Vyvanse – The New Medicine for ADD/ADHD
ByWhat is Vyvanse?
[Article Updated May 2010]
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. It is a prodrug, which means that it must be orally ingested to activate its main ingredient, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. So the actual medication is inert – i.e. it doesn’t do anything – until an enzyme in the body converts the medicine into the active drug. Because Vyvanse is a stimulant which is not a functioning stimulant (until it is converted by an enzyme in the body), it has a much lower abuse potential than other ADHD stimulant medicines.
When Vyvanse enters the stomach and small bowel, there are enzymes which will break the medicine up. Vyvanse will become: lysine (an amino acid that has no impact on ADHD), as well as dextroamphetamine. Dextroamephetamine is a medical amphetamine (different than the ‘street drugs’) which is very helpful for ADHD. It has been used for treatment of ADHD for decades, and has been available under different names like: Dexedrine and Dextrostat. Once the active medicine is broken from the amino acid lysine, it can now begin to function to help ADHD.
Thus, if someone tries to abuse Vyvanse by snorting it, or even trying to inject it – they will not get a high because it will not be an active medicine until an enzyme in the body works on it and ‘activates’ it.
Although it is generally thought that the medicine is mainly broken down or ‘activated’ in the stomach/small bowel, it may also be ‘activated’ in the blood as well.
In clinical studies, parents reported that their children’s ADD/ADHD symptoms were consistently controlled throughout the day, even through homework time from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. Newer research is showing that Vyvanse can work for 13 hours and maybe even longer. Additionally, children taking Vyvanse in the study were able to focus and perform better on tests; in a timed math test, a group taking Vyvanse attempted 51% more math problems than the group given placebo, and provided correct answers 54% more often than the placebo group.
An overall improvement was recorded in 95% of children that took Vyvanse for 12 months.
What are the characteristics of Vyvanse?
Vyvanse is in the same medication family as Adderall; its active ingredient is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. It provides consistent ADD/ADHD symptom control for 13 hours. Vyvanse is a capsule that can be swallowed whole or the capsule can be opened and mixed with water (for kids who can’t swallow).
Vyvanse is taken once daily and is available in six dosage strengths (when it was first launched in the US, it was only available in three strengths, but there are more options now):
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
- 40 mg
- 50 mg
- 60 mg
- 70 mg
These different strengths give you and your doctor some flexibility in determining which dosage is right for you, your teen or your child. The recommended starting dose for Vyvanse is 30 mg once per day taken orally in the morning. The dosage may then be increased by up to 20 mg per day at weekly intervals, up to a maximum of 70 mg per day.
Who is Vyvanse approved for?
Currently, Vyvanse is approved for children aged 6 to 12 years, as well as adults aged 18-65 years old.
While there is not yet official approval for Vyvanse in Adolescent ADHD, many doctors are using this medicine for teens, and presumably the official indication will be coming soon.
What are the side effects of Vyvanse?
Vyvanse was very well tolerated in clinical studies with children. The most common side effects were decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, irritability, and stomachache. Generally, the side effects were described as mild to moderate; occurrence and severity of side effects decreased over time. As with any prescription medication, it is important to remember that your doctor has prescribed it because he/she feels that the benefits will outweigh the possibility of side effects.
How much does Vyvanse cost?
Vyvanse will cost the same as Shire’s other popular ADD/ADHD drug, Adderall XR: around $3.40 a day. The cost may even be less than Adderall XR because it is estimated that patients who switch from Adderall XR to Vyvanse might need fewer doses.
Ritalin remains the cheapest ADD/ADHD drug; Vyvanse costs considerably more than Ritalin and Ritalin SR. The cost is comparable to the 36mg and 54 mg doses of Concerta, which is around $140 per month.
When can Vyvanse be used?
Vyvanse should be taken once daily in the morning. It provides consistent ADHD symptom control throughout the day for up to 13 hours. In clinical studies, parents reported that their children’s ADD/ADHD symptoms were controlled at approximately 10 A.M., 2 P.M., and 6 P.M., and demonstrated consistent symptom control throughout the day.
Vyvanse is a once-a-day capsule that should be taken in the morning, either with or without food as prescribed by your child’s doctor. If your child is unable or unwilling to swallow pills, Vyvanse capsules may be opened and the entire contents of the pill can be dissolved in water. The entire portion must be finished and should not be stored for later use.
New research is demonstrating that Vyvanse’s absorption and effectiveness is completely unaffected by stomach factors. So – whether Vyvanse is taken with or without food, whether someone is taking antacid medicines, or has a GI disorder (like Celiac’s for example) – it will NOT have an impact on the effectiveness and delivery of vyvanse in the body. This is different than the other medicines for ADHD – like Adderall XR and Concerta, for example.
Can Vyvanse be abused?
The abuse potential of Vyvanse is extremely low; the medication is designed to have a reduced or minimal abuse potential. Since Vyvanse requires oral ingestion to be converted to the active drug, the capsule contents are highly unlikely to be sought out for inhalation or injection.
How does Vyvanse compare to Ritalin, Ritalin SR, and Concerta?
Vyvanse is a new class of ADD/ADHD medication. It is the only medicine which is a pro-drug for ADHD.
Unlike Ritalin, Vyvanse is not an immediate release stimulant. Vyvanse has much lower abuse and addiction potential. Ritalin SR and Concerta are long-acting formulations like Vyvanse, but Vyvanse has been shown to provide more consistent symptom control over a longer period of time than Ritalin SR and Concerta.
Ritalin, or methylphenidate, must be taken two or three times a day for symptom control, whereas Vyvanse is only taken once. The effectiveness of Ritalin is often inconsistent. It is inexpensive, but abuse and addiction potential is much higher with Ritalin than with Vyvanse.
Ritalin SR is a long-acting formulation of methylphenidate with inconsistent performance reviews. It doesn’t work for everyone and usually lasts up to 6 hours. However, like short acting Ritalin, Ritalin SR is inexpensive.
Of the three, Concerta is the most comparable ADD/ADHD medication to Vyvanse. They both control symptoms for up to 12 hours and are generally well-tolerated. Concerta is not a prodrug, so the abuse potential is theoretically higher than it is for Vyvanse.
Where is Vyvanse Available?
At the time of this article update (May 2010), Vyvanse is only available in the USA and Canada. It is not yet available in other parts of the world. Please check back, as I will update this article when Vyvanse will be available in other countries such as: the UK, Australia, Europe, etc.
New Data On Duration of Action of Vyvanse in Adults with ADD/ADHD:
New research has shown that Vyvanse works in adults with ADD/ADHD for up to 14 hours. This is a real benefit for Vyvanse, as adults have many responsibilities throughout the day and into the evening. This suggests that many people can avoid taking a short acting stimulant in the early evening (i.e. Taking Adderall XR in the morning, and short acting Adderall in the late afternoon to make the medicine last), by just taking Vyvanse which will last long enough to cover the symptoms throughout the day and the early evening.
The Bottom Line About Vyvanse
Treatment and management of ADD/ADHD requires many components; this article focuses only medication. Vyvanse is a breakthrough ADD/ADHD drug and many doctors and parents will seriously consider switching from their current ADD/ADHD medication for the benefits Vyvanse offers: low abuse and addiction potential, one daily dose, and symptom control for up to 13 hours. For more information on the other treatments of ADD/ADHD: 1) sign up for my ADD/ADHD newsletter at www.TheADHDDoctor.com, and 2) peruse this blog for more articles about ADD/ADHD.
vyvanse
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
Dr Handelman-
I am hopeful you might be able to help me here.
I am a 45yr old female, and have used meds for my ADD off and on (mostly on) for nearly 10 years. I have tried every type and dosage there is. I have been on Vyvanse for 10 months, taking 100mg (two 50′s) in the morning. Works GREAT!
I had a wonderfully successful gastric bypass 4 years ago, and I am wondering how vyvanse may digest, and absorb differently in my case.
I have been having upper abdominal pain on my right side just below the ribs near my sternum…(Liver, gallbladder area), dark urine, and my eyes are a bit jaundice.
Could it be the Vyvanse?
Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.
Gabby
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
We just started our 7yr old son on 20mg of Vyvanse. He has ADD (lacks motivation, focus, inattentive). This is the first time he has been on any medication for ADD. The first day he took Vyvanse(20mg, he became very tired and complained of feeling weak. He even fell asleep at 10:00 am. I waited a few days and put only 1/2 of the 20mg cap. in water which he took with breakfast. He still complained of being very tired and weak. He wanted to lie down and go to sleep. Are there some children who do not respond to stimulants? If so, what sort of treatment would be most successful for treating ADD if stimulants have the opposite effect?
Thank you,
Jennifer
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
Hi Jennifer.
My son is 7 and we have had him on ADHD medication since Nov of last year (6 yrs old) We have tried 3 different medications before we tried Vyvanse and the first 2 days that he was on Vyvanse he was like a Zombie and I was very nervous about it. We started it on the weekend so if there was any issues or side effects we saw it first and Saturday and Sunday he was like a Zombie but come Monday I talked to his teacher and she said he a great day and even better then a normal good day. We have had great success with Vyvanse but I remember the first two days were not good. I will be the first to admit the journey with ADHD is not over with a diagonsis and medication. They are not miracle drugs by any means but I have seen him in school, he has been evaluated and most of all my son has gain self confident that was not there last year. I know you could say he is only 7 but when you see self confidence in a 7 year you know it was not there before. The meds are just one of the tool to help our children succeed and helps us all recognize and appreciate his/her potential.
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 Vana,
What a great post. One thing that is helping me lately (medication free) is a Young Living oil called Vetiver, I smell it, it is smokey and earthy and then I leave the bottle open at my desk to focus on tasks. You can also put a few drops on your hands rub together and place on the bottoms of your feet. I have anxiety amongst other issues along with ADD and don’t want to use meds for my ADD. I was medicated for about 16 years and it was a hellish existence.
First, come off the drug slowly if you can, preferrably over 3 months, cutting back a bit at a time. (I came off my drugs over 2 years.) Your body has become dependent and I think stopping cold turkey is a huge mistake. Also consider taking a really good Curcumin supplement and you need great OPC’s. OPC-3 by Market America has had double blind studies on its product. Taken 10 to 15 minutes before food, it travels into the system really quickly and passes the blood brain barrier unlike many substances. They also have a fantastic Curcumin Extract that I love. They are expensive, but results are what you want. I feel the difference, my husband doesn’t but we both take it because of the data and it’s benefits.
You have to arm yourself before embarking on this journey. Good luck! I am 47 and feel your dilemma. I can’t say it is easy but living with ADD has never been easy for me, however, my quality of life is better than ever and I attribute it to great vitamins and a better understanding of my disabilities.
Teresa
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
Hi Mykel,
I think it is best if you speak to your doctor to find out if you have ADD/ADHD, and then discuss the medication options with your doctor. It can be quite dangerous to take someone else’s medicine if you haven’t been assessed properly, and if you haven’t had proper medical assessment and follow up.
Please talk to your doctor before you take any more of this medicine!
Best,
Dr. Kenny
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
Hi Erin,
Cardiac side effects – including heart racing can be a concern. You should speak to your doctor about this, and review the safety of the medication it in your case.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
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.
My son was on Vyvanse for 6 months. The greatness of it wears off. My son has ADHD and Bipolar disorder. Just the last few months he has become paranod and agressive beyond my control. I have not been happy with vyvanse as it does not allow my son to be an 11yr old boy. He would last for about 7-8 hours before you would notice the medication wearing off.
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.
I have taken vyvance and i also suffer from depression. Adderall really seemed to do the trick and raised me from being extremely lethargic to energetic and able to focus extremely well. I just started taking 20 mg of vyvance and noticed that it has the same effect, but not quite as energizing. It also seems that the weird (sometimes pleasant) stomach reactions arent as apparent as on adderall either. I cant help but feeling this is a safer drug that really does help add, yet it doesnt have the same characteristics that i feel would make adderall more addictive.
I had a gastric bypass in 2004. I know that I absorb things differently now, I am wondering how that applies to the Vyvanse? I took 1-50mg capsule this morning for the first time and I noticed no effect from it at all. Any advice?
I have a 10 1/2 year old daughter. She was evaluated at the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh just about 2 years ago. Her teacher in 2nd grade said that she missed most of second grade because of attention problems. She was diagnosed with ADHD combined type. She started out on Adderall before school ended and it really helped with the focusing issue. She did great in school for the last 2 months of 2nd grade. Her behavior was better. She has always been impulsive and a little aggressive, but really only with her sister. She had a much better summer. Then 3rd grade started and she had a better year. She also has a math learning disability. Towards the end of 3rd grade, she started to say she didn’t like the way Aderall made her feel. She said she felt woozy. We then switched her to Straterra. All of this was done by her pediatrician. During the most of 4th grade she was on Strattera. She started to get really moody. We subsequently changed doctors in the fall of 4th grade. In the Spring of 4th grade, she really started to have bad mornings. Not wanting to go to school, 4th grade was very hard for her. We then started to try different things….splitting the dose of the Strattera, then Concerta, then Daytrana. The Concerta and the Daytrana were awful!! She was very moody on these. So then in March of this year, 4th grade, spring semester…. we stopped completely!! She took nothing up until this past Tuesday (July 7th, 2009). She started out great w/o the meds!! School was great and her behavior was better. She felt better not being on the meds and she gained 8 pounds between March and July! Her appetite was great again! But then it all went down hill towards the end of the school year! She was moody in the morning and her attention was not there at all. This affected her socially and acedemically. We just started her on Vyvanse 20 mg and she is experiencing drowsiness, loss of appetite and she thinks she is having a mild skin reaction. She says she is itchy!! I don’t know what else to do. It has only been 4 full days. Her doctor says to try it for 2 weeks and let him know what the result is. I am afraid she won’t be able to concentrate in 5th grade if I do not take care of this right now.
I was on methylin er 40mg in the mornings for my a.d.d. It seemed to not kick in for a few hours but had good results in the afternoon. My dr. decided maybe the generic wasnt consistant enough so she put me on 60mg of vyvanse. I have been on it a week and I feel like I am on nothing. I have no energy or focus and cant figure out why. I was reading and found vitamin C should be limited to help with absorbtion. My dr never mentioned this to me. Is it possible that I am taking enough vitamin c to block all absorbtion of the vyvanse?
Hi- I’m an adult of 30mg of Vyvanse and I find it to be smoother than concerta. However, this is the second month on Vyvanse for me and every so often I feel a weird,strong random pulse at the bottom of my sternum. I’d like to know if that is typical or something I should be concerned about
Hi Dr. Kenny,
I really need some direction, and was hoping you might be able to provide that for me, considering I am limited to only seeing family Dr’s in treating my ADD. (Low income insurance because of job loss)
A little over a year ago (3 months before starting Vyvanse) I started have really bad foot pain. I was, and always have been a big runner. Naturally I thought the pain was due to increasing my miles in preparing for a marathon. Over the course of the next 3 months I continued to cut down on my miles in running due to the extreme pain I was having until I stopped all together. I started Vyvanse at this time, and a few months into the medication (along with the continued painful feet) I would wake up EVERY morning unable to function. I felt like I had the flu, along with my hands and feet feeling very stiff and painful. About 2 hours later (after having Vyvanse in me) I started to feel some what better (besides the joint pain) but the flu symptoms seemed to go away.
Over time I noticed my wedding ring didn’t fit anymore (swollen joints) then month after month new symptoms appeared. Hands were numb 24/7, stopped being able to write with a pencil, open lids, doors ect.. jaw ached all the time, back of neck (gave terrible headaches) elbows killed, knees, ect.. Also, one to two days a week, I am flat down in bed, so weak and tired (again flu feeling) and my joints feel like they are on fire, hurting so bad I can’t walk.
When all this started 1 year ago I thought it was due to side effects of Vyvanse. I had a friend who was on Vyvanse as well, who experienced joint discomfort, but nothing like what I have had. After finally breaking down, and telling myself there was something wrong, this was not just due to the side-effects of Vyvanse, I went to the family Dr. He did some blood work over the weekend, and yesterday I got a letter in the mail telling me my blood work was normal. I was shocked! This “illness” is really effecting my life, and I am absoulty clueless at where to go from here? I am back again to thinking, this could possibly be the side effects of Vyvanse. I have never abused it, and take one 60mg pill a day.
Could this possibly be a side-effect from the medication.
I forgot to mention my Dr. tested me for Rheumatoid Arthritis, (along with other things) Rheumatoid runs strong in my family, but after the normal blood work I am clueless.
Please help! My Dr. seems to think it’s all in my head, or at least that’s the way he makes me feel. I have to to do something to help myself in getting through this pain and discomfort, and if the cause could possibly be the Vyvanse I am willing to go off it. What do you think?
Angela,
I don’t know enough about your case to make specific medial recommendations (and I can’t do that on my blog).
You’ll need to talk to your doctor and work with him/her.
If you are able to stop vyvanse or try an alternate medication, you may find out if the vyvanse was the cause of your difficulties.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
Hi
Does vyvanse cause elevation in alkaline phosphatase?
Thanks
James Kim
Also, if your alkaline phosphatase is elevated with vyvanse would you stop it or continue it if it is controlling symptoms of ADHD
Thanks
James Kim
This is just my story no offense intended. I have 2 Boys, 18 & 10. I waited to put my oldest on ADHD meds when he was younger until he was 10 years old due to my lack of knowledge & understanding of the Disease ADHD… … he was 10yrs when I finally started him & in 4th Grade he had to struggle to catch up for yrs. I tried all kinds of natural ways to treat including food, colors, and vitamins. We went to his regular Pediatrician & started medicines…going thru several… I finally found a good DR. who specializes in Children & Adolescent Mental Health… this was the best decision I ever made. He officially diagnosed my son with ADHD, Border line Schizo Affective & Depression. He was put on three meds to help control each disorder. (I know it seems like a lot of meds. I always wanted my son to be normal. I didn’t want him drugged out. He still functioned like a normal child & was still a little difficult to handle. Normal kid stuff though) I wanted him just on enough meds to be able to learn how to control his disabilities. He is now 18, graduated & in the ARMY… I am so proud of him & he still has his disabilities but is no longer on meds. With learning about ADHA with my older son I knew the foundations to the basics skills in school are learned by 3rd grade. My youngest was 2 1/2 years old when he was diagnosed. & no I did not put him on meds at that time. But I did when he was in first grade. We had trials & errors along the way. ( no one is the same) He does well now & he is now 10 almost 11. My Dr. has recently retired & we are about to see a new Dr. I am going to see if he can try Vynase due to Adderall not working as good as it used to due to normal Hormonal changes in my son. I’ll let you know how it works. Remember ADD & ADHD is like a tornado going on in your child’s head & they are trying to filter the information out of their head while the tornado is still swirling. I’m not saying meds are the answer, they work for my kids. Find a Dr. that specializes in dealing with mental health, read everything you can get your hands on to understand what the disease is, be open minded, & don’t give up. Remember it is about what is best for your child. Not about YOUR comfort in how to treat the disease. People forget that it is a disease. Would you not treat your child if they had MDA, Allergies, or any other disease from severe to mild? There is all kind of remedies from natural to prescriptions. Chose what’s best for your child by using a specialized DR. only.
Im 16 170 pounds, possibly less.
my doctor started me of with 10mg adderal xr,
then 30mg which i increased to 60mg. That really seemed to make a huge difference. Then he switched me over to 140mg of vyvanse. I miss my adderal. The only good thing about the vyvanse is that i cant rail it. No effect up my nose. I do have drug abuse problems, which i made evident with my doctor. But i think 140mg is pretty nice. I feel good if i dissolve one in water and take the other. I feel like this also helps getting me to sleep at night. The dissolved one comes on faster and is over faster and the slow release gets me through the rest of the day.
Hi, I have a 16 year old daughter with ADHD. She has been on Daytrana 20mg for 2 years. It works great for her. About an month ago she started feeling dizzy like she is going to pass out and her blood pressure is also dropping very low. She has had all kinds of tests on her heart and everything has come back normal. Her doctor took her of the Daytrana for 2 weeks to see if it is the Daytrana. He also talked about puting her on vyvanse after this 2 week period. My question is for you is after all this time of being on Daytrana is it possible to start seeing side affects now? Daytrana has worked very well for her and Im worried about starting her on a new medicine.
Hi,
Your daughter could be getting side effects from daytrana, though often stimulants cause an increase in blood pressure, not a drop of it. You’ll need to review this with the doctor. Vyvanse is a good option for medication – talk to your doctor about specifically WHY the doctor wants to change the prescription – and be sure to share your concerns. Then, make an informed decision – with a clear plan for monitoring and follow up.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
how long does vyvanse stay in the bloodstream?
I think until it wears off, sometime at night. My son has been on it about 9 months and is somewhat used to it, so now he can sleep, but at first we had to give him melatonin to sleep.
My son and I took Daytrana for 3 years, he started to develop ticks and I had trouble with sleep and concentration and anxiety, we both switched, I put him on Vyvance and I switch back to Ritaln LA, I am feeling great again, my son, he is OK, not great, he is very irritable specially mornings and at night, not concentrating. When my son was on Daytrana he had issues with sleep. I will be trying some other meds for him until I findthe right one, I found that we may become tolerant to the meds and need to switch about every 2 years or so, my son has been on meds since age 5, I discover I was ADD after finding out about my son’s ADHD. My life changed completeley after the meds.
I’ve been taking Vyvanse for about a month. im on the 50mg
One of the side effects that is affecting me most is the decreased appetite. I know alot of people actually like this side effect cause it causes you to lose weight.
For me on the other hand, i dont need to lose anymore weight. Im 5’4 at 119lbs. I used to could eat 6 small meals a day of only organic foods, and nutritional meats, protein shakes,(im a health nut)
I just dont feel hungry, and if i force myself to eat something i get a stomachache like ive ate way too much. Right now im trying to eat high carb foods that are calorie dense so i can get in some energy for the day.
I love how Vyvanse helps me concentrate at work and my studies at school and its been very effective in getting my tasks done, w/o it i get very distracted, and put off alot of tasks and procrastinate till the very last minute, ive actually been in trouble a couple of times for being distracted from my work.
but i need to eat, my body cant sustain very well without nutritional value. I still drink 64oz of water a day cause i hate feeling of dehydration and my body doesnt function well w/o it.
any advice on what i can do to get my appetite back while still taking Vyvanse?
Hi Amanda,
I think high carbs is a big mistake, you need quality proteins. I would suggest a handful of almonds and blueberries, a few slices of grilled chicken wrapped in a lettuce leaf with some tomato. Get some non homogenized milk or organic non homogenized cheeses. High carbs are just a sugar rush. You need fat and protein to stay healthy. Good luck!
I just started my son on 20 mg of Vyvanse. He is 5 years old and has been diagnosed as ADHD with a social disorder. It has been 1 week of pure Hell. He cries for hours on end and he is now being defiant and refusing to speak, move, etc. I have never seen this behavior before. When I spoke to my doctor, she thinks we should up his dosage. I am terrified that my little boy is becoming worse with medication, but don’t want him to continue not being medicated and isolated and shunned from society.
My 5 1/2 year old daughter has been diagnoised with adhd she was on tenex at first they up her dose that stopped working then he switched her over to adderall xr and now she has become very angry and mean and whinny.. anyone know of anything that will help this stop…
My 14 year old son has just started on Vyvanse and loves it. He has tried other meds and this is the first one he says really helps. His biggest problem in inattention so he only needs medication while at school. He does not take meds on w/e or in the summer. His doctor said it was fine to do this with Vyvanse but now I am worried about this crashing effect I have been reading about. How quickly does one become dependant on this medication? Are the benefits worth the consequences. I appreciate everyone’s input especially the doctor’s.
Vyvanse is an amphetamine just like Adderall. If you are giving your children amphetamines when they are as young as 5 years old then do not be shocked when their growth is stunted just as if you fed them lots of coffee or nicotine from cigarettes. Giving children this young amphetamines is highly irresponsible and has led to many cases of sudden death. Vyvanse, like Adderall, is explicitly classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration in the same schedule as cocaine. To blindly accept an opinion that a child so young has “disorders” like bi-polar or ADD/ADHD is highly irresponsible when you consider that the checklists for these symptoms can be broadly applied to most of the population and are entirely subjective. That is, there is no physically objective way to determine if someone has these disorders and almost anyone can be convinced based on the composition of the checklist. Of course, this means lots of prescriptions for companies and physicians if most people have the “illness.” It is highly self-fulfilling behavior to see symptoms such as “I sometimes feel fatigued and unable to focus” and then believe that you have an illness. Yes Vyvanse will help with your education and will help with impulsiveness. Yes, amphetamine-based stimulant medication is highly effective because of the fact that it is a simple psychoactive substance in just the same way that cocaine and methamphetamine are psychoactive substances. Amphetamines are used by people all over the world to help with their work and attentiveness, but the idea that your 5 year old child has a disorder or disease and requires medication is absolutely absurd in almost every circumstance. The FDA has finally begun to take action regarding the irresponsible promotion of amphetamines and psychoactive drugs to little children in the wake of events such as the death of a four year old girl who was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder WHEN SHE WAS TWO YEARS OLD. How a two year old child, much less any four year old, can be considered mentally ill is obvious when one looks at all the literature published in medical journals and by medical companies. It is all very convincing and has merit. However, you should also research using words such as “amphetamine effects” or “amphetamine” so you can see the other side of this issue. If you have taken Vyvanse for a period of 6 months or longer, you will undoubtedly see negative effects. Most are manageable, but some are very subtle emotional issues and can cause serious relationship problems or worse. This is why you see so many stimulant abuses spiral out of control — they do not feel an HUGE change in their emotions, but there is a definite change.
Vyvanse Benefits: It will get rid of most of the symptoms that are described on the ADD/ADHD checklist, which is a highly subjective listing of things such as “inattentiveness” and “fatigue” and has no objectiveness involved in the diagnosis. You cannot take a photograph of ADD/ADHD like you can with a cancerous tumor. Any non-ADD/ADHD individual, given the right dose, will respond exactly the same way to these medications.
Vyvanse Drawbacks: It is an amphetamine. Stimulants stunt growth. Amphetamines are widely regarded as the most powerful stimulants in the world are thus are used as the basis for comparison with all other stimulants. If you are wondering why your child has negative emotional or physical issues after consuming amphetamine medication, you should research “amphetamine” rather than “Vyvanse.” A lot of the mood problems and issues raised here can be seen in individuals high on illicit crystal methamphetamine or cocaine. Think about this the next time you blindly trust someone that your child cannot sit still because he or she has a “disorder.”
Vyvanse will help with the aforementioned symptoms, but it is very much a psychoactive drug and the reason it remains legal is because it is very effective at helping people focus and work. The drug will always produce a “high” no matter what you are told. If you do not believe this, you either have not taken it (even at low doses such as 20 mg) or have never had a cup of coffee and imagined what it would be like if that effect lasted hours and was much, MUCH more pronounced. If you wonder why your child “crashes,” imagine what happens when you have an extra cup of coffee or a lot of caffeine — an hour later you feel lethargic and tired. This is obvious but a lot of families and even adults taking these drugs have not been able to take a step back and look at what is going on.
Exercise, eating healthy, discipline, and affection. Vyvanse can give you the energy to accomplish these four things in your life. It would be better if you could find a way to do so without, because there will always be negative side effects such as a decrease in circulation (many people become temporarily or permanently impotent after relatively prolonged use — approximately a few months every day).
Hi Dr. Handelman,
I have a question about Vyvanse. I used to take Vyvanse and also, Risperdal. While I was in partial hospitalization for severe depression, the doctor there told me that the two meds were fighting each other because Vyvanse raises dopamin and Risperdal lowers dopamin. I told him I never knew that and he said “you dont need to know that”. WTF? I want to know what all my medications are doing to my brain. Whats the point of buying and taking Vyvanse if the Risperdal I am taking will only counter-reactes it? Please give me more information on what these two drugs are doing – or other mood disorder drugs, if you have time.
Thank you so much!
Nancy B: What the doctor didn’t mention (or understand) is that risperidone is great for blocking dopamine – but at the lower doses – it helps agitation and mood by modulating serotonin moreso than dopamine. When risperidone is in the 4-6 mg per day range, it is predominantly a dopamine blocker.
Ask you doctor about this fact – it is likely the reason you are taking both medicines.
Dr. Kenny
Thank you for your response. Can you expand on your response considering what I take? I am on 50mg of vyvanse and 1.5mg, or more if needed, or Risperdone – but I take the risperdone later in the day at bedtime. However, sometime I feel ‘weird’ or a bit manic mid-day and will take 1.5mg or risperdal. By taking vyvanse when I first get up and risperdal mid-day, some days, does this counter-react each other?
Also, I have decided to try to stop taking vyvanse and other psych drugs I am on. with the help of my doctor we are working on this. She initially told me just STOP the vyvanse – oh my god, I had horrendous withdrawel effects. She is now having me taper down by taking 2 20mg capsules for a week, then 1 20mg capsule for a week, then stop. I am very worried about going off of vyvanse. I’ve never had problems with any other drug, but maybe that is because I switched to something else. I first started my journey with ADD meds on Strattera – do you think that is an option after being on stimulant meds?
Thank you again – so much!!
Sorry….another question. When I would feel manic or “weird” mid-day, could that be because of the vyvanse raising dopamine too much?
Thank you!
Nancy B.
Hi Nancy,
ADHD medications can increase the mood and cause some unstable or elevated moods when someone is bipolar.
Strattera may be an option again – but these questions are getting specific and difficult to answer without knowing more of your medical history.
I suggest you book with your doctor (and take a list of written questions), and find out what will work best for your health.
I don’t think I can support you with the answers you need on this blog.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
Why don’t MDs combine stimulant types (like Vyvanse with Ritalin or Concerta)? I have tried Concerta, Ritalin IR, and Vyvanse.
Each type (methyl. v. amph) affected me very differently! Both positively, both helped with major ADD symptoms, but completely different ones: methyl. with internal processing and obsessiveness; Vyvanse with doing tasks, maintaining focus, and getting my brain ‘up to speed’ for quick activities like driving. Neither on its own really ‘cuts it.’
I don’t think it’s a dose-level issue, as my doc is willing to go notably above FDA regs, with careful consideration and monitoring.
My MD believes my ADD underlies other comorbid concerns, but won’t consider combining stimulants. I trust her, but I don’t really understand why!
Why don’t MDs combine the two? (I wish they would! ?)
Thank you,
B-Philadelphia
Does anyone know how bad the side effects are on the stomach? I am a 26/m with ADD and my stomach has reacted horribly to almost every type of drug…..any advice…PLEASE……
Hello,
I have been on vyvanse for about 2 and a half months now. I am a reasonably active, baseball playing 18 year old high school senior. Vyvanse causes me to become more focused than usual of course, but I also am increasingly anxious ( not a problem), I have random spouts of anger ( I keep it under control, no problems), but I have a very increased heart rate which is very noticeable for me. It is not baseball season yet so I do not know how this could affect me during the season. Should I be worried about the increased heart rate, I don’t seem to notice it always, but over the past week it has become pretty noticeable. I am around six foot one and 200 pounds while being on a 40mg tablet. Should I be worried or is the increased heart rate a normal thing?
Tanner – It’s best to talk to your doctor and get checked out about your heart rate. This may not be an issue for day to day life, but it could be an issue for competitive sports. It is possible that your heart rate could settle down with time, though it may just keep going along.
Have your doctor check you out – check your heart rate, take your blood pressure, and maybe even order an EKG. Then, talk about options.
All the best,
Dr. Kenny
Actually, I already have done all of this. I had an EKG a little over a month and a half ago and I’ve had even had an ultrasound of my heart. It seems that I have a heart murmur and that a little bit of blood leaks from my heart valve or something on each beat. My doctor said that it was not a problem at this present time, it may be in 10 or 20 years, or maybe not at all. At the time of this appointment, I was still on vyvanse but I did not have these heart rate problems. My blood pressure was a little higher than normal and it had never happened before. Recently I also moved from 30mg vyvanse to 40mg. I am now thinking that the vyvanse may be contributing to all of these problems, and I am heavily considering stopping my use of it for a few weeks and see if everything changes. Sound like a good idea?
Hello my 6 yr old son has been on Vyvanse for a month now. I have noticed a great improvment in school and a little bit at home. he acctually cares about his homework and is beging to learn in school. I was not to happy about puting him on a med but am glad my doctor recomended this med he is on the 30mg does. I did notice a little bit of a sleep issue but we only give it to him on school days and that fixed the sleep issue. My insurance now wants him on another med but I am not happy with the choices that they have given me. and am concerned about the side effects of the other drugs Adderall, Dexedrine, Concerta or Ritalin. I refuse to do Ritalin I know how that makes kids respond and the weight loss from Adderall is extreamlly concerning and the other two say they shold not be giving to any one with a family history of Bipolar or suicide we have a family history of both what do I do please help.
Tanner – glad to hear your doctor is being thorough. The best idea is really to call your doctor and see if you can get some direct advice.
The options to consider – stopping the medicine, or dropping the dose back to the one that worked before. Or maybe your doctor has other suggestions (i.e. a different medication maybe?).
Dr. Kenny
Dr. Kenny – A couple of questions, if I may.
1. Why does Vyvanse cause so much euphoric feelings and insomnia in many people who take it, when I have been taught all these years that a proper ADHD medication will actually calm down a person with ADHD, not make them more UP!
2. I was taking my son to our regular family doctor for treatment, but after listening to so many parents on another website, decided to try a psychiatrist. During our 1st appointment for our son, it was mentioned that my husband is ADD. At the 2nd appointment for our son, the doctor asked my husband if he wanted a prescription, also without knowing his background or without proper diagnosis… we were there for our son, not for my husband. Needless to say, my husband did not take him up on his offer, but this caused a bit of concern for me… is it normal for doctors to treat that way? Should we look for a different doctor?