’s important to know that a large number of people don’t experience withdrawals when discontinuing Vyvanse.
One of the comments above talked about adjusting the time that the dose is taken to an earlier time of day, to alleviate problems getting to sleep. I have heard that some people will set an alarm for a half hour early, have their medication and water right there by the bed, wake up to take their first dose, and then going back to sleep for a bit to let the dose get to work; all of this to avoid the excessive thinking and insomnia at bedtime. (If taking the medication before breakfast diminishes your appetite, it is better to eat before taking the medication.)
I hope this is helpful.
I’m 17 and can’t concentrate at all during school. my friend takes Vyvanse, and gave me one to take because i was getting so sick of not being able to concentrate and getting bad grades because of that. I’ve only taken it twice, but those were the best two days of my life. everything finally made sense and in only two days my grades improved greatly. I’ve brought it up with my mom that i think i might have ADHD, but she just ignores me. Is it bad if i just keep taking my friends medicine? i also have congenital heart disease and I’m not sure if it is bad to be taking Vyvanse with it?
Jess – if you have congenital heart disease – you need to absolutely stop taking your friend’s medication (without a doctor’s prescription). ADHD medications can have serious effects on the heart if there is a congential heart disease. Please take this comment seriously!
Skosh your comments are frightening. I don’t know what real credentials you have,but I hope people take your comments with a grain of salt so to speak. The side effects of this medication can be grave and has nothing to do with self adjustment in doseage. This medication can be addictive to anyone (read the warning on the print out from the pharmacy for starters). As far as withdrawls symptoms, or course there will be for some people. It’s a stimulant. No different than any other except it’s attatched to a stigma. What is troubling me the most is that the doctor here who originally made this post seems to have deliberatly refused to respond to any concerns here. What’s even scaries is that his post just isn’t true. What does this say?
Hi Chaz,
I haven’t replied to all of the comments, because people are allowed to have their own opinions, and this blog helps to facilitate discussion.
When this post was first written, I had little experience with this medicine, and now that it has been out for some time, I have a lot more experience with it.
The core issue with the ‘addiction’ or ‘abuse potential’ with this medicine relates to the fact that as a prodrug, Vyvanse is absorbed more slowly into the blood, and it is the same rate of absorption whether it is swallowed, inhaled or even injected. This is different than the other ADHD medications.
Can it still be abused?
Almost any medicine can be abused.
My experience now would say that if this medicine is taken as prescribed, it is not addictive, and if it is taken in a way other than prescribed, then it is still less addictive than the other ADHD medications can be.
I hope that helps.
Hi Dr.Handelman,
Thanks for the response. I think I was a bit haste in the words I decided to use. I along with others deal with the fear factor of this new medication. I appreciate you responding to this. I guess it’s a never ending education for all of us involved!
No worries, Chaz. I think it was important for me to ‘chime in’ on this thread.
My 12 year old son is taking Vyvanse. 40mg to be exact… It was prescribed after being diagnosed with ADHD… He is not a zombie on it… He stays focused and is now a much happier child. His doctor suggested try just one just to see what he was feeling and had one of the most productive days ever! This stuff is great!
ok. so my brother takes the 50 mg Vyvanase, and i took it before i saw any of this stuff about people using it to get high. i dont have ADHD but i do have a hard time focusing. so i took the pill thinking it would just make me focus. it kinda worked but im pretty jittery and am grinding my teeth and have a dry mouth. now that i know that its a strong drug i wont take it again, but its stupid how people use it to get high. Go use your freakin street drugs. or stop doing drugs. It seems to help my brother though and make him less crazy. He doesnt frwak out all the time and hurt me. He also is doing much better in school then he was on aderal and the side effects are not as bad. BUT IT CAN BE ABUSED
I’ve been on vyvanse for the last 3 months and I have never had any symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting. My heart does speed up at points but I do the silly human trick of blowing on my thumb because its supposed to ‘reset’ your heart kind of thing. At this point it just might be an OCD thing and just relaxes me. I did get anxious when I first started taking them but that has died down and only comes around when I have HUGE tests. And I do have anxiety issues, I bite my nails to the core. Vyvanse has also helped me be in a positive mood/less depressed.
“Not addictive? I was prescribed a 70 mg dose of vyvanse. And it makes me feel like I’m on speed. The comedown feels like the world is coming to an end and now if I skip a dose I feel like a junkie with no fix. Vyvanse is highly addictive and I don’t even have the same personality anymore.”
Raynee it sounds like you have too high of a prescription and should probably drop it down if you feel like that. It happened when I took a 70 and it was the last time I did because I did feel sick. I’m on 30 mg now and it works for me. I have all the benefits and hardly any side effects and don’t feel like I’m on speed, and if I skip a pill I don’t need a ‘fix’. Its like any normal day without the little jump start and the notion to go go go.
Somebody please help. My 9 year old son has been on vyvanase for 5 days now and I absolutely hate what it’s doing to him. He is moody and irritable. He hasn’t been sleeping. He is talking 1,000 miles a minute. He has felt hostile at school toward his friends. He is extremely unhappy. These are NOT typical behaviors for him and I want to take him off the medication. I’m worried about the effects of just stopping it completely. What will happen if I don’t give him the pill tomorrow? Will he experience some of the symptoms people have listed above, such as suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety? Will he crash from not having the amphetimine in his system? I’m really worried about what will happen. Please advise.
I’m a 21 year old student and have been taking Vyvance for around 5 months (30mg).. At first, I loved the medication, it was much better then Concerta, which I thought was causing me depression. I was very chatty, outgoing, and productive in addition to my usual self. Then as time went on, I became more anxious and secluded, my personality was actually changing. I was less interested in people, I actually found most people ‘stupid’ or ‘annoying’ but in general I was very apathetic (normally I can be very stubborn and loved engaging in debates).
When taking vyvance, I also did what was listed by someone else, I’d take it with water then go back to sleep. Most recently I’ve ventured into a lot of natural health endeavors, including a gluten free vegan diet, and thought that it might be best if I stopped Vyvance – considering I don’t like my newfound personality changes. In retrospect, I would really advise people to keep a journal while taking medication so you can make your own judgements about medication (the internet can influence fear mongering in regards to meds, in reality medication really helps a lot of people).
Today is my second day off Vyvance, its very difficult for me to wake up in the mornings without it, I have little drive. I really don’t think I’d even be functioning right now if it wasn’t for the fact that I was only taking 30mg. I actually slept from 12 hours straight and am still tired and I’m constantly ravenous. I definitely have a significant amount of ‘brain fog’ – but I feel more creative like my old self. Also I’ve been having very violent and emotional dreams, in addition to feeling my emotions more passionately, I am feeling less apathetic while off the medication.. I really hope the withdrawal doesn’t last long… Does anyone know how long it lasts?
Dr. Handelman, do you have any advice for withdrawal? It would be greatly appreciated. I’m actually a resident within Oakville and wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive subtype until I was 19. Finding your work was personally frustrating for me, being that you’re such a great specialist, but only treat adolescents and children. Regardless, I’m very thankful that you keep such an informative blog. I truly appreciate your work.
Elysia – sorry I can’t help personally – and thanks for the compliments.
If you are having withdrawal symptoms – try lowering the dose more gradually – i.e. instead of stopping completely, try going to 20 mg, then cut that in half, etc. Talk to your doctor about that possibility. Some people find that if they just persist, it wears off as well.
Concerned mother – contacting your medical professional or your pharmacy would be best for the questions you’re asking. Generally, the medication is out of the system the same day and most people don’t experience suicidal or depressive or anxiety symptoms when they discontinue taking Vyvanse. A person may experience some brain fog due to the absence of the medication or other symptoms that their ADHD is no longer medicated. ADHD medication is the most researched type of medication and has proven to be safe for most people when taken according to directions. A very small percentage of people experience negative symptoms. The symptoms you described your son having sound like the typical symptoms of having a dose that is too high.
I have heard of people putting the contents of the capsule in 8 oz. of water and let dissolve, (there will be a little residue in the bottom that won’t stir in – that is a binder to get the medication in granular form) and when it is dissolved, drinking ONLY half or a quarter of three-quarters of the fluid as a means of cutting down the dose. I hope that all goes better for you and your son.
Loving Vyvanse….my 17 was prescribed it (No ADD or ADHD), but high test anxiety and concentration issues. The doc prescribed 30 ml and recommended she not take on weekends and that if she feels like she needs it, its a mental thing, not physical. I explained this to her up front so she would know she was not addicted if she “ever” felt she might be…that it was not possible….it was in her head and she would need to get use to not having it on the weekends. So far after about 4 months….doing great. She can take it OR not…not changes either way. While on it, she does sit quitely in class and has much better attention span…works thru her math patiently and does not give up as easily. Helps her to keep focused and concentrate even in classes that usually bore her to death. This is her description of how she feels on Vyvanse. It does decrease her appetite, so she eats in the AM than takes it. Normally fruit for lunch and by about 7 pm in the evening, ready to eat again, but not much. On weekends, she does not take….no changes in her moods or personality. She will get a littler hungrier on weekends, but that’s it!!!! I tried a few of her tablets only so I’d know what she was feeling and I must say, she explained it perfectly because I felt the same way. Felt energetic, but more controlled and on task throughout my day…went to sleep as usual around 10 PM, but did wake around 4 AM and could not sleep, but I felt pretty rested, so getting up so early was not an issue. Appetite was also diminished, but still felt the need for lunch, just not much. All in all, we love this medication! My daughter is happier as her grades are better. We only plan to stay on 30 ml as regardless of whether or not the effects lessen over time, but so far they have not. Everyone is different and if you have addictive tendencies (and these could be genetic), than perhaps some feel like they can’t get thru the day without this med, but a strong, healthy person with a healty mental state should understand the how this drug works and that the drug is probably not the cause for all the issues I see mentioned. Vyvanse most likely helps them with their issues while in their system, but once its worn off, their other host of issues return. Again, we love what this drug has done for our daughter so far!!!
While the “research” may not indicate that vyvanse is addictive, all I can say is that my young adult daughter was abusing vyvanse for a period of months. — a combination of a prescription (for ADD) plus additional pills she bought. For months she had a variety of symptoms that led us to believe she had borderline personality disorder — she exhibited psychotic symptoms at times (e.g, believing she had parasites living in her head or believing in a fake disease, “Morgellen’s”), had no regular sleep patterns, irregular eating (she lost 30-40 pounds), could not work, was often extremely irritable, had suicidal thoughts. Last summer her prescription ran out and she could not buy any more pills — she had no more money and moved home. After several weeks her “psychotic” symptoms went away. In the past few months, she has become positive, has gained back weight, and is responsible and works a regular job. Nothing else happened, no therapy or anything. She certainly has some life issues to figure out buy vyvanse seemed to have caused her major and psychotic symptoms, rendering her incapable of functioning.
Concerned Mother-I switch from Biphentin to Vyvanese last year. I have two boys age 10. They only take it on a school day that it. So summer,PA days, hoidays they take nothing. When they start again there is no issue. My one son talks 1,000 miles a minute but he does the same when he is not medicated. They are on 30 mg only. You have to start lower dose then build up to the dose that works. The difference between both med’s is Vyvanese slow release like a hilly road, biphentin is like going up a hill and then downwards right a way. Loss of appetite and insomnia are effects for both however my boys go down at 10 pm, wake up at 7:30 no issues and are not tired at school. I hope this helps a bit
I had to immediately stop taking my 70 mg. dose of Vyvanse because of heart problems. In addition, Vyvanse had made my life a living hell. I have severe ADHD and at first, Vyvanse seemed like a miracle with how focused it made me. Over time, I became edgy, aggressive, irritable, and basically not myself. I began to resemble someone with bipolar disorder.
Then the heart problems started. After being hospitalized twice in the last year, it was finally decided that my heart is working fine; it’s the Vyvanse that was causing the problem. It was therefore stopped abruptly.
The withdrawal has been HORRIBLE. I am a former alcoholic with seven years of sobriety but I still remember how awful it felt to detox. The “detox” from Vyvanse has been 100 times worse!
I urge anyone to think twice before using this medication, especially children. This medicine is a danger!
You can be addicted to anything. Food, computers, tvs, anything. If you take vyvanse the right way you won’t get addicted. I hate stupid idiots who take more then they should or try to convince themselves their addicted. I have ADD took vyvanse for 2 years, the way I was told and always take a 4 day break when im on vacation or not going anywhere.
I am 22 and have been on ADHD meds since a freshmen in high school. I switched from concerta to vyvanse in 2008 and it was the best thing that happened to me. I take 60 mg and its the perfect dose for me. If I don’t take it one day I don’t freak out and need a “fix” or sink into a depression. It keeps me focus and productive. I have given a friend one of my pills and said she felt like she was on speed and was grinding her teeth. So I must say this medication is only for people with ADD OR ADHD, if you are having side effects you might not have the right dose or shouldn’t be taking vyvanse in the first place.
Okay, this article is so incredibly ignorant I don’t know what to think of it. To the doctor who wrote this: you are either writing this knowing that it is wrong or you are actually THAT ignorant of information that clearly proves your assessment to be false.
First of all (not directly about Vyvanse) ADD and ADHD diagnosis and medication have taken such a turn for the worse. These kids are over-stimulated. That’s why they require something entertaining to them in order for it to hold their attention. School is one of the biggest problems because it seems hard for them to concentrate on what the teacher is saying (and, to be honest, they shouldn’t be blamed for that). Instead of finding chemical medications that cause long-term problems and dependancies and that “treat” ADD/ADHD by making them under-stimulated (so they sit in class like a mindless zombie), wouldn’t it make better, healthier, smarter sense to satisfy their “entertainment” needs and make school more fun? Honestly, to whoever reads this, how much faster do you think you could have learned if the subject was taught more interestingly? Also, wouldn’t it be great to have larger amounts of kids that are interested in learning? It could create natural self-educating habits for later on in these children’s lives. The public school system is the problem. It hasn’t changed how it generally works in decades (arguably, since it was created). And just one more thing to add to this; a lot of children that are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD often don’t really have it. People seem to see the title “Dr.” and build automatic trust. Doctors are just people too. MANY of them make mistakes… and some of them work dirty.
Second of all, if you want to be mentioning addiction, do a little research about the drug on the streets first. I go to college and I see, first hand, every single day, more and more people taking Vyvanse to get high. To all of you parents: it is a known FACT to most everyone my age why vyvanse is such a new popular seller on the streets. This is because its effects are more powerful than almost any other ADD/ADHD medication. On the street, people call vyvanse an “upper”. I know people that have taken vyvanse for recreational purposes and they don’t eat or sleep. Look at the eyes of a person who has taken vyvanse. Their pupils become severely dilated. Some girls take it because it has similar slimming effects of cocaine and meth. People take vyvanse before work because it helps them stay awake (similar to meth). People also take vyvanse because it gives you a “feel-good” emotion. There is no question whether or not vyvanse’s effects are similar to those of meth. There are people who have done both who will gladly tell you that they feel exactly the same. Now, after the effects of this drug have gone away, these people easily find themselves wanting, needing more to feel the same way again, otherwise they become unhappy. This is one of the most addictive prescription pills out there. They are selling like crazy and guess what? Your precious kid who is being prescribed to them could very well be selling his pills. Like I said, they’re extremely popular, people with prescriptions can make a lot of money if they wanted to. I’ve seen a lot of kids that sell vyvanse, because that is mainly who gets prescribed to it. So don’t be fooled by some people just because they carry around their “Dr.” title. Look around you. There is NO denying the growing population of vyvanse addicts and abusers. And it is insulting to anyone’s intelligence to say that trying to get high off of vyvanse “won’t work at all” and that there is “zero potential for abuse”. I know people personally who will gladly tell you how awesome they think vyvanse is because it’s like “meth in a pill”. People on vyvanse are legitimate “tweakers”.
So, once again… just look for the evidence yourselves. There are many drug websites that tell you recreational stories and effects of prescription pills. Just look up vyvanse on one of those websites. Think about it; these doctors have most likely never taken this pill before. All the druggies that write on drug blogs about what their experience was like, they have all done it first hand. So read that, because that’s what they are feeding your kids. And too bad for the ignorant parents who continue to medicate their children with vyvanse. You will have one heck of a “meth” addict for a child. And possibly, one heck of a drug dealer as well.
Look.People.
And don’t be stupid.
Oh, and just one last thing. Everyone ranting about how “focused” this makes them or their kid(s), meth would have that same effect. Have you ever seen someone on meth do their homework? They are more focused than ever and get it done, well, in lightning speed. Also, if you’re on vyvanse, you could be doing just about anything and be happy. It’s unhealthy to exposed these kids (or anyone) to such chemical induced happiness. That has dependency written all over it. I can see a lot of parents loving this new drug because their children become more “well behaved”, which means that, as a parent, a little bit of work is shaved off for you. Everyone is more “well behaved” on vyvanse because they are so happy(high) all the time. People can take vyvanse and sit in a sewer for hours and be the happiest people alive. Drugs. Let these poor people keep their personalities rather than watch them deteriorate after regular vyvanse use.
And of COURSE people are going to be saying they liked it when they took it! It makes you happier than ever!
Hi Dr, Handelman,
My son has been taking ADHD medication since he was about 6 and he is now 11. We have gone through 3 different medications to finally come across Vyvanse in the end. So far it has really helped him out ALOT, but I hate giving it to him and have always hated giving it to him. I know that it has definitely helped him focus better in school and it definitely calms him down. He has gone through all of the major symptoms more so in the beginning then he is now, but there are still some things that we deal with, like decreased appetite, and I’m starting to notice a new one of moodiness. I dont know if this is because he’s getting older and his body is changing, but I just dont like how he has been lately.
My question to you, is that we are thinking about taking him off of the meds completely and I just want to know if doing this will have any long term side affects and if anything damaging will be done to him mentally. It makes me sad and scared to think of that happening, so I just need some advice on what you think might be the best decision. Please answer me and give me some guidance.
Thank you
I started taking 50 mg vyvanse on Friday it helped me alot while at work I also say some major changes I was talking to my other coworkers more which I rarely did before vyvanse an it also helped me concentrate while cooking an washing dishes the only downside is the sleep thing which I work at 930am an I haven’t slept at all so In order to get thru my day I’ll have to take another one the only problem is I don’t know what it’ll do to me But this is a good add or also known as ADHD medication if you have it ask a doctor abbot getting it also there are alot of helpful post on here on how to deal with the sleeping trouble which I going to start doing so I’m not up all night an not taking on weekend or when you have nothing to do or going any where.
i have been SEVERLY addicted to ritalin for 4 years just a week ago the doctors took me off it cuz they found out about my addiction. the withdrawels have been so bad that i want to die. i was addicted to popping ritalin not snorting it. i decided to buy vyvanse off a friend to get rid of withdrawals and it helps, i am addicted to vyvanse even though there not as good
im 17 an been on vyvance for id say close to 8 months now. i had lost the most important person in my life and was suicidal, slept almost all day every day, if i wasnt sleeping i was busy getting high and eating, closed myself off from the world, and my relationship with my family was close to squat. after i got in trouble with the law i realized i shouldnt be wasting my life doing nothing but mope around and wait for diabeties or die, so i went to get help. a counselor would do nothing but make me more depressed, so i figured a doctor specializing in medicine could maybe help. they told me about vyvance sense i already had problems concentrating, staying awake, or even overindulging myself so i figured id give it a try. it was.. the first time in awhile that i could smile and truely mean it, put down the food, and go for a run. it felt great! but after a couple of months it started to not have as much as an effect, so they upped it to 60 mgs. ive taking it everyday for the past 2 months and so far i dont really feel the happy feeling anymore but i feel focused. im not as talkative and i eat more often. (granted ive been on house arrest for the past 2 months also)
im woundering if its just the everyday vyvance or me just not getting out anymore, idk what it is. im thinking its some form of dependancy on it but im not sure. i dont really feel that motivated to do some things, compared to being motivated for anything any everything. thoughts are always awesome..
~hakuna matata
I was diagnosed at 19 years old and started taking adderall at that time. I am 33 years old now. I have no doubt that a stimulant medication can be of great help to those that need it. My grades improved dramatically. At the age of 31 I switched to Vyvanse because I was having anxiety issues with adderall (adderall xr actually since the age of 23). I did find it to have less of a dramatic effect of me in terms of anxiety but that was only temporary. After being on stimulant medication for about 7 years I lost my ability to fall asleep naturally. I have never abutsed the medication dosage. Now I have to take ambien cr to sleep at all. I regret getting on stimulant medication. It is addictive and I worry about long term affects for people. I think my life would have definately been difficult had I not chosen to start taking medication but honestly I don’t think it was worth it. For those of you that take it please think about your futures. If you start taking this it appears that there is a chance you may not ever be able to get off of it without going through a lot of withdrawal (there is withdrawal) and atleast with me it seems to have altered my chemical make-up so I can no longer sleep. Its horrible and I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Its up to the individuals but I personally would never have chosen this life dependant on drugs if I had known. I wish doctors would monitor this more closely. The doctor I see is supposed to be one of the best in my area and when I mention withdrawal issues and sleep issues she just blows it off. I am getting no help.
I was looking up some info on Vyvanse and came across this blog.
While some people I guess can abuse this drug the main theme I got from the author is it is designed to be not as easy to abuse.
Most of the negative posts I read above are from people who are at fault themselves and it’s not the fault of Vyvanse.
If you are self adjusting your medication, buying it off the street or using other peoples medication then everything that happens to you is your own damn fault. It is complete idiotic to take prescription medication other than how it is prescribed.
If you don’t have ADHD or have been miss diagnosed with ADHD then you are going to have speed like side effect because the drug is adding to your normal brain activity not covering for improper activity.
Everyone has different effect to medication and the small percentage that have a problem with Vyvanse will be the larger percentage of reviews you will see online because the other people have nothing to complain about.
I’m 32 and got diagnosed with ADHD last year because I was tired of the years and years of not being able to focus on work.
I was proscribed Vyvanse the RIGHT WAY and it has changed my life!
First you should only be subscribed Vyvanse or similar drugs by a Psychiatrist or an APRN with a specification in the treatment of mental disorders!
If your doctor is at all good at their job then things will go like this.
1)You will be started off at a small dose say 20mg and you will be required to go back to your doctor every 2-4 weeks to adjust the proscription until the dosage is proper.
2)There is a chart that your doctor should give you to monitor your positive and negative side effects. The daily chart I was given to fill out covered things like how much my focus was improved and how severe the side effects were.
3)As you visit your doctor they will slowly bring up your dosage. It is expected that your side effects will increase along with your increased dosage. The key to this is as you slowly go up in dosage (don’t self raise dosage! be patient!) you find the point where you get the most benefit you can out of the medication with a tolerable amount of side effects. You will most likely go over the breaking point to when the side effects are to high and then your doctor will bring you back down some and there you will have your proper dosage! It’s not a guessing game!
I started at 20mg and slowly went up to 60 mg where I like the focus but found the anxiety and emotional control uncomfortable and we went back down to 50mg where I am stable and happy. I have mild anxiety at times but it’s completely manageable and the only other side effects have been a dry mouth(when starting new dosages), times of slightly increased heart rate when the meds first kick in and loss of appetite(lol this one I like!)
I can stop taking my Vyvanse at any time and the only side effect is increased appetite and my ADHD symptoms coming back during the day which my wife notices. There is no crashes for me. If you’re worried about going off your medication assuming your haven’t been over dosed by a bad doctor then call your doctor and ask if you can split your dosages for a week before dropping it. It’s not rocket science people but never change dosage without asking, you’re not a doctor.
Don’t expect your medication to be a magic drug or that you don’t have to pay for the benefits with some side effects.
Some medication just might not be right for your body chemistry, that doesn’t mean you can generalize it for everyone else.
Also if your doctor started you off at 50-70mg or doesn’t require you to visit often for adjusting new medication then they are a bad doctor and you need to find a new one right away!
Just please be smart about your medications or your children’s medications. Find a proper doctor and never try to be one yourself.
Great drug, but use with informed caution.
I am a 35 yrs old and have been taking Vyvanse for almost 3 years at 70 mg. I must say if a drug deserves the label wonder drug I thought Vyvanse was it.
With that said, I have seen the darker side of this drug as well. It did not work for my child age 9 even at the lowest dose she was anxious and angry. I couldn’t understand why it worked for me and not her. I have recently made the really hard decision to take myself off this medication, with the help of my doctor of course.
Be aware there may be more going on than you realize. The reaction I have experienced has been more of an interaction. I had chronic pancreatitis for a few years and I have extensive scar tissue in my pancreas. So on occasion I have prescription pain meds to help with the pain. I do not take them daily and when I do take them it’s only 1/2 of a pill to take the edge off. When the pain med start to wear off, I experience irritability which can easily become rage. I have tried a few different pain meds as well as a non opiate based pain med and all of them have similar effects. I have even found needing a cigarette after the Vyvanse wears off becomes a very irritable situation. For anyone who has never experienced rage, like myself before this, it’s real and after you snap out of it you can’t believe how you acted. It’s very frightening to have the ability to perceive and control your own emotions removed. I am not a violent person but after an argument with my wife, while I was on Vyvanse, she told me when I yelled at her, (I almost never yell) and had a look on my face that left her scared and shaken. Be careful what you take while on Vyvanse, and talk with your doctor. Medication can be stopped, words and actions in a marriage can last a LONG time, even if you’re not yourself. And it should be said, I have been on and off different pain meds for the last 9 years. This situation and reaction is new but repeatable taking ½ a Percocet should not make me hostile for 3 days. I define hostile in this context as perched on the edge of rage waiting for something to irritate me. While it’s happening you can’t see it, you keep wondering if everyone else is losing their mind and why everyone keeps doing stupid stuff to pi$$ you off.
Please be careful, I can’t imagine what I could have done if I was a person with anger issues. Remember to listen to your family. Surprisingly, this isn’t easy when it’s happening.
I just want to say that “College Student” is a self-contradicting idiot. Also, it’s not the doctors that are the problem, it’s the drug seeking individuals that are the problem. The doctor is just doing his job. The medicine presents itself as “speed” or “meth” in those people because they CLEARLY do not have ADD. Notice that this thread was directed toward those that truly have ADD and have benefited or could potentially benefit from Vyvanse. If you were better informed you would know the significance of that argument.
I have never done this trolling kind of thing before, but when people like you, who have never struggled with ADD, try to make a name for my treatment based off of what a crowd raised by bad parenting chooses to do, it makes me pretty livid. Give the good parents who choose to accept a situation they can’t change and look out for their childrens’ future a chance.
as a mother of a child (12) who needs help with impulse control i am thankful that our relationship with his psychiatrist is open and communicative. our son started on 30mg of vyvanse after much thought and trying just lexapro for mild anxiety/depression. The 30 mg proved to be too much–this was evident as when the medication started to wear off he had a full blown panic attack and one other day was completely too emotional (crying out of touch with the evenings events)
instead of taking him off of it the advice was to cut the dose in 1/2 by unscrewing the capsule!
it has only been 2 days like this so i do not have much to go on what really made me realize that the impulse control–which we were used to at home–it is amazing how you integrate your child’s behavior–was becoming a problem was that he got straight A’s in school but that all the comments were “needs more control” “needs to listen when we ask him to stop talking”
*****what i would like to know of other parents is this: does the side effect of the emotional letdown wear off after awhile? will my son get used to the meds in that way?**** it has not been nearly as bad as when he was on 30mg, way way too high a dose and he is eating more as when he was on 30mg for 3 days he was not hungry at all.
thanks!
Its ridiculous to say vyvanse has no potential for abuse. You can still abuse something by taking it properly. If you’re not prescribed it and you take it.. That’s abuse. If you take two 30 mg pills instead of one… That’s abuse. What an ignorant thing to say. Just because you can’t snort it doesn’t mean you can’t abuse it or take too much. Come on. Think.
I have a 10 year old and when she takes it she runs around like a crack head. I think she has been mis-diagnosed. I dont think this medicine is for her.
what D said a couple posts ago is so true.
if you do not have add then this drug and drugs like it will make you “speedy”. Im 26 and have been diagnosed with add not very long ago. Vyvanse has changed my life and how i go about daily activities. It calms me down and makes me less anxious and able to focus on what i am doing. Anything can be abused, this drug is no different.