Forum topic: Anyone else on Vyvanse

Hi 20GT,

First of all, it is important to say that any medication is going to act differently on each individual who takes it.  So your personal experience will be different than everyone elses'.  However, that said, there can be some similarities.

Vyvanse, like the other stimulant medications for ADHD, does not take time to build up in your system like an anti-depressant drug.  The impact should be almost immediate within an hour of when you take the medication.  Then, as you said, it will last for a period of time and then pretty much leave your system.  Sounds like yours is lasting 9 hours before it wears off.  I am surprised to hear you are crashing on Vyvanse because it usually has been known to have a gentler way of coming out of one's system than Adderall, for example.  But it would probably be true that your ADHD symptoms will return when the Vyvanse has worn off.  I wonder if your symptoms are worse, or that there is just so much difference between being on the Vyvanse vs. not being on the Vyvanse, that it appears the ADHD is worse.  Or that maybe you are much more aware of your symptoms overall since taking the medication.  Just a thought.  If you are getting 9 hours from it, that's pretty good.  You might want to just be sure that you are taking it during the time of day you need it the most, and you are going off of it in plenty of time for it to leave your system before you go to sleep.

As far as your breathing issues are concerned, if that continues, I would support you in talking to your doctor about that.  That has never been an issue for me, and might be a temporary side effect, but if it lasts, I'd want to know if it had something specifically to do with the Vyvanse, and maybe the dosage you are taking.  Anyway, again, I suggest you talk to your doctor.

Any medication can influence things like taste.  I take a couple of different meds, and so I know I have a different taste in my mouth all the time.  It's something I have just gotten used to, and I don't think about it anymore.  I can't say it ruins my taste buds.  Ice cream, for instance, still tastes great to me.  So, it may bother you for awhile, and you might get used to it.  Depends on how sensitive you are to those kinds of things.

Anyway, I hope this answers some of your concerns, and I hope others chime in here to give you their thoughts.

I, too, take Vyvanse. So far it seems to work for me although I can't be sure if some of my short-temperedness (at times) is from the Vyvanse or from the other meds I take. Funny you talk about the funny taste in your mouth. I have had a metallic taste and smell as well as other odd tastes and smells not only with Vyvanse but other meds, too. Working with drs. to figure that out.

One thing a doctor did about a year ago that was helpful was to do a genetic test on how I metabolize certain medications. Prior to the test, it was difficult finding something that would work and the tests revealed why - several families of drugs are in the "red light" zone meaning they are not a good match for how my body metabolizes them.

Would love to know how you are getting on now as I just started taking the med yesterday. After all the reading I've done. I'm just going to take it every other day. It felt great yesterday, I got a lot done and treated people much better. I will just try to act like the guy I was yesterday on "off" days. After years of taking hopefully this will temper the possibly debilitating side effects. Any opinions on this approach?

They say you can't tell it's working when it really is. This is true. In my state, Vyvanse prescriptions cannot be automatically renewed. I did not know that but found out last week as I was refused a refill at the pharmacy. It was pretty funny, they looked at me like I was asking for crack. Lol. Anyway ... Since then, life has been harder and it is clear that Vyvanse had been working. Oddly, there is no weird jones like I get when I need caffeine. If I never take Vyvanse again, I think I would not notice from the withdrawal perspective. However, I do not feel like a normal person anymore, definitely like someone with ADHD again. Here's how: 1) waking up is harder. Too much contemplation. 2) hours seem to zip by as minor tasks get accomplished. I am 50% less productive on slow days and about 75% less productive on days when multiple things need to get done. 3) I have really turned to food, social media, etc anything that can stimulate me to get a small spike of dopamine. I am freaked out by the time issues, so I wake up and try to hyperfocus on one thing to avoid a worse case scenario in one area: eg "if I get the house cleaned up or doors fixed etc I can score points at home", "if I get those proposals out I can score points at work", etc. So I wake up at 5am, think about for three hours do I for 5 hours. Do a great job and then go eat an icecream sandwich while I contemplate all the other stuff that needs doing and the sun sets on me. That's a slight exaggeration as of course the phone rings and there are email and other responsive tasks that I do get done. But the key thing is that the sun sets on me having done one solid to do item instead of five or more. 4) I'm implusive beyond measure. Sometimes this is in a socially irresponsible way verbally, other times its a reaction that I control but never the less comes out in my tone or facial expression. Dealing with bad bosses or difficult administrators is a real challenge. While I'm working hard in this department, it is really an uphill battle. I want my mental filter back! The big difference now is that I know I have this condition, so I fight it, hide it, avoid contact, work remotely away from the office and away from home. But this is costing me money at work (I get paid commission) and Brownie points at home (I was doing so well there that I am afraid of slipping). I try super hard to avoid the depression and suicidal thoughts that plagued me before. Thankfully, they are still gone, but I wonder if I keep slippin my to do list, if I gradually start failing socially, professionally financially etc whether they will come back again. Of course they will. I need to set up a meeting with the pysch and get back on these meds asap!