Vyvanse - The New Medicine for ADD/ADHD

Dr. Kenny,

How can you say the following:

Concerta is not a prodrug, so the abuse potential is higher than it is for Vyvanse.

What comparative trials do you base this on? What if I simply cleave Vyvanse? What if I double my 70mg to the PI noted level where liking was experienced? I don’t feel you are being very honest with visitors to your website. This all looks like it was taken from the Vyvanse website. What is the big deal about working between 4 and 6 pm. Don’t all the Long Acting products like Adderall XR and Concerta do that? How long does it take for Vyvanse to works since it is a prodrug? Why did they measure at 10am and not 8am? If it works until 6pm and was taken at 6am it should be working at 8.

THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION. MY 9 YEAR OLD SON IS 62 LBS. AND WAS JUST PUT ON VYVANSE 30 MG. TOMORROW WILL BE OUR FIRST TIME TAKING IT. I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF INSOMNIA AND WHAT EFFECT DOES IT HAVE ON THE LIVER? HOW MUCH WEIGHT LOSE SHOULD WE EXPECT? I HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME GETTING HIM TO EAT. THE DR. TOOK HIM OFF OF ADDERRALL XR TO PLACE HIM ON THIS.

Krys,
Thanks for your question about Vyvanse. I can comment on what you wrote, but of course you will have to speak to your doctor about specific treatment issues and recommendations.
1) Regarding the starting dose of Vyvanse - 30 mg is the right starting dose for a young child like yours.
2) Insomnia may be an issue with Vyvanse - though each individual will react differently - so it may not be an issue with your son.
3) Regarding Vyvanse’s effect on the liver- in the research done and the reports so far, there are no negative effects on the liver from Vyvanse. I know that because Vyvanse is converted from the ‘pro-drug’ to the active medicine in the liver, that some people may wonder if Vyvanse harms the liver. The short answer is - ‘no’. There is no evidence that Vyvanse harms the liver.
4) With respect to weight loss and vyvanse -this is a potential issue - and this relates to the fact that some people have a decrease in appetite with vyvanse (And all stimulant medicines, including adderall, ritalin, concerta, etc). Your doctor will need to monitor your son’s height and weight on any ADHD medication and adjust it accordingly - especially if your son has this side effect with Vyvanse.
I hope these comments help.
Dr. Kenny

Dr Handelman,

Is Vyvanse available for adults?

In the article, it says the following,
“Who is Vyvanse approved for?

Currently, Vyvanse is approved for children aged 6 to 12 years.
On June 29, 2007, Shire announced that they have submitted a supplemental New Drug Application to the FDA for Vyvanse for the treatment of ADD/ADHD in adults. The application is subject to a 10-month review period. ”

I am an adult and taking Ritalin SR. When I started it over 9 months ago, it helped. Now, I find it not helping me. Do I have to what another 10 months before iI can try Vyvanse?

Thanks,
Ken

what about dry mouth what can be done about

I am 21 years old and I was just perscribed VyVnase. It seems to be working quite well for me. I am able to concentrate in class, and spend more time studying. I have an incresed rate of energy and sometimes I feel euphoria. This is not a good thing since I have had a drug problem in the past. But the fact that you can not snort or inject is great. I am glad they finally came out with something that is not as readily abusable.
Since I have had drug abuse problems in the past it has been very difficult for me to find an adhd medication that could be safe for me. But this seems to be working very well and I feel as though I have no need to abuse it.
The only side effects that have been bothering me are dry mouth, insomnia, and back pain. But the benefits outweigh the side effects. For an adult I would recommend this drug.

My nephew has just been put on this drug. The whole thing is frightening to me. I am greatly concerned for his health and I feel that the issue is so much more complex than just popping a quite expensive pill. It is awful to know that it breaks down in the liver (a liver must be healthy to absorb nutrients).

I realize as a parent your relief when your child has a great turnaround but anyone who has been on these types of drugs will attest that the honeymoon is short lived and you start a roller coaster of drug manipulation and changes that make you crazy and you end off worse than where you started.

I think this discussion would be more productive, if it highlighted the healthy changes that we can make in our lives to improve our quality of sleep, methods of reducing stress, ways we can improve our home air quality removing harmful pesticides and chemicals, as well as using safe alternatives.

Isn’t it interesting that now all our children have to be prescribed $3.50 drugs per day instead of removing white foods from their diets (white sugar, white flours and processed foods)? Or considering food allergens and hydrogenated oils and Corn syrups all of these wonderful additives that make it easier for big corporation to make more money that other Countries will NOT allow in there food distribution chains.

I hope the best for all who are forced by Physicians and Teachers to drug your kids, believe me, I have been there. I encourage you to ask questions and try to find out why this has become such a huge problem. We certainly are not saying “Just say no to drugs” to our kids while we pop them a pill everyday. We are teaching them that drugs are the answer to all of our problems. We all should try to medicate ourselves less and listen and play with our kids more.

Dr. Handleman, I challenge you to get creative on making a difference in peoples lives instead of contributing to the problem with your safe drug ranting. But I do want to thank-you if you allow my post.

Sincerely, Teresa
Medication free now for 4 years and finally starting to feel recovered from years of misinformation and prescribed drug abuse.

I am a 38 year old female who has parents and a sister with major ADD. Thru the years I have tried 2 other major ADD drugs (Dexadrine & Adderall) and currently I have been using Vyvanse for 3 weeks. There is a world of difference here. The article above states that the likelyhood for abuse is low. I can believe that… because immediately after taking the medicine I don’t get that euphoric feeling/ or high that usually accompanies these drugs. I feel more mellow and calm than usual. As a matter of fact my only complaint would be that I am forced to slow down physically at work. The pluses : (there’s many). I’m able to organize my thoughts. I’m less likely to fly off the handle or be unreasonable at any given time, but especially in the AM after taking my pill. I can think and process information better than ever before. I feel like I can do better at work, stay focused in conversations. Remember more of the subjects at hand than before.
Bottom line : I don’t think parents who just get their child started on this drug have to worry as much as their children starting other ADD drugs.

I just got prescribed Vyvanse today. i’d tried Strattera, which worked ok at first, but then made me very tired & lethargic. I am an adult, & have not yet tried the “stimulant” adhd medicines. I understand the potential for addiction with these types of drugs, but what i worry about more is that this is a new drug, & it seems that the newer drugs end up having some bad affect to your body down the line -for example vioxx. The older drugs that have been on the market for a long time always seem to be better for a person when it comes to those “hidden side effects” that no one realizes until its too late. I worry because this medicine breaks down in your liver–will it mess up your liver 2 years from now?

nicole. welcome to my life. vyvanse website does NOT lie when it says episodes of psychosis may occur. the meds do good in terms of helping ADD. but the effects from the medicine are everything but worth it.

My Daughter went on these for a day (6 years old),my wife gave them to her at 3:30 in the afternoon.The doctor failed to tell her it lasted 12 hours.My daughter was a lunatic ,nonstop talking ,coloring ,crying ,writing ,Until 3:30 in the morning .She will not be taking these anymore,or anything else after that ,scary.Oh and she is not a hyper child these were just supposed to be for attention .

Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe this is happening. My son is 8 years old and we have tried Concerta, Adderrall, Adderrall XR, and now he is on Vyvanse. He has been taking this for 1 week now. He is so angry and violent most of the day. He is also taking risperdol for mild PDD-NOS. My question is do I stop giving him this medication or is this just a side effect? I don’t know how much more I can take. He is hurting his 2 year old sister. Please I need someone to talk too!
Kelly

Hello. I have a 16 year old who has been through Adderal XR, Concerta and now is on Vyvanse. He needs it for ADD. He is typically a very funny, happy boy. He has been SO depressed. Angry at himself. Even breaks down and cries. I read that sometimes this will *pass* but not sure if the road to get there is worth it. I have a call in to our doc. Anyone else experienced these side effects and noticed that they just subsided with time? I always want what is best for him but not sure anymore just WHAT that is. Thanks for your help!

Hi, I am 37 yrs old I have been on many medications in my time for depression and ADD, I have Dreaded each one I am not prone to addictions and hate the idea of drugs in my body. I have never taken any that worked well without bad side effects. Most medications make me tired including stimulants and I have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrom, and vitamin deficiency. I was on Adderall XR for the past 6 yrs or so, it certainly has not been the miracle drug I hoped for. Most of my time has been spent obsessing over how horrible the side effects make me feel but when I would stop taking it I could barely get out of bed even months later. also everytime I stop taking adderall I eat Sooo much I really do have a bottomless pit and I gain 25 pounds or so. It is horrible, I truly believe these meds have Changed me for life. I am also seeing signs of Rapid aging, Fast aging absolutely does Not run in my genes, my grandparents & parents have hardly any grey hair or wrinkles, they are amazing. Strangely I am only 37 and lately have been plagued with grey hair (good thing I dye it) and wrinkles, especially dark dark circles and lines under my eyes. my skin is also losing it’s elasticity. Very Very Sad. I do believe these meds alter our bodies in many ways. anyway- My doctor just gave me a coupon for Vyvanse and I have taken 4 days total. Day 1 - seemed awesome, I accomplished so much. Day 2 - I did not take it due to a bad migrain, Day 3 - I took again and seemed a little highish but the side effects are 85% less then the Adderall XR. it is amazing, Day 4 - was Same as day 3 except I had a hard time breathing all day and all night which is very dissapointing to me since everything else seemed great. I have had some breathing issues with all stimulants but this seemed the worse. After reading about heart related issues with these meds I am now affraid to take it . I have had physicals in the past & never had heart or blood pressure issues. I just don’t know what to think. As I said I wish I could Take Nothing, but have resorted to the fact that I will probably be taking something for the rest of my life and my life span is probably shortened by miles. If anyone has experience breathing difficulties please let me know. Also I will be praying for everyone taking these meds It breaks my heart that we are plagued with disorders and No healthy cures. My heart especially breaks for the children who are given these meds. Having taken so many myself as an adult and knowing how Strange and Un-Natural they can make you feel I can’t even imagine a child taking these things since they are too young to express and be aware of exactly what is going on in their bodys.

I was told not to give my son vitamin c with vyvanse. Is this true? Is there anything else he should not be having with this medication?

My step-son is was taking adderall for about a year he was on 60 mg. Now all of a sudden they switched it to vyvanse with 140 mg (take two 70 mg a day). To me that sounds wrong, could the doctor miss write the dosage.?? Is that dangerous. He is only 9 years old. About 50 lbs.

monica, change doctors RIGHT NOW!

I’m 27 and have been diagnosed with ADD. maybe i have it maybe i don’t. i feel like doctors will prescribe drugs on a whim and not take the time to really understand you and explore every possibility. My physician gave me ritalin, which was interesting, but there was chance for abuse (i have enjoyed drugs recreationally in the past). My psycho-pharmacologist put me on vyvanse (how can someone trust a psychopharmacologist? they make a living on prescribing drugs. they will never turn anyone down for a prescription be aware). This is my 2nd day. Yesterday i felt kind of nervous, my heart rate was up, my hands were a bit clammy. im going to give this a try for a bit longer, weigh out the benefits against the side effects. i think meds (especially something this intense) are not a good idea unless the diagnosis is extreme. i dont want to accept drugs as the answer, but rather i would like like to use vyvanse to learn good work habits, organize my life, and then stop using it. I don’t want to become dependent on the pharmaceutical industry to have a successful and productive life.

I think giving any ADD medicine to a child is an extremely bad idea, unless the child has an extreme disorder. all add meds are amphetamines. Do you know what else is an amphetamine? cocaine. Giving a child Vyvanse, Ritalin, Aderall, etc. is like giving a child a line of coke for breakfast. Rather, i think therapy and learning how to be aware of and live with the disorder is a better idea. explore options, do research and don’t settle for the easy answer Big Pharm wants you to accept. I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite, these are just issues I’m currently struggling with, and am just expressing them. To the parents of kids with extreme ADD, I empathize and hope you find the strength and support to raise your kids well.

Sorry for my rambling I will stop now. I will come back in a few weeks and post an update of my experience with vyvanse

Mickey,
I am curious to find out if this medication is working for you. Please let me know. My husband has had the same experiences as you. He has had a substance abuse problem in the past. I was fearful of starting him on this medication also. Hope your doing well.
Jen

As a 20 year old college student who has taken Vyvanse this morning (it is now 11pm) I could not be happier with the results during the day. But now that I am “coming down off” of the med, I hardly feel normal…very depressed, get angry easily, feel “to my self”, dont want to do anything. I have only been taking Vyvanse for a week so maybe this will pass, but im beginning to notice that I am not my “happy go lucky self” anymore, and I don’t like it =( Need suggestions please!!

sorry for late follow up. I stopped taking vyvanse shortly after my post above. it was nothing short of horrible. while normally i am a very rational person, this med caused nothing but anxiety. On my third day on vyvanse I had an argument with my girlfriend, and while this is normal and I can handle an argument, vyvanse casued me to have a near anxiety attack. I was EXTEEMELY depressed (soemthing I have never felt before) and just couldnt get myself to think any positive thoughts). At first i thought this is just part of “getting used to it” since I had been anxious the days prior as well, just not to that degree; after work I would have A beer and things seemed a lot calmer. so I decided to still give it a chance.
Another major side effect I noticed was my heart rate was WAY up, and this casued me to worry a bit, but I knew that vyvanse is a stimulant and realized i might just have to put up with it (heart rate would go down by 2 pm or so).
Up to now I had only been taking 20 mg, the lowest dosage, and wasnt feeling a great benefit. the next week, following doctor’s orders, I increased to 30 mg. this is when the final straw came: my heart was RACING and my chest hurt, sweaty palms (I had this before, but now increased), and jittery and anxious. continued for 2 more days, and decided this is absolutely not good. My physician agreed with me. these side effects came after my EKG results were fine with no problems. I have now gotten an echo cardiogram and am awaiting the results. I have to say though, that I am now feeling strange sensations sometimes in my chest or around my heart sometimes, something I didnt feel before. I hope I am only imagining this and have not had permanent damage done to my heart.
In conclusion, I would advise everybody to stay far away, but only based on my experiences. the fact that it affected my heart in such a dramatic way I would think it is not good for children. Considering it is such a new drug, we don’t even know the short term effects really, nevermind what it can do in the long run. As far as adults taking it, I feel that the doctors prescribing vyvanse, are conducting experiments on patients rather than having an educated opinion.
In closing, I have just watched the new Frontline special on PBS about medicating children, but I feel it is very eye-opening in terms of the Big Pharm Industry practices in general. It can be viewed here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/

4hrs after taking the 30mg capsule for the first time my 12yo son’s pulse increased to 150. 4 hrs later he was back to normal. Is this normal? In the time that he had it in his system, I saw TREMENDOUS improvement in school work (I homeschool), and know that we obvioulsy got the right stuff. Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms?

Mickey,\
Thanks for your reply. My husband since my last posting has been on a roller coater ride, taking me along with him. His med was increased and seems a bit better. However, after it wears off he is angry, irrational and difficult to deal with. The Psychiatrist is now starting him on a short acting med to take at 4:00 pm to combat this. I hope it works. He seems to be a bit better. I don’t know if this is the best thing for him, but only time will tell. He is going to the Cardiologist for evaluaion; i’ll let you know about it. I found out he’s been drinking red bulls during the day with it. It doesn’t sound good; I think he is going into an addiction now.
Jen

Dr. Kenny and Jen,

Tests turned out great. He is still ok to take the med, however, it was not mentioned by the Psychiatrist about daily monitoring, only the family doctor after the fact.
Thanks again

To all the parents of children who have experienced symptoms of depression/mania/rage/psychosis (hearing things, unexplained violent impulses, etc.) — PLEASE talk to your doctor (perhaps your regular physician/pediatrician if a psychiatrist is prescribing the ADHD meds) — there are a number of medications on the market to control ADHD symptoms, and people react VERY differently to each of them. I’m not a doctor - but I feel confident that the dr. I have been seeing is among the best, and he’s been very careful in choosing/monitoring side effects.

I am 29 years old, and was diagnosed with a severe non-hyperactive ADD (”distractable type” - apparently much more common among women/girls and often undiagnosed) about a year and a half ago. I got through my younger life - high school, college, law school, bar exams, and a large firm legal practice - purely on last-minute adrenaline, cramming, and an unusual gift of the ability to learn and remember things very quickly. Beyond that, my life has always been in complete dissaray - cleaning, organizing, paying bills on time, remembering appointments, effectively engaging in conversation - I was a disaster who happened to always stay afloat… but by doing the bare minimum to avoid failing, getting fired, or declaring bankruptcy.

Over the last year, I have tried several different medications - some with great results: mostly Adderall (non-XR) and Focalin (ritalin derivative). The Adderall has been very effective in certain ways - not a miracle cure, but has helped me a great deal. The downside is that I have nervous ticks now (chewing the inside of my lip compulsively until its swollen and bleeding, increased nailbiting, and teethgrinding at night) and often cannot fall asleep until 3-4 am, even when tired. But the benefits for me outweigh everything else.

When I started Focalin, even on a very low dose (my total daily dosage of regular Adderall is 60 mg (20mg 3x daily)) I didnt notice much change for a few days, and then I started crying for no reason (or no good reason). It was shortlived, so I ignored it. Within a few weeks, I felt like the world was going to end, I lost the will to get out of bed in the morning, and for the first (and only) time in my life, I had thoughts of driving my car off the road into a tree…things like that. I have never been depressed in my life - and in 3 weeks that medication brought me to a place where I contemplated suicide. I called my doctor, who immediately changed the medication. He instructed me that some people have those types of reactions to Adderall and do great on ritalin… it all depends on the person.

So, please dont ignore those symptoms - I know how scary it was for me, and I imagine that as a child it would be even harder to communicate how it makes you feel or try to be aware that the medication might be the cause….

(sorry for the length)

my name is sara and im 23, i began taking vyvanse 50mg about
3 weeks ago, and so far it has been a pretty stinky 3 weeks. 1st and foremost, i know that insonmia is a side effect, but the other night after going to bed at about 1, i than woke up at about 3am, only to not go back to sleep and had to get up at 6.45, to go work 8-5. Now correct me if im wrong, but i believe a good nights sleep is more important than being able to concentrate a little better, which brings me to my next point. Since taking this medicine i have noticed no improvement whatsoever in my ablilty to focus and get things done in a more timly matter. I am even questioning if i even have ADD now. My 3rd and last point, i am on depression meds for anxiety and becoming nervous and stuff, which has been going pretty good till… you guessed it!! started taking vyvanse!!! i now can not keep my legs still even at 4am, if im sitting i shake my legs, i bite on the insides of my jaws, which concerns me in that they are starting to look really bad and i worry it may mess up my teeth or jaw alignment. im also always playing with my hair. so oboviously i have become very hyper. I plan to quit taking it after my 30 day precription is up! I am just wondering if anybody else has experienced any of these same syptoms, or is it all just me????

Hi Dean,
Here are a couple of links which may help you:
1) A review of MAOI’s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAOI
2) The description of a hypertensive crisis - which is the risk of taking an MAOI medicine and a stimulant medicine (like Vyvanse):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertensive_crisis
I strongly suggest you check with your doctor before mixing these two medicines.
All the best,
Dr. Kenny

I’m 100 percent sure my doctor knows I don’t have ADD, but he gives me a large prescription to adderall every month. Adderall is fun and will help you get a lot of work done without fatigue. Recently he gave me a prescription to Vyvanse , so I could get the free sample. After taking roughly 20 mgs I have to say this drug is waaaay more cocaine like than adderall. I sort of felt like I woke up on another planet when it kicked in. Very euphoric and smooth. My heart was racing. I’m used to the effects of adderall, but this was far more all encompasing. Once it started to where off I felt TERRIBLE. Amazingly cranky and cracked out. I didn’t feel like myself for the next day. The ad campaign that Shire is now running for this drug is a DISGRACE. The idea that a developing brain should be put on a drug of this intensity is utter, NON-SCIENTIFIC NONESENSE. Do you want your child to have to be on drugs to be happy for the rest of their lives? Thats what you are doing. I’m not a scientologist. Psychiatry has its place. If you’re an adult these drugs are fun and can help you get through work with less effort. For a few they might even be necessary (a very very small percentage of the 3 million on adderall). Try meditation first. Read about neuroplastisity (a great book: the brain that changes itself.) Make no illusion to the fact that these are powerful pschoactive DRUGS —close relatives to street drugs. In fact they are street drugs for many people of my generation (I’m in my mid twenties). Good luck to all.

Dear Dr. Handelman,

I am 18 years old. Recently I have tried the drug Concerta. I liked it at first but then I became extremely anxious and depressed–sobbing all day. Also my heart was pounding and now I am lethargic and don’t want to do anything but sit in my basement all day and watch tv. I looked online and found Vyvanse. Do you think that Vyvanse would not have these terrible side effects like Concerta?

I have a niece that is 7 years old. She has been taking Vyvanse for about 6 months. She has becomes angry, violent, runs off, says she wants to kill her self and she is destructive. Sometimes her arm shakes, her heart races, she has headaches and stomach aches. She doesn’t eat and can’t sleep. Her Dad has tried talking to her psychiatrist and he won’t change her med. He prescibed her sleeping pills. Told her to eat ice cream. What will help her? We are all trying to cope, but it is very hard.

I am 39 years old and I have had ADD since I was a child. My doctor prescribed 70mg of Vyvanse right off the bat…after I explained to him that the 30mg of Adderral XR was no longer working. He said that the two doses were comparable.

I experienced EXTREME jitteriness, confusion and depressed mood. Needless to say, could get nothing done. I stopped the med after 2 days. I’ve been on so many other meds and they all worked for awhile and then stopped working.

I am at my wits end and I don’t know what else to do…not to mention the expense of these meds. Foes anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks alot,
ANB

Re: my 7 year old niece. My brother contacted the dr’s office before I received your answer because my niece had two episodes on Monday afternoon. They said that they would either up her dosage from 50 mg to 70 mg or change it to adderall. Is this dosage ok for a 7 year old that weights about 40 lbs?

T,
PLEASE contact Shire and submit an adverse reaction report. I have also had issues with the 50’s not working. They have not heard any other complaints (see the rest of my post below…)

I am a 46 year old adult. My daughter is 14. We both have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and are taking Vyvnase. This drug has been a life changing experience for both of us.

We started on 30 mg in March 2008. My daughter moved up to 50 mg, and I followed shortly after. The 30’s worked great, but it was evident that we needed more to attain better focus. Once we switched to the 50’s, we both experienced a return to some of our original symptoms. It is hard to explain, but it almost feels as though the pills are only partially working. I can definitely feel some focus, but not to the degree that I think I should feel. I had a few 30 mg pills left, so I decided to take 2 of them to see if there was any difference.

I immediately felt better, as if these pills were actually fully working. I took them the next day, same result. Then I switched back to the 50’s, as a test. I did not feel the full effect again.

I thought that perhaps Shire changed the ingredients or that some component of the pill might have changed, but I checked on FDA.gov and did not see any change document.

I am happy to finally find someone else who has experienced issues with the 50’s. I have switched to a new Rx of taking 2 30’s per day. I am hoping this will help. If not, I will try the 70’s as a last resort.

This drug has worked so well for us initially that I hate to give up on it. It actually helped reduce my daughter’s anxiety a bit.

I’d be interested to know if Shire has heard any other complaints like this.

I called Shire directly and we filled out an adverse reaction report. It is critical for people to do this, so others can be aware if they experience the same effect. Asof the date of my report, they had not heard any other complaints about the 50’s. Please call Shire and notify them so they can begin logging this issue and investigate. This drug is helpful…I would hate for someone to have an adverse experience due to some product issue that might be resolved upon investigation.

Thanks and I will post again with followup

I am alarmed. While I did not read all of the many comments here, I read a lot of them and am struck by several very important – crucial – things.

1. Doctors are clearly not informing patients and parents about the nature of AD/HD or about the medications prescribed for it. I consider this unconscionable.

2. Patients and parents are not doing effective research on their own about AD/HD and its treatments.

3. On this blog there is a lot of misinformation being passed back and forth; I urge you all to find additional sources for information. It’s not my blog, and I don’t wish to intrude, but this is worrisome to me.

Please understand, I am not criticizing people who contribute here. Good, solid information is available if you know where to look. Families with AD/HD are very busy trying to cope, and don’t always have the time to do research. I implore you, though, to become informed – somehow – and you will find it easier to set up the structures and think up and execute the strategies that everyone with AD/HD (with or without medication) needs in order to live more effectively.

Children have so much to learn in a normal childhood; this is made more difficult by having a brain that doesn’t handle things the same way as most people’s do. And on top of that they will need to learn a lot of coping techniques in order to manage themselves.

Parents need help. It is a lonely, tiring, extremely difficult experience every day, and the rest of the people are mystified and/or ignorant. Many people like to take the moral high ground on these things about which they have not troubled themselves to learn.

I have walked this road for years. I have AD/HD, my offspring do, and I am a clinician who works with people in the office every day who have AD/HD. I am old before my time and have very little to show for years of heavy labor. Medications have made life manageable and I am glad to live in a time when they are available. But then, I have been lucky to be well informed and to be able to advocate for us all with doctors, the best of whom have accepted us as part of the team. My kids are becoming their own Treatment Team Leaders, thank goodness.

Will do. I was not being critical of anyone, and should have been more specific. Thanks for asking, and you’ll hear from me.

bd

L here:

Well, I asked my doctor to increase my dosage since I did not feel the double 30’s working. I actually felt my progress reversing, and I am not ready to go back to my old ADHD fuzzy ways.

Another note: the capsules came apart REALLY easily, which I thought was strange, since my husband’s 70’s were so tight that I broke the bottom of the capsule trying to pull them apart.

Anyway, I decided to go to a different pharmacy for my new prescription. These capsules (70 mg) are closed tightly. I felt them work, the way I expected them to. Focused, calm, able to handle things, “smooth” is one way I describe how I feel. I’m not sure what the source of the issue is, but I am sticking with the 70’s and the new pharmacy.

I wonder how different my life would have been if I had been able to (or even knew that I needed to) correct my brain chemistry years ago? At least I can move on from here.

By the way, I have been “anti-drug” as well as pro-organic and anti- processed foods for many, many years. Diet and exercise helped my condition, but only to a certain degree. I have NEVER felt as focused and confident as I now do. Ever. This doesn’t mean I can abandon my healthy eating and exercise, since that is critical in helping the medication to work properly. It just means that the combination of diet, exercise and the missing brain “chemical” can help me to function to my potential.

Ok, I’m done preaching. Good luck to everyone, keep seeking the answer, you CAN find it…

–L

I’m 39. I just found out I have ADD. A good step to finally know, but now going through my mourning period of frustration for experiencing almost four decades of a hindered life.

I take VyVanse. I like it. It keeps me focused. I write a blog about my VyVanse experience from time to time. I’d like to share it to you. To help others with it and also to get encouragement. Because having ADD feels like a curse, and I am second guessing how I feel all the time because I don’t know if it’s me or if it’s the ADD.

DN

DN,

ADD can be frustrating, but now that you understand what’s been going on in your life, you can accept it for what it is and move forward. I have always believed, even as a child, that things happen for a reason, and that the experiences you live through, good and bad, have brought you to be the person you are today. Maybe you needed to struggle for 39 years in order to appreciate the quality of life you can now have, or maybe this new change will start you in a new direction. I was recently diagnosed. I am 46, and have felt the frustration all my life as well. I let myself grieve for what I thought I could have been if I was diagnosed earlier. Then I chose to focus on now, and how I can better myself and my relationships with this new-found understanding. Part of my untreated ADD involved poor self-image, lack of confidence, and moodiness/short temper, as well as other things. They were extremely limiting. All of these symptoms have improved dramatically once I found the right medication (Vyvanse) and the right dosage (very important). I had some issues with several dosages (still not sure of the cause of the issues), but I hung on and finally found the right amount (70 mg). I also take Lexapro, since I fell into a depression after several back-to-back family health issues.

Mourning your past is ok as long as you can move into the next stage. If you are not in counseling/therapy, I would strongly suggest it. The fact that you are logging your thoughts is great. I do this also and share the journal with my therapist, so he has greater insight into my deepest thoughts, in order to be able to better help me. You’d be surprised how quickly an hour session goes, it’s nice to continue it on your own to share later.

Hang in there and celebrate the fact that you are who you are. ADD is a part of you;if you believe it is a curse, it will be one. If you find a way to make it a positive part of your life, you’ll accomplish much more and your satisfaction with life will be unlimited.

Theresa,

I’m curious: Are you a physician, or in the medical field? It’s wonderful that you are able to manage your condition (you don’t actually mention what you were diagnosed with) using medicine-free alternatives, however not all of us are so lucky. Our situations are in reverse: I spent over 20 years trying all of the drug-free, healthy alternatives that I could find, diet, exercise, meditation, therapy, supplements, positive thinking, chiropractic, etc, you name it, I tried it. When I finally was unable to fully rise to my potential, and when my daughter (and niece) also experienced similar symptoms, I “gave in” and agreed to try medication. Every person’s body is different. You may be one of the lucky ones who can make the appropriate changes with needing medication, There are many more who cannot, who have done their due diligence and would rather live a happy fulfilled life with medication than a miserable, unsatisfied life without. I am one of those, and I am proud to say that although I have based my life on an organic way of living, I am able to accept the fact that at this point in my life, I will allow the one deviation of Vyvanse, if my life will be a better one for having done it. If I had cancer, diabetes or some other condition, I would not allow myself to think I could control it with alternatives. That would be life threatening, not life-enhancing.

Congratulations on your successful management of your condition, but please be sensitive to the others on this blog, Drugs are not a “black hole” to everyone. For some, they are a way out of the abyss…..

L

To piggyback on L’s comment, and offer a somewhat different view: When I diagnosed myself (and had this corroborate by a psychiatrist), I was ready to try medications immediately. I had — not knowing I had AD/HD — taken the trouble and spent the money on the best psychotherapy money could buy, with excellent result.

I vanquished whatever baggage a person gets to adulthood still carrying, I learned so much and was glad to have made the investment. But it did nothing for the symptoms of AD/HD. That excellent therapist told me I was “wired funny” but he also cautioned me not to try to do anything about it (what would that have been?) because my thinking was exceptionally clear and I had a rare sensitivity that I was putting to good use.

When life handed me a handful of significant stressors, I found myself in Barely Functioning Land. My sister and I figured out it was AD/HD and I went to a psychiatrist who corroborated that and I asked for medication immediately. I’d already done it all and knew nothing else I tried would be sustainable unless something changed from within.

I do not mind relying on medication, because everybody relies on correct body chemistry to function. I just have to get some of mine from outside sources. To me there is no shame in having AD/HD, though I am certainly sorry about the things I mess up on that affect other people negatively.

Psychostimulants are NOT supposed to make a person FEEL different. Their purpose is to change COGNITIVE function. If they change feelings, that bears investigation of dosage, another medication, the diagnosis. And, I know that medications are not helpful to everyone, but it is a very small minority who, with careful titration and a fair trial on every medication group, do not benefit. Nonetheless, this post is referring to those who may forgo medications out of an idea that it’s weak or wrong to use them.

I am profoundly grateful to live in a time when science has developed to the point that these medications are available. I would not like anyone to endure what so many have endured in past generations due to misunderstanding, moral judgments and that abiding subjective awareness sense that one is unable to do what one wishes to do and sets out to do. Most people are better at relationships, empathizing with others, making good on agreements when they can rely on their brains to do their job, freeing the person from some of the management of the organ that is supposed to be manager.

Coping and Toughing It Out are not virtues, to me. And they ultimately compromise one’s ability to contribute to the common good.

Heather, there is an excellent resource for medication matters, and there is info specifically describing how Vyvanse works and how to discover the “therapeutic window,” which is the exact amount per dose that assists you to make the best use of your brain.

I will include the URL right here, and hope I am not breaking any rules by doing so. I have no connection to the doctor whose site it is, except that I think he does very good work. In other words, I receive no gain by mentioning the site.

My own experience and opinion based on working with many many people taking stimulants is that when people say things like “coming down,” they are using “drug” talk and not medicine talk; and they may be experiencing the stimulant in ways which are not related to Cognitive Function, and it is Cognitive Function it treats. More on this site.

http://www.corepsychblog.com

Vyvanse - The New Medicine for ADD/ADHD | ADD ADHD Blog.com…

Once it passes through the liver, a protein chain is taken off the medication and it becomes an active amphetamine. Therefore, the abuse potential for Vyvanse is much lower than most ADD/ADHD drugs….

My sister put my 7 year old neice on vyvanse. My sister and her doctor say she has ADHA. She is hyper, and destructive. She has outbursts and says hateful things. My sister can’t control her. I have been a nanny for many years and have taken care of alot of “ADHD” children. I find that in most cases all it takes is some time, NOT meds. Kids were hyper before “ADHD” was discovered. My neice does fine in my company. She is well behaved, manored, and gets along with my kids just fine. I think the bigest problem is the parents. Do you realy connect with your child? Or are you just going through the motions? Anwser honestly because being a parent is the most important job of your life! I understand a hyper child can drive you nuts, but have you tried being hyper with them? Run around, act crazy, have fun with your child. Forget the rules to the game, and just play with them. Sure your old and tired (well I am…lol) But do it anyway. I promise this is a much better approach than meds. Or you can be like my sister and take the easy way out. Drug your child.

I have been on Adderall 30mg (2 in morning/1 afternoon) for 8 years. Insurance thru Cobra stopped on Aug.1. Doctor wrote a script for free 30 day trial of Vyvanse to try since there are no programs or financial means for me to continue Adderall. I would only recomend Vyvanse to someone I disliked and wanted to suffer as I did trying this so called “new wonder drug” to treat ADD! I took the drug as perscribed (1 in morning for ten days to allow the drug to work) For 10 days I never left my house, talked with anyone but my Dr. who said to give it 10 days, which I did. I had headaches, upset stomach, no appetite, and was never so depressed in my life. I slept most of the time and cried when not asleep as life became hopeless. I even tried 1/2 a dose (15mg) for 5 days and felt no better. I am now taking no meds for my Add and am back where I was 8 yrs ago. But I would rather do without than take Vyanse. Adderall is the only med that worked for me.
I am 59 and did not know what life could be like until trial and error on other meds at age 50. For me this drug would be a death sentence. And now I don’t know what I am going to do when the 20 doses of Adderall runs out. I have cut my dose to 45 mg daily to stretch them out and can tell a big difference. I am writing this while I still can focus enough to do so. I now have 15 30 mg doses left and will only take them to help focus to find another job with insurance to regain the life I began to enjoy up to now. Others I have talked to since taking this have had bad side effects and do not like this “new wonder drug”.

Hello:
I totally disagree with Mel and Teresa and I agree with L. I have worked in the healthcare field for over twenty years and I have seen first hand what children and parents go through…when the child has ADHD.

I understand Mel’s and Teresa’s viewpoint, however, the hyperactivity component was the only part of the illness that was addressed. The other component, “deficit in the attention span” can ruin a child…if it is not treated. Additionally, this is usually what prompts parents to seek medical intervention in the first place…not the hyperactivity component. This is usually preceded by a phone call from the child’s school teacher.

The parents of way back when…did not have the access to many of the therapies that parents of today have access too. If they did, then maybe, there would not be a prolific amount of adults in their 30’s, 40’s and fifties suffering from attention deficit disorder.

Many of these adults struggle with their jobs, continued education and so forth. I will admit that there are some parents who do
‘take the easy way out” however, that number is small. Parents grapple with the decision to ask for medicinal therapy for their childern all the time. The side effects of many of these meds are enough to scare any adult with no children…let alone parents.

This is a real illness that many children and adults suffer from…and it means that the lifestyle has to change, in addition to, medicinal therapy if necessary and the parent, doctor and school teacher must work together for the betterment There are definitely alternatives…but these alernatives tend to only address the hyperactivity component. Many children outgrow this component as they age, however, the attention deficit component has the propensity to follow them into their adulthood.

I only ask that when one speaks on a particular subject, please try to address all aspects of the subject. Not doing so, would be unfair and irresponsible.

To set the record straight, I and one of my sons has AD/HD. We cope, prefer to not medicate. And my nephew is maturing and done incredibly well without drugs. Ahh, the uneducated, I know it is repulsive that anyone may post who have worked through their disorder alternatively.

Hello Teresa,

I am speaking to you directly. I am not at all repulsed by your alternative approach to coping with ADD/ADHD. I am a registered nurse and I have worked directly with ADHD children…and ADD adults. I have ADD…for which I am taking Vyvanse…with few side effects. My son has ADD…still…at 17 years of age…he is taking Vyvanse and Straterra. Luckily, he outgrew the hyperactivity component.

I applaud you and others…who are being helped by this alternative approach…I am also glad that…this approach works for you and your family…as it does some others. However, this approach does not help the vast majority of people. I will continue to work tirelessly…for those who are not helped by the alternative path…

…and for those who are…blessings forever!!!…because this is truly…the misunderstood disorder.

Peace and Blessings!!

April

I’m just posting because I saw several posts and it was very off putting. As a 19 year old student in college I find it very hard to focus and get through the classes let alone studying after the day is done. As a child I was diagonsed with ADD and was put on Ritalin and other ADD medicine, which worked well for me. However, when I hit middle school I didn’t like taking the meds and decided to go off of them. Through middle school and high school I stayed off the medicine and getting by with solid grades but once college hit I realized how hard it was for my to not only sit still through a class, let alone a full day that I needed to talk to my doctor and see if I could possibly get back on something and see if it made a difference. Sure enough last year spring quarter I started Vyvance at 70mg. For the first few weeks I can not stand the side effects of it due to how bad they can seem. I had all of the typical side effects too. I eat a normal breakfast, and take the pill at 6am and I do not get hungry until around 7pm. This is highly problematic due to my size in general. For the first few weeks it’s horrible, when I end up getting hungry and try to eat I feel sick and can not eat much at a time. This in my opinion is one of the worst side effects. The others that effect(ed) me are the moodyness and sleeping issues. Until the person adjusts to the medicine a full restful nights sleep isn’t easy, I’ll lay in bed and not sleep and when I do I’ll wake up possibly once an hour. While I don’t notice the mood swings and toucheyness my family and friends do.

Now you may be thinking why would I take this if it’s really that bad. This is simple for me, after the first week or two I go back to about normal and it does really help with focusing in classes and at work. The lose of apetite is still there but goes down over time and the sick feeling after a few weeks goes as well.

Just know that medicines react differently with different people and just because it works for one doesn’t mean it will for you or your child.

Joe,
Thank you for your post - and also thanks for supporting my comment mid-way through this thread. I appreciate it.
I hope your research goes well.
If you are interested in ‘anecdotal’ stories of how vyvanse works - I suggest you go here - there are almost 400 comments from people about Vyvanse:
http://www.addadhdblog.com/does-vyvanse-work/
Please let us know how your progress goes.
Best,
Dr. Kenny

Dr. Kenny
Can you give me some insight. Have had high blood pressure since age 20. Mother, father, sister, brother, also HBP. From then until now I feel I have been on every medication posible and had every diagnosis from major depression, bi-polar, manic/depressive, anxiety, anti-social to the right diagnosis ADD, (with depression). I was on elavil ( got up to 4-50s aday fin nine years) prozac, zanax, buspar, paxil, zoloft, valium, sinequan, klonipin, etc. Every time they came out with a new drug, I was on it. I was in such a fog with the elavil, I forgot about being depressed and when they put me on 300 mg of seroquel with lithium for six years I saw things, heard things, could not stay awake and dont’ remember much during that time. But I held a job, work 8 hours, sleep 14 and from the time I got off work on Friday until back to work on Monday, sleep. Stopped the meds, married, had 3 kids, left after the last one was 3 months old because I became an achoholic and violent. I knew the kids would be better off without me and their father would take care of them. I also new they would grow up hating me for running out. Then I lost 10 years somewhere. Tried suiside at 16, 35, and 45, then met this Dr. who ran me thru brain scans, body scans, sychological test (I can’t spell) then sent me to this Dr, after going thru all my past records he could find, who was a leading authority on ADHD/ADD. The testing took 3 months. A book full of questions, they gave me 3 days to answer, dexterity test, and other test I don’t remember. ADD was the last thing I thought I was. My son and brother were both ADHD, I did not know it ran in the family. After trial and error of meds, rittlen, dexadrine, etc. , he came up with 450 mg Wellbutrin XL, 2-30 mg adderall, 10 mg Norvasc, 320/25 mg Diovan HCT in the mornings and a 30 mg addrall in the afternoon and my life changed. I reconciled with my kids, was praised at work, and only slept 10 hours a day. I still get lost going from 1 side of town to another, don’t know anyones phone number without looking it up each time, and that goes for numbers I call everyday, and then misdial because I read the numbers wrong, can’t remember what year my kids were born and still forget what I’m saying in mid-sentence, but I promise you I am 100% better than I was 9 years ago. And I am scarred to death. I can’t afford the meds without insurance. Dr. K did give me enough samples of BP meds to last 6 months and Wellbutrine for a month before my insurance ran out Aug. 1st. and a scrpt for the free Vyvanse which made me deathly ill and can not take. I found help with the BP meds and Wellbutrine thru a Hope program in town and monthly check-ups to continue Adderall but they said the Adderall would be full cost.. Dr. K wrote me a scrpt for Adderall after I called and told him about the Vyvanse reaction I had which I filled yesterday after selling a couple of things ($210 for the month script) and was wanting to know if you knew of any organization that could help me with the cost of Adderall. I’m getting by with unemployment for bills and my part of the cost of the other meds but I can not afford $210 a month. (for some reason the generic did not work) He said all the past meds took away somethings in my brain I may never get back. ( my finger hurt the other night and I put a bandaid on it, I woke up later and wondered why it still hurt so much, when I looked down not only did I put it on the wrong finger but also the wrong hand) Thats when I decided to sell something and fill the script for Adderall. It’s not fair to finally get a life, know you are not crazy and then have it taken away because sales are low. This gives me a month to figure something out while trying to find another job after all these years. Sorry this is so long but I don’t know where else to turn and I have checked on-line, off-line, and every agency I could think of with no results. I really don’t want this public, I’m embarrased. Getting all this down has made me feel better even if you don’t reply and probably can’t suggest any resoursecs I may not know about. Thanks for listoning (reading). Things were good for awhile though.

I am a 41 yr old male and I have ADHD (both sides of the condition). I have a typical high school history common with an ADHD kid (poor grades, etc) but I was tested at a very early age for a high IQ. I am lucky that my ADHD is somewhat offset by my IQ or I would never have gotten into college and into grad school, but with my untreated ADHD, I was always the guy who did well but never as “amazing” as I could have. As soon as I got my first real job and health insurance, i got an official diagnosis for my ADHD and started the common procedure of finding which medication worked best for me (this was in 1993). First was Ritalin but it seemed to make me jittery. I took it about a week. Then I tried Cylert which was AWESOME but gave me freaky dreams and the sense that I didn’t sleep (when I did). Finally my doc and I settled on Desipramine HCL which is commonly used as an anti-depressant but at lower doses can be used to treat ADHD. I took it for 12 yrs but was never satisfied because it seemed to treat only one aspect of the condition (the hyperactivity). I never seemed to get any additional benefit on the attention side. When Strattera came on the market, I asked my doc to let me try it and he was eager since Desipramine can have some nasty side effects (heart related, not to mention the constipation). The strattera seemed to be similar to the Desipramine in so far that it only treated the hyperactivity and not even as well as the Desipramine. I’ve recently tried adding Adderall XR to the mix and I can’t say that I notice much of an improvement in concentration but I’m going to enroll myself in a clinical trial for Vyvanse for adults to see if it helps me. This long-winded blog is for md the college student. If Stratttera is helpful for your condition and you don’t need more concentration, you can probably try to add Adderall (with your doctor’s approval) but it might not be better.

Is there anyone else out there who has looked for a solution to the two sides of ADHD and found a way to improve both the attention focus and hyperactivity? I would be very eager to hear your comments!

Help! I started Vyvanse 30 mg today and I have felt like a zombie all day. I feel so tired. Has anyone else experienced this? I did not expect to feel this way. I appreciate your comments, thanks!!

Vyvanse - The New Medicine for ADD/ADHD…

Vyvanse is a new ADD/ADHD drug manufactured by Shire that was approved by the FDA in February 2007 to treat ADD/ADHD symptoms in children aged 6 through 12….

Vyvanse - The New Medicine for ADD/ADHD | ADD ADHD Blog.com…

Vyvanse is a new ADD/ADHD drug manufactured by Shire that was approved by the FDA in February 2007 to treat ADD/ADHD symptoms in children aged 6 through 12….

Vyvanse, if you read the info that comes with it, is meant for pre-teens & teens. It is not meant for adults. I don’t think it should be used by children either! My 11 year old has been on it for 2 months (waiting for call from Dr. to get him off of it) he has become so enraged and hears voices and has conversations with them. He also has no self control at all. He has not slept a wink the past few days. I am sure he has not been sleeping for quite some time now, I just have not noticed. He cries at the drop of a hat even though he is taking an anti-depressant.

DO NOT GIVE THIS TO YOUR CHILDREN!! AFTER READING THIS BLOG I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOME MORE CLINICAL STUDIES AND THIS DRUG SHOULD BE PULLED FROM THE SHELVES! IT IS DISGUSTING THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING ABOUT THIS DRUG & NOBODY IS DOING A THING ABOUT IT!! WE TRUST THAT WE ARE NOT HARMING OUR CHILDREN OR OURSELVES WHEN TAKING MEDICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA, BUT WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS, TRUST YOURSELVES…. TAKE YOUR KIDS OFF THIS MEDICATION! MAYBE A LETTER OR TWO FROM SOME LAWYERS WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION!

Whoa…Kelli, easy with the all caps shouting….there are many, many, did I say many? of us out here who do NOT have any serious side effects from Vyvanse. I am sorry that your son cannot take it, but there may be some other medication that will work for him. It’s trial and error. Our body chemistries are all different and that goes for many other medications as well. I take aciphex for acid reflux. My doctor switched me to another type (the purple one, I can’t remember the name), and I was sick for 2 weeks, plus my metabolism shut off and I gained almost 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I switched back and was fine. He mentioned to me that this sometimes happens with the acid reflux drugs…And it happens for many others as well.

Vyvanse has been a life-saver for me and for my daughter, not to mention the rest of the family. We are finally experiencing a relatively normal family life for the first time in 14 years. I am returning to the workplace, and my family and personal relationships have improved 1000%.

Before you body-slam something, please remember that every drug has its pros and cons. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t take it. The rest of us are fine. If there comes a day when I experience an adverse effect, I will report it, and ask my doctor for something else.

By the way, sleep, diet and exercise play a HUGE role in how well this drug can work for you. Actually, all three can be affect the ADD/ADHD braina whether you are on meds or not. I can feel the difference on my “bad food” days, and it encourages me to eat properly, and get plenty of sleep. I am still working on the exercise.

Good luck to you, and keep trying to find the right med….

Vyvanese has been a god send to me. I have been on it for over 9 months as a 47 year old female. My question for the doctor is: I am suddenly so overtired. I can go to sleep at 5:30 an sleep until work the next morning. I have been for a physical and had blood work, but everythig comes out fine. The only real differene in my life is this medication. I have just been increased to 100 mg. I noticed that one of the serious side effects could be extreme tiredness. Should I be concerned and if so, what do I do? I like the medicine.Thanks

I am a 25 year old who was diagnosed with ADD 2 years ago and have tried a few different drugs. Strattera did nothing but make me very tired. Next came Ritalin immediate-release, which worked well for the first month or so, but then became much less effective after developing a bit of tolerance. Unfortunately, when I increased the dose I started getting awful headaches around 6pm every day like clockwork. Next came adderall, the miracle drug for me. I finally know what it feels like to be efficient in life. I could never understand how other people in my life were so busy, focused and organized. I somehow managed to skate by in grade school, high school and college, but every day was a struggle. I remember watching people read or hearing from friends and family about books they loved, and thinking to myself, “how the f do these people have the patience to sit down and read a book for hours when I cant even finish a paragraph without daydreaming” This was the case for pleasurable books as well, not just text books. I had come to copes with the fact that I was never going to be able to do these things. I had written myself off as dumb or slow. I mean, I had to be, right? Wrong! Adderall opened my eyes and has given me the opportunity to enjoy all of the things I was missing out on. I am forever grateful. Something as simple as sitting down and writing this comment would have been out of the question in past. What I would do to go back in time and have been put on it as a child, wow would things have been different. Anyway, my doctor suggested trying Vyvanse. I have been taking 70mg a day for the past week and I find it to be equally as effective as adderall with less ups and downs. I also find that I have an easier time just sitting around and chilling out on Vyvanse while adderall almost forces me to be productive (not really a bad thing). All in all, great drug. for me.

On another note. I just read Nikki’s post and not only am I shocked a 2 year old was put on adderall, but 70mg daily??!! Its nothing against you, Nikki, I just didnt know that went on. I am definitely pro ADD/ADHD meds, but even if 2year olds can be diagnosed with adhd I would think adderall is too powerful of a stimulant for their fratgile little hearts. and 70mg blows my mind. I am 25 years old, 225 pounds and I take an absolute maximum of 50-60mg a day. Maybe he had a horrible temper and was sick cause his heart was about to explode…

Hey Doc… It has been 2 months since my 7 yr old son was swithched to vyvanse from adderall, It works great i have to say, he got a perfect report card and has been labeled the kid that will cure cancer some day. he has however lost approx 10lbs since been on it and my question is whey you answered Alans question you said that it was not a stimulant, what is it then cos i automatically thought it was and am slightly confused right now. thanks for being honest with all of us needing info in the best possible care for our child
Rhona

I have been diagnosed with ADD and I have been on Dexedrine, Adderall and Adderall XR and my Doctor wants me to switch to Vyvanse. I am worried that this new medication will not be as effective. Does anyone have any experience with the transition?

Christine- My 11 year old son take this and It’s a god sent. He has a focusing problem not hyper. I told my husband these meds are like gold. I worked with the teacher for the first couple of months. To make sure it was the right dose. We went down to 15mg from 30mg. Old side effects I saw on 30gm was he talked alot. Now he is getting A’s and B’s.

Christine- He has been on it since April of last year. I make sure he has food before he takes it. Sometimes he has a harder time sleeping, but nothing bad.

A realistic opinion? Wow, just because I chose not to drug myself or my kids with a stimulant in the family of amphetamines does not mean that I am unrealistic. My niece avoided the drugs too with her son and hopefully the future issues with cardiac and other nasty side effects.

I feel for you, but because I dealt with it in other, natural ways, I am obviously not realistic? Wow again. We all have to pick our own paths. I don’t think there is a parent out there that doesn’t worry about any decisions they choose to make. The truth of the matter is, we all have survived, right or wrong, good or bad. I would be very concerned if my son didn’t sleep through the night. You should be working with a very good medication manager and I would also recommend that you keep a diary of his changes, good or bad.

Sorry, I don’t trust drug companies. Too many “gee whiz, gosh, gollie” answers from them. When they start taking responsibilities for the complications and deaths that they create, I might become compassionate. I am one of their victims, until I broke free and could figure out my answers and ween myself off the $$$$$ they got out of me.

If you want to look at some alternative, consider searching “Brain Gym” a kinetic linking system that may help your kids focus. Just because your kids don’t fit into the learning system our teachers want them to mature into does not mean they have disabilities, they are just wired a little different and probably brilliant!

Sorry I was offended by your comment and I want you to know that I wish you the best with the difficult decisions you are making with your children. Good Luck, Teresa

P.S. The last post was not written by Christine. It was written by me, Trevor. My post was directed to Christine, not thinking I put her name in the name box. One of my ADD moments.

Good Luck Ann, I know about Asperger’s and it sounds like with the ADD as well, you have no other choice. I hope it works for him. If not, don’t give up hope. I would also encourage you to try dietary changes. Environment and food sensitivities are tough. Please clean only with Vinegar and water. Chemicals may really trigger him. If you have animals in the house, they will thank you too.
Vinegar is an excellent germ killer!

My 5yr old was prescribed Vyvanse 30mg capsules to be taken once in the morning. I tried it on a saturday so I could monitor the effects. Well as soon as it kicked in, he started talking uncontrollaby, non stop. His heart was beating much faster and he was taking short fast breaths of air. I called the after hours nurse and she said that it has not been in his blood stream long enough to work properly. Okay, my son threw up 2 times and couldnt keep anything down, the medicine finally subsided at 9:30pm that night. I didnt give him anymore and today I am going to his doctor for a consultation regarding this medicine. I dont like how it effected my child. Please advise me if this is normal or if taking him off of it would be the right thing. Thank you

What happens to a person if he/she takes 3 or more 70mg Vyvanse pills?

Teresa,

Thank you. I did tell his doctor and the pharmacist about his reactions. The doctor prescribed him 5mg Ritalin. Which is only to last 4 hours. So I again gave it to him this past Saturday and he seemed fine. He was talking but not crazy like or to where I could’nt control it. So today is the real test when he is give it to him 30 min before his lunch because after lunch he goes to pre school. I am crossing my fingers that he wont have a horrible time today. I am still monitoring him and looking for any negative reactions. As for Vyvanse, never again…I flushed the med down the toilet (it was free with a coupon) so no money was lost.

I am seeking counseling for my child as well as tightening the parenting belt and working with his teacher to help him improve. The medicine is not a cure all thats for sure.

Okay I’m not entirely sure how this website forum works out but I have a question if anyone is experiencing what I am please feel free to leave a comment but if there’s a doctor who can help that’d be great. Alright so I started taking Vyvanse about 3 days ago and I haven’t used it enough to know really, but I feel that it is doing something for me. I am 15 years old and I tried concerta before but it didnt help at all and had some side effects including faster heart beats, more sweat and all that so I got off of it about a month after I started using it. But I was kind of expecting to lose a few pounds with Vyvanse but instead I feel like im gaining weight?? A little confused here because I workout everyday..pretty hardcore workouts too..have a balanced diet but in the past few days (since I started on Vyvanse) i really think im gaining weight. somehow so please let me know if this is happening to you too or if you know why this could be..Thanks so much!

Question! I have been taking vyvanse for a few months now. I love it! Before i started taking the med. i had about a 15 pound weight lose. I did lose about 5 more pounds after starting to take the medication. My question is will vyvanse make you lose weight the whole time you are on the medication? my doctor says my weight is healthy and that i am fine. but because friends anf family do not go to my doctors app. with me. they all blame my weight lose on the vyvanse. Even thought i was losing the weight before ever taking the vyvanse. I just don’t know how to respond to them when they have comments about my weight and then blame it on the medicine i take. my weight has been the same for the last few months so no more weight lose has accured. Thank you!

One more question…. does anyone have a dual Rx for both vyvanse and adderall? Some days I need to be focused all day long and its great but the insomnia can be really bothersome and of course leaves me feeling way too drained. It would be nice if i could take vyvanse some days and adderall (not extended release) some others… as in, some days i only “need” a few hours of productivity.

is there any evidence/has anyone experienced negative effects in ‘mixing’ the drugs or going from one to the other? Is there any reason a doc would be hesitant to write a dual Rx like this?

Thanks.

Bell,

I have RX’s for both Adderall and Vyvanse, however they are both the XR variety. I get different results from each, with Adderall being my consistent choice. I only take my meds as needed: when I have exams, meetings, or days when I really need to be on my game. Also, pay attention to when you take the drug and the effect that has on you. I used to take them about half hour before my first meal of the day, now I take them right after breakfast or a half hour afterward. I find this eases the intensity of the feeling of being “on” with the meds.

Regarding personality: I have had the EXACT feelings you had, where I feel completely logical minded and purpose driven, often losing track of time because I’m so focused on a given project. I don’t lose my sense of humor per se, but do find that my attitude can be quite serious if I’m not monitoring it. I would say this is more of a dosage issue. I personally believe in taking the minimum amount I need to get results, and don’t want to increase it if I don’t need to. Feeling completely logic driven is usually my cue to take a day or two away from the meds.

Hope this helps.

Aaron K

Hi Angela,

I am sorry for your pain. I understand that you are frightened. However, your Pharmacist may have an excellent point. Their drug education is far superior to the Physicians and I would consider this other drug. The older ones (or generics) have been around awhile. Look it up on Medline or Web MD and see what the side affects are that are listed. Vyvanase is metabolized differently than the older drugs (there is less of an issue with kids who abuse them) but that does not make it a better drug for you.

Another option, if you want to stay on it consider reducing your dose, you may just be on too much. Feeling agitated is a terrible side affect for you and your family. To be able to afford staying on this drug…sometimes Pharmaceutical companies have special programs for people who have suffered a loss of job and lost their health insurance. You might try contacting them to see if you qualify for a reduced program.

The latest research according to my Psychologist is, you need to create a schedule for yourself. After working on a project for 20 minutes take a couple minute break. Use an egg timer if you have to. Meditation is very helpful and should be a part of your daily life. But if you fail to adhere to a schedule, your ADD/ADHD behaviors will be as bad as before. Medication is the only easy solution.

I have managed to stay medication free for about 5 years with a lot of hard work. But I certainly respect peoples decisions to use medication. Hang in there! The one thing I know for sure about ADD people is they are usually quite brilliant and incredibly capable. Unfortunately we have to create how to survive in this world, fight to be what we perceive is normal.

Good Luck,
Teresa

SORRY FOLKS: LONG-TERM USE VYVANSE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE FIRST 6 MONTHS - 1 YEAR.

I am a 20 year old female who has been taking vyvanse for about 2 years now. I am severely ADD, and struggled with various common comorbidities such as severe OCD, anorexia nervosa and panic disorder as a child/adolescent. Recovering from Anorexia nervosa at 16, I developed bulimia and then my psychiatrist finally diagnosed with ADD and put on adderall XR at 16, my world changed and for the first time I could think clearly and did not feel trapped and desperate for a coping mechanism (i.e anorexia, bulimia). When vyvanse was released, my doc switched me over.
Well, after experiencing life as it should be on my meds, I literally could not function without them (BEFORE I developed tolerance). Life was good, vyvanse 50mg lasted 12 hrs, I stayed skinny, all was well.

Well…as 50mg lasted fewer and fewer hours, I began taking two: one each 12 hours, every other day. This worked pretty well, but over time I grew ever tolerant and had to go to 70mg to produce the same level of functioning even though the crash can last hours and is a physical AND emotional HELL, and my side effects like racing heart and decreased circulation were more pronounced.

Here I am, 2 years later, APPETITE SUPPRESSION LASTS ONLY A FEW HOURS ANYMORE and I’ve gained a little weight because as soon as it is out of my system, I can’t control my appetite, which has led me back to bulimia and is ruining my life, I only dream of being able to have it in my system 24/7 because now with my dependence, even the 30minutes that I’m not on it is miserable…I can’t be awakened, I feel like I have the energy of someone recovering from being run over by a train, I have no motivation… BUT the side effects are so intense that even after 2 years, I’m SCARED every time i take it and very scared to take 70mg twice a day for fear of having a stroke or MI. I do not regret this drug, I only desperately want to find a solution.

Hi Angela,

I certainly do not mind answering your questions. I have ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Panic as well as depression so trying to stabilize was what I did for 15 years on medication combination’s of every sort. I felt dead all the time, had no joy.

I started taking liquid vitamins and antioxidants and began to feel stronger. I use a grapefruit mist to elevate my moods. I realized I was very sensitive to smells and found some chemicals made me almost manic and angry, it was awful to feel like I could loose control. Because of that connection I started to choose chemical alternatives in my home like vinegar and other natural alternatives.

I also began to be more conscious of my dietary choices. Medications were responsible for a 70lb weight gain. I still am battling getting my figure back but I am well on my way. I read that in an embryonic state the cell that is the brain divides into the intestinal system connected by the vegas nerve. When I read about that, I thought that maybe I should create a very healthy intestinal tract. The gut actually produces more serotonin than the brain so I felt like that may be a huge connection for me in creating my own healthy balance.

I heard an excellent speaker talk about the dangers of all of these medications and I took her advice on how to withdraw. Everytime in the past I withdrew from medication with my Psycho pharmacologist I really suffered. Her advice was if you have been medicated over 5 years, that you must come off the drugs over a two year period, medicated for 2 years, you can come off in one.

I reduced my meds so slowly that my body did not realize what I was doing, literally using a knife too shave a small portion off a tablet or count out the balls in a capsule, maintaining that level for a week or two and then reducing again by another shave until I got it to an approximate quarter, then I used a pill splitter and divided it in quarters. Then I would get a lesser script for the next round. I tried to not stress my body and there would be times when I felt I couldn’t do anymore for even a month.

I won’t say it was easy. Nothing in my life has been easy because just like you I thought I was so very stupid. I had taken my boys to Sylvan Learning Center to be tested for additional help in school. They introduced me to learning styles and I have found that I am a visual learner. I must make charts and graphs, I need pictures to engage me which is why I failed so miserably with school. I am the person that can read a book and have no clue what I just read. I read the words but had no comprehension abilities. I actually have a reasonably high IQ.

So my choice for not medicating is over my greatest concern about my personal failure with so many drugs and the side effects I experienced. I am going to talk to my Physician about a short term acting drug that may help me with attention when I need to study. What I have to do now is read slowly out loud and take notes to comprehend making it a very long and tedious process. However, if anxiety is my response, I won’t be able to handle it. I will just have to cope in my own way.

I hang on to hope that new connections are being made all the time about the brain. I work very hard at educating myself and trying to be as healthy as I can be. I am sorry this was long, but I felt you needed to really understand where I am coming from.

As of today, I am using herbal combination’s to detox my liver, kidneys, gal bladder and intestinal tract alternating those programs. So many of the drugs I took were broken down in the liver or even kidneys so I am trying to stimulate and heal these organs sticking to my theory that brain health is connected to intestinal and overall gut health. I do sudoku and brain exercises each day hoping to stimulate and create new pathways (which is actually proven medically) I hope this all makes sense to you. I wish you well in your choices. Five kids makes an incredibly busy life! They do deserve your best.

My 10 year old son takes Vyvanse and it has done wonders for him. When he was first diagnosed with ADHD his pediatrician put him on Adderall 5mg. I would give it to him at 7 am when he woke before he would eat his breakfast. He was at school for 8:30 am. So it has done kicked in by then. Well he would come home from school at 3:45 and by 4 pm he would come down HARD off of adderall and would just strain his body and scream and slam things and was chasing his older sister to hit her. I was scared for my self and him as well. A friend talked to me about Vyvanse and how it changed her life so, I talked to my sons dr. and she didnt even hesitate to switch him. His grades went from C’s and D’s to A honor roll. Only symtom was that it surpressed his appetite during lunch time. And b/c of that he did end up losing 2 to 3 pounds but we were told to up the sugar intake and carbs. With in no time he gained it back. His behavior improved tramendously. But We realize that vyvanse is not the answer to “fix” his problems. We do understand that it is just a boost. His changes came from good parenting skills. With a little help from in home counseling for parent and child. Some people dont believe in or want to take time or spend the money, but you can not put a price on your children. It is Worth it and I highly recommend it . We are glad and happy with vyvanse and unlike the adderall, vyvanse does last for him over 12 hours could be more but he is in bed by 8 pm so we dont know if it last longer than 13 hours. But I dont dought it. It’s not addictive and it is not as harmful to him as adderall etc., and LESS side effects. I recommend Vyvanse to any parent or adult who is in need. We are satisfied and our son will continue to use it. And if there are people out there looking for it to get high or mis use it…your in for a let down. And if you are , you really need to get help.

Teresa,

What a wonderful story! You truly are making every effort to take care of yourself, and do what is right for you and your family. I am glad you have been able to find success with what you are doing now. As anyone with ADD/ADHD knows, that’s not an easy thing to do. It really just takes time, and trying many different things, to see what works best for you.

I really liked that you took your boys to the Sylvan Learning Center, I wish they had something like that while I was growing up. I have always told myself that if any of my kids show problems or struggles in school, that was something I would really look into doing. Sounds like it’s worked great for your boys.

I am still not sure if, and for how long I will continue with Vyvanse. It’s really hard to make a decision like that without seeing a Dr. on a monthly basis. I would like to try a couple different things (maybe different brand of med, adjust mg?) I am not sure. Like I said before, (maybe?) this is the first ADD medication I have been on in 15 years. So, I would like to try a few thing, before making the choice to go off.

Hey, but i do have one more question for you (If that’s ok?)
I realize you are not on any ADD medication now, but maybe through 15 years of “experimenting” different meds, and being involved with it for so long, maybe you could help me in answering this question, or tell me where i could look to find out.

Right now I am on 60mg of the Vyvanse once a day. I am just starting a part-time job that I can do from home to help with money until we can get back on our feet again. I do this job early in the morning (4:00am) and take my med around 5:30-6:00am. Around 1:30-3:00pm I feel the medication wear off. It makes me feel horrible, and I still have half my day to go! (and as any mom) have my biggest stress hours when 2 of my 5 kids, come home from school.

I am SO happy with all that I get done and acclompished during the time the medication is working, but HATE it wearing off because of the side effects.

I have heard that some Dr’s will split the dose, 30mg in morning and 30mg in the afternoon, but wonder if only taking 30mg at a time will even help. That’s the amount I started on, and it worked for about 2 months, and then it felt like it didn’t help at all.

Have you heard, or ever taken any ADHD medication this way? I just would think it would not have any effect on me considering I take the 60mg now, and then I replace it with the 30mg. But then I take another 30mg in the afternoon, so who knows? And I did qualify for the program you told me about (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!) so cost is not an issue at this time.

I’m just not sure what to do anymore? Like I said, I would really like to try a few things with the medication, see if I can find something that works for me, but I am absoulty not against going off of it either. I think for me, it’s just a matter of deciding if the good things about the medicine out weigh the bad, taking it a step at a time, and just hoping and praying that I make the right choice for me and my family. Thanks again for your help, it is truly appreciated!

Angie

Gaby,
I’m not aware that Vyvanse can cause those side effects, but I’m not sure.
But I have one message for you - if you’ve had that type of surgery before, and you now have these symptoms - go see your doctor asap! Get checked out.
Dr. Kenny

Hi Jennifer,

Stimulants have the opposite affect on children. You can google it and I am sure you will find supporting data. He may need to adjust to it more slowly, like give it to him Sat and Sun and maybe by Monday he will be feeling better, I would also only give him half. This is equivalent to giving an anti anxiety drug to an overstressed adult so of course he is feeling weak and sleepy.

He is really young to be medicating. My son was the same way. We just worked very hard with outside school reading programs as well as special help in school and we read to him and with him every night. Magic happened when we found something that really interested him but it took a few years. My son was mentally immature, not ADD/ADHD but socially ready for school. He is certainly very intelligent and is quite capable of performing well in anything he does.

Once again, only 7? Seems like your expectations may be a little higher than what he is capable of at this time. My oldest son, now 26 who is ADHD is a brilliant salesman. We all get by, I would like to say as a mom, I think your job is to encourage and love. Read to him everyday and play fun learning games, that he does not realize are learning games. Like a hide and seek game where you give him directions and he has to listen and follow them. Engage him in making dinner. He may be a tactile learner which would also be difficult for him in a school setting.

The best to you and your decision.
Teresa

I am over 50 and have had attention problems all my life. (In 2nd grade my teacher told my mother my poor grades were because I daydreamed.) I was a super achiever (egged on by family) and struggled night and day to make A’s and B’s but felt dumb. I could not find a middle ground for studying. I would read and re-read because either I couldn’t focus or couldn’t remember what I read. Fatigue and brain fog as well as forgetfulness, anxiety and disorganization were a constant struggle. With enough time and energy, I could perform well on exams. However, studying was my whole life. Socially, I wanted to be accepted but while friendly, was shy and had only a few close friends. I didn’t have time for extracurricular activities but was artistic and liked to paint and draw in my spare time. Working for others was a problem because unlike studying, I couldn’t spend as long as needed to get the job done right and I was very disorganized. So I became a self-employed consultant. Taking care of a family of my own was overwhelming. Mostly since turning 50 I have been unmotivated, tired, and want to be free.

I had read about ADD in women (not hyperactive but sluggish and unfocused) and thought that might be my problem. So after all these years I started a year ago seeing a psych and trying meds. Focalin made me so hungry I gained 10 pounds. Vyvanse has been very good and I lost the 10 pounds. I am more outgoing right after taking one (60 mg.) and have energy and am talkative but within 2 hours I get superfocused on one thing and don’t really want to do anything else but sit in one place and read or work on something. I have not wanted to exercise and can’t go to sleep without a sleeping pill. My mood is flat. Sometimes I have breathing problems and worry about that. I am on the brink of quitting all the meds except when I have a lot of paperwork. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

So — please do everything you can to help your children from a very early age. Consult experts, teach them organizational skills, help them socialize properly, teach them to relax, use meds if necessary. Help them find a career that works best with this disorder. Tell them it is not their fault but a disease to be managed. I wish I had had some help beginning in 2nd grade.

hi im am 16 turning 17 and my buddy game me one of his pills of vyvanse and im not doing good in school and i dont lissen in class and when i was little my mom and dad thought i had ADHD and almost all of my friends thank i do so i took they pill and it made me calme and chill and lissen more in class and i hardly ever do that. like all my friends even my best friend said is something up with u like u seem happy and in a good mood and actualy working in class and it dont seem like u at all. so i told them what i took and they all said i should start taking it and get it prescribed to me. like it was a blue and orange pill and it was 70mg and i really thougt it worked even i seen a change in me. so i was wanting to know if i could get on and and how much it would cost and just some background info on it.. if u guys and girls can please for me

Dr. Handelman,
I am 20 years old and suffer from ADHD. I was recently prescribed Vyvanse. It helped my focus a lot and I feel much better on this medication, but when I take it my heart races. Is this something I should be worried about?
Thanks,
Erin

Hello Dr. Handelman

My son is 14 years old and has been on different ADHD medications for years. His doctor started him on Vyvanse. Since then he has been able to focus at school and football practice. He seems more like young man he is. He really likes the medication. He made the comment to me right after he started taking it he said “Mom, what am I going to do if they stop making Vyvanse?” That comment broke my heart.

He is a freshman in high school and has always done poorly in school. He always received either a D or F in his classes. He now has made honor roll. He has received one A and 5 B. We are so excited for him.

Please pass along to others how good this medication is. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me about this.

Dr. Handelman,
I am 22 and just graduated college. I am mildly ADHD and diagnosed as significantly ADD. Since I was a freshman in high school I have been taking amphetamine salts in 20 mg and 30 mg doses. The drug has allowed me to complete my work in a timely fashion and definitely increases the pace that I read at but has what I feel are significantly detrimental side effects. When I take the drug (and I don’t always take it), I experience increased levels of anxiety, decreased friendliness, sleeplessness, and a generally lower level of social interaction ability. I have dealt with these side effects as my grades are dependent upon my taking the drug but I do not want to continue my use of the drug in an interactive work environment (which I will be beginning on july 15th). I also would love to find a drug a drug that does not keep me up all night as amphetamine salts often do. Does vyvanse have that many fewer side effects? Are there any drugs that I can take that will help my ADD while not having a severe effect on my mind and body? I know that my inconsistent use of the drug that I should be taking daily is not good but I just do not want to feel the way that it typically makes me feel. Let me know of any recommendations because I never want to take amphetamine salts or adderall again. Thanks so much.