Comments on: Vyvanse vs Adderall XR – Benefits, Problems

By: andrew Mc Guigan

andrew Mc Guigan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:02:10 +0000

what will you feel if you take ridilin and you dont really have adhd !

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:06:55 +0000

I was finally DX late in life (46) with ADHD and my Doctor tried me on every med out there for it, finally when we got to the Vyvanse it was like night and day. I can focus, concentrate…I can read a book, watch a whole sitcom or movie, I can sit still and wait my turn, listen to people and not interrupt, I start and finish one project at a time, more organized..etc….it’s improved my life greatly and I only wish I could have had help when I was younger. I know I would have done great in school if only I could have been treated back then. I know all drugs work differently for every one, but for me Vyvanse is the only one that did the trick…plus the only side affect I had was in the beginning and that was a small reduction in appetite, now even that is not a problem. I always thought ADHD was just a DX that the drug companies and doctors came up with to sell a new drug, now I know first hand it really is a dissorder and is treatable, tho I still tend to think it is over DX’d in many cases.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:53:47 +0000

@Darlene – start a good regimen of aerobics, walk, run, dance, whatever but do it regular then fast intervals for 20 minutes a day. Start lifting weights. Add more vegs and fruits into your diet – the brighter darker ones and those you thinormally wouldn’t try.. I start mornings off with a homemade shake: banana, five strawberries, blueberries, nutmeg, teaspoon of cinammon, greek yogurt, agave. Buy natural spices such as thyme, parsley, oregano, correndar, ginger root, etc. I would research natural and supplements @Christine – I would make sure I have the
proper documentation from a Psychologist and MD and that should cover his bases and allow for additional support since it is a disability that can be worked with.

By: christine

christine — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:38:38 +0000

How does taking Adderall/Vyvanse effect drug testing for employment. My son is worried that he will not get the job d/t taking Adderall. I have been reading the blogs on ADD/ADHD and I do see my son. He is funny/smart/excellent-different sense of humor. He wants to be a police officer, but i worry his ADD/ADHD will cause him to fail. Need your feedback. Thank you

By: Darlene

Darlene — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:36:33 +0000

Hello Cheryl, thanks for your comment. Where can I find the natural products to increase dopamine and lower cortisol? Can you tell me about the products? Also, Do you have narcolepsy as I do? I need to find something that will help me stay awake and motivated. I’ve struggled a long time and will get to try Vyvanse next week, and I hope it works for me. Thanks, Darlene

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:36:50 +0000

@jordan – try the Vyvanse for the Narcolepsy – I had mine increased to 50mg but I think I could go a bit higher. If you need to, you can always supplement with a low dose of Adderall when you wake up and/or around 3p to suit your schedule or hit the caffeine. I do take mine early – around 5:30a which allows plenty of time for it to wear down before bedtime. @sam – stop using the weed and find another doctor who will treat you for ADD/ADHD. They know a lot of undiagnosed people use weed, coke or alcohol to self medicate. Besides that, you will get way more out of achieving your goals and dreams than what the partying now will ever do. Also, enlist the services of a psychologist as needed for behavioral or talk therapy. They can teach you relaxation techniques, biofeedback and/or self hypnosis. The latest research indicates it is all about the SSRIs so they are now targeting those. @krisd – don’t sweat it – we’re cool. BTW, I was a Psych major and did major research in a level 400 class for causes of brain injuries in neonates using an ethological approach that covered single celled amoebas to pup and adult mammals (i.e. rats, monkeys, cats, dogs). This was before the research was published for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome so I think I’m fairly astute in this area. We all have variances of whatever they want to “label” our symptoms – just continue to discuss symptoms with your physician/psychiatrist to work out a treatment plan for you and don’t be afraid to try something different, something new. Also, once diagnosed make sure you check out every available resource in school or college for assistance with your disability; they provide lots of assistance if you have your documentation and know who to contact. Since I also have congenital GI issues, I have increased my focus on natural approaches by increasing my aerobic levels, weight training and yoga along with my dietary intake. I’ve dropped caffeines, sugars, etc from my diet also and increased my water consumption. There are foods, herbs and supplements that can be taken to increase dopamine, melatonin, or decrease cortisol, etc. Also, be aware of your sleeping environment, amount of daylight/lights, room temperature, noise control, etc. Everything can be tweaked and re-tweaked according to your daily needs. Actually, for the last two weeks I’ve only been taking the Vyvanse and every couple of days I take the Lunesta. So – keep working, keep progressing, keep informed. It is hard for peers, adults, parents, physicians to refute someone who is on their game. I hope everyone has a nice, safe holiday with family and friends.

By: Becka

Becka — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:13:11 +0000

I have to say adhd is definetly very real. I was in the gifted program in elementary and then by about 5th grade my grades tanked. school bored me and it was horrible to sit in a chair all day!. My parents basically just said it was brattiness. I failed school and got horrible grades until i just dropped out. A year later I went and took my GED. Never studied or anything and passed it with flying colors. Joined the military and they found it after I was in about a year. Put me on ritalin which was a godsend as far as behavior and concentration went. I hated the side effects it made me so sick and I lost weight constantly if i took my prescribed dose and had massive aniety from the roller coaster effect of the meds wearing off and taking the next dose etc.. If i took only half my dose it gave me a horrible headache. Tried adderral and it had the horrible anxiety still so then i tried concerta. Even at the strongest dose allowed concerta did NOTHING for me. Went back to ritalin because I had no insurance and just recently I started vyvanse. This med really is MY miracle. I dont have the horrible side effects and I feel Great!! It definetly is the best thing that I have found. There is discount cards for it and some insurances are paying for it. (my copay is 27 dollars for a 90 day supply, 13 with the discount card) It is a little pricier but id rather spend a little more money and feel like a normal person than take any of the other ones i took in the past!

By: krisd

krisd — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:12:09 +0000

@Laila & Cheryl

I apologize Cheryl for coming off as being insensitive & harsh. That was not my intention at all. I am not judging you. I have no place to judge. But Laila did a better job at expressing the concerns. People who abuse legal drugs such as pills & alcohol have a harder time recognizing they are dependent. Most people do not realize or deny they are “addicts” to themselves or others until its too late. And amphetamines of any kind are highly addictive. Xanax is physically addicting. Your develop tolerance to it and require higher doses and eventually you will literally need it everyday or you will feel horrible. I am prescribed a very high dose but I do not take my prescribed full dosage. But I do have to take 2mg by every night and if I do not take it everyday I am physically miserable. I am prescribed 2mg 3x day but only take those doses when it is absolutely have to & then I take the lowest dose. Just be careful, try not to take it everyday if you can help it. I have been trying to wean myself off for sometime now . Whenever I get to 1mg a day it never fails something happens. I am sorry for being so abrupt but I only said what I did out of concern & not judgement. Sometimes we need people to be blunt, even when they are not seeking your advice. But Laila has a very good point.
I switched to vyvnase yesterday. It was actually cheaper than the generic Adderall XR. It is much smoother but I didn’t sleep but 2 hours last night. I am hoping this will level out in next week. It has decreased my appetite (which is a plus for me). I gained weight on the Adderall. I would have liked to have slept longer but I woke up on my own and I do not want to dose later in the morning since it does seem to last longer. I cannot say yet how effective it is on my concentration or focusing since I have nothing that requires my attention at the present time. Only reason I started taking it is so I can get it adjusted before I return to school. So far no complaints except not being able to sleep. I did not think it would be that much different than the Adderall. Lets see how I am in a week.

Cheryl, again I apologize. Just please keep in mind how dangerous these drugs can be & how very addicting they are. Its been all over the news. I do believe they can be beneficial and therapeutic but you have to be aware that anyone is susceptible to addiction without even being aware of it.

By: jordan g

jordan g — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:51:10 +0000

I take adderal for narcolepsy but hate the up and down of it from when i take it ton whenof it wears off take itto again and it wears off again. i want to try vyvanse to hopefully havei a longeri lasting effectiveness. ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS?

By: Laila

Laila — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:13:07 +0000

@ Cheryl – I am just concerned for you. I do not think you are an addict or anything like that. I just think you are trying to find the right “fit” for you with your medication combinations.

However, I would like to clarify a few things -

1. In the DSM-IV TR (which is the psychiatrists “Bible”; it lists all the diagnoses and criteria an individual must meet in order to receive a diagnosis) there is no diagnosis of ADD (attention deficit disorder) there is only ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder), Within this diagnosis there are subsets: Predominantly Innattentive Type and Predominantly Hyperactive Type

2. An “addict” can go a few days without medication or their drug of choice – It all depends on the severity of the addiction (i.e. substance abuse or dependence). Just because someone doesn’t get their prescription filled for a few days or doesn’t use their drug of choice for a few days doesn’t mean the individual does not have a problem.

I say all this to just point out that there is reason to look into the medication combination you are on and perhaps get a little more psychoeducation on the conditions you have mentioned and medications you are on may be helpful. I think it is great you are so successful and are very high achieving. Good luck in everything you do.