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Vyvanse Approved for Adult ADHD
Vyvanse has been FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD in children aged 6 to 12 since July of 2007. Shire announced on April 23, 2008 that it had received approval from the FDA for the treatment of ADHD in adults. Shire also markets Adderall XR, which also has FDA approval for treatment of adult ADHD.
A four week study of 414 adults aged 18 to 55 years old with ADHD found significant improvement in ADHD symptoms after one week. Doses studied were 30 mg, 50 mg, and 70 mg. The Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale, used to rate severity of illness and improvement, found that 57 to 61 percent of subjects improved across all doses. The most common side effects were decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, and dry mouth, according to Shire.
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A four week study of 414 adults aged 18 to 55 years old with ADHD found significant improvement in ADHD symptoms after one week. Doses studied were 30 mg, 50 mg, and 70 mg. The Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale, used to rate severity of illness and improvement, found that 57 to 61 percent of subjects improved across all doses. The most common side effects were decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, and dry mouth, according to Shire.
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35 Comments:
My child has recently began taking vyvance and i have noticed that she has begun loosing her hair. Is this a side effect that anyone else has noticed with their child??? It is not listed as a possible side effect on the drug info....
I recently began taking Vyvance and it has actually helped me get to sleep. I have Fybromyalgia and ADHD-Inattentive. Vyvance (50 mg) helps me to concentrate on relaxing instead of my racing thought and pain. It is wonderful. I also take AmbienSR.
I have been taking 50mg daily of Vyvance. If it were not for the positive changes in my 7 yr old after he started taking his meds...I would not have used medication. It may sound odd but after taking my daily dose I have an incredible sense of optimism and an insatiable drive to accomplish.. those I have not felt in 40 yrs.
That is Wonderful, Eric! Just remember that As great as Vyvanse is for you and me, it isn't a panacea.
What it did is to help you Focus and Find what was already inside you.
Congratulations!
Vyvanse has come out with another dosage, which means it will be easier to find the right dosage for each individual -- not to high, not to low, but somewhere in the middle.
Still, because the medication in Vyvanse is essentially Dexedrine, it won't work for everyone.
Dexedrine is an amphetamine (AMP), and the other class of stimulants is called methylphenidate (MPH). That includes formulations such as Concerta, Ritalin LA, Daytrana (the patch), and others.
So, it's important to know that some people will react better to one class of stimulants than to the other. And some people actually do better on a little bit of each class.
The point is: Know that what works for someone else might not work for you, so keep trying. But always by "starting low and titrating slow." Sometimes you have to remind your MD to follow that maxim. :-)
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.com
Thanks Gina,
My only personal experience is with Vyvanse and Adderal, both regular and longer acting. My daughter used Ritalin and Adderal. It is good to remember that we are individuals and more than our "disorder". Each person is "one of a kind" therefore why expect one medicine will work for everyone.
I have been on Adderall xr for several mo. now and it seems to beworking good, I can focus, learn ect.
I have a question for who ever knows, does anyone else on Adderall or any other ADHD med have a problem with obcessive humming ? I canstantly hum and don't even notice it at times untill some one remarks about it, my throat hurts at times from this and my jaws do also, someone tell me something please...
Hi Kathryn,
Obsessive humming, eh? Funny, I've heard of that being more common with untreated ADHD. Perhaps a form of self-stimulation?
I'd say talk to your doctor about that. But it depends on how smart your doctor is. :-)
I'd say anything you're doing "obsessively" is something to watch for when you're taking a stimulant, especially an amphetamine. If you start noticing other effects, such as increased irritability, trouble sleeping, biting your nails, etc., that might mean that you should try another stimulant -- maybe an MPH this time (e.g. Focalin, Concerta, Daytrana, etc.)
Good luck.
Gina
Tractorrepairman -- I don't think anyone's attempted to answer your question?
What does the MD say? I'm not a physician, but when I hear of hair loss, I think of thyroid.
If she's responding nicely to the medication in all other ways, maybe it's not a problem. But perhaps it could be affecting her thyroid (or there is a co-existing thyroid issue).
Or maybe it has nothing to do with thyroid at all. Just a thought! :-)
Gina
tractorrepairman@hotmail.com,
I would definitely get the hair loss side effect checked out by your Dr. I started on Vyvanse about 3 months ago and noticed that I have started to lose a lot more hair than usual. Fortunately, I have not noticed it in the overall look, yet. However, I am constantly covered in hair and can not run my fingers through my hair without ending up with a bunch of hair in my hand. I did some additional research on the internet and it looks like a few other people are experiencing the same thing. I plan to talk to my doctor and suggest you do the same for your child.
Kathryn,
I all of a sudden started humming, I'm taking generic adderal. Its incessant at times, and everybody is making fun of me now. I stopped for 3 mo. and still hummed. Same stupid song, usually, and if somebody hums around me, I pick up that song for awhile. Its really annoying, except that my dad hummed incessantly as well.
My problem is cramps in my lower legs at night. I think I might need to drink more water.
Just saw this and wanted to let you know. It came on all of a sudden!
My son, age 19, is taking 70 mg of vyvance. It seems to affect him like speed. He is getting all these outragous ideas, and talks a blue streak. When I suggest that he take a lower dose, he says no because when he tried 60mg it made his heart race and he got very emotional. He has now moved out and is living with some losers and is going to save their world. I am desperate to get him back home and help him. Any suggestions??
I'm so sorry to hear this, Cynthia. Why did the physician increase the dosage when he was having those side effects at a lower dosage?
This is why a third-party often needs to be involved in treatment (a friend, parent, partner, etc.). Not only ADHD symptoms but also the wrong dose/type medication can decrease the ability to self-observe accurately. The physician needs more objective feedback.
Of course, for legal/privacy reasons, the patient has to agree to this, for the most part. But some physicians will require it.
At the very least, if this was my child, I would fax a note to the physician (if he/she won't talk with you) and explain the situation and ask that the prescription not be refilled. I know this sounds like "boundary invasion," but I've seen situations like this where the person got himself into real trouble.
Also know that if there is co-existing bi-polar, the stimulants can increase mania, etc.
These medications can do wonderful things, but only in the hands of a careful, astute physician.
Good luck,
Gina
I completely agree with Gina, Cynthia. I went through the whole series when I began taking Vyvanse: 30mg,50mg, and 70mg, in the beginning of my program. 70 was way too much so I called when my own Dr. was unavailable and another tried me on a new dosage of 40mg. I still didn't like the minor tremors and am going back to 30mg. next month. This is a powerful drug for good when used in correct dosages but it is basically SPEED when too much is taken.The need to be taken for what they help us accomplish, not what they may make us Feel in larger doses. May God give you wisdom with your son.
Thank you for your comments. Great advice. In desperation I took the rest of his vyvanse and threw them away. I am worried about how this will affect him but I couldn't see any other way to get him off the medicine. He now has the names of some therapists and I hope he calls them.
Does anyone have any experience with a cold turkey exit with vyvanse.
Im 22 yrs old and have lived with ADHD my entire life without medication. Recently my Dr. suggested Vyvanse as I have always struggled with staying focused on the task at hand etc. well its been three months and i have to say, Vyvanse 50mg is amazing! i recently was recognized at work for best documentation. the only side effect ive experienced is dry-mouth and minor weight loss. Thanks!
Kalen of Michigan
I am currently taking Concerta in 54mg. It seems to help in the beginning, but after a few weeks, Iit seems to wear off, so my Dr. has me taking another one in the early afternoon - I am wo9ndering if Vyvanse would be a better fit, but apparently it is more $ so that is a last resort for the Dr. Any thoughts? Karen
Karen,
Typically, people don't habituate to the stimulants. In other words, once the effective dosage is found, it can be maintained for years to the same effect.
What sometimes happens is that people with ADHD don't remember the impact of their symptoms before starting the medication. In other words, the stimulant's effect is "new and novel" in the beginning, and then the novelty wears off. So, they think the medication isn't working anymore.
Put another way, they keep expecting the "wow" factor to continue. But, realistically, the dramatic difference after starting the medication fades in memory. (I hope I'm explaining this clearly.)
That's why experts recommend that you use a rating scale against which to note your progress each day/week.
But there are so many complexities to this. For example, women will sometimes need a higher dose at certain points in their menstrual cycle.
Also, once you get used to living with improved focus, attention, etc., you notice it when it stops at certain points of the day. That's when you can start adding a booster dosage (some people even take the stimulants 24-7).
Bottom line: If you are having a good result with Concerta and that's the better choice financially speaking, it's worth it to try the second dose before switching to another class of stimulants, IMHO. If you don't try that, you wouldn't be approaching this very methodically. And that's important when trying to settle into a good regimen.
I hope this helps.
Good luck,
Gina Pera
author, Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.org
im 28 and been taking vyvanse 50mg for about 2 weeks for adhd and it makes me blink alot whats that about?
what side effects would you have if your taking vyvanse like you should but dont need to be on it
i have started taking vyvanse 50mg in the last couple of weeks and i take one pill every morning around 7:30am and by around 6 oclock feel like im coming down or need more does that mean i need a stronger dose
Anonymous, what does your physician say? That's a pretty large starter dose. Why were you prescribed such a large dose initially?
Physicians have larger forgotten the maxim "Start low, titrate slow."
Patients need to remind them. :-)
Gina Pera
No, that doesn't necessarily mean you need a stronger dose. It means you might need a "booster" dose in the afternoon.
Hey I am 19 years old, I was on Vyvance 6 months, eventually settling on 40mg. For the first few months it seemed to be working properly. I was calm and able to hold my focus on different tasks like conversations and my homework. After awhile, I began to notice that it would wear off by night so my doctor told me to take a 20 mg of Ritilin by 7pm. After a month or so on that, again I began realize my medication was not as effective as it was prior so I asked if I could go up to 50 mg. It seemed as though it was working on my hyperactive problems but not my attention problems. Frustrated, I asked it I could change my medication completely, so my doctor put me on Concerta. This is the second day that I am taking 36 mg, and I do not feel anything!
I don't know what to do, so if there is any information I could get, I would greatly appreciate it.
Hi Jessica,
Finding the right medication/dosage and/or combination of medications/dosages can take time. It also requires working methodically with your physician.
Is your physician working methodically with you -- or just saying, "Here, try this" and "Well, double it then"? :-)
There's just no easy way around it. Our brains and biochemistries are complicated and unique.
If I had a link I could refer you to that would explain the protocol for ADHD medications, I would. But I never found one, so I had to write a book that includes such information (as well as finding effective therapy and avoiding the wrong kind of therapy, etc.)
Sorry for the shameless plug. In my defense, this has been a non-profit effort for eight years. :-) My main goal is increasing awareness about adult ADHD and its proper treatment strategies.
You can read more at http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.com
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.org - blog
good luck!
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
Hi, I was recently told I have ADHD and was prescribed vyvanse but although I am excited about being able to concentrate in a more effective manner I am also afraid of its possible effects on the epilepsy I suffer from. Both my neuro and psych agreed it would be fine to start on it but I am on 3 other meds ( clonazepam, lamictal, trileptal)and do not know what the Vyvanse might do to their theraputic effects and if my epilepsy will be as controlled as it is right now. Anyone out there with any information/experience on ADHD and epilepsy? Any information would be greatly apprecieated. thank you.
Anyone know what options are out there for Adult ADHD with high (borderline) blood pressure? Also, are there any ADHD meds which can be taken in conjunction with blood pressure meds?
Hey this is Angie and my son has been on Vyvanse for a month and a half and I don't think this is the med for him he has just not been his self he gets more agitated and he has more out burst like on a every day bases. I don't know if it's the meds or something else. SO I am going to go talk with his Doc's and find out why and is the norm for this med. If anyone can help just let me know
I've been taking 50 mg of Vyvanse per morning for about 6 weeks now. I have noticed a great lack of appetite, but more than that I have noticed an annoyingly frequent dry mouth effect. It's so dry that I feel like if I don't drink water right away I freak out. It's constantly like that during these episodes, I will be extremely dry mouthed and have a lot of water, and less than 2 minutes later I'm just as dry again and need more water. Sometimes this lasts for hours. It was every day, now less frequently but still multiple times per week.
Anything I can do to help the dry mouth or prevent it from happening so much?
Other than that, I have to say that the Vyvanse reveals a level of work ethic and motivation that I never knew existed in myself. I am so motivated and eager to get tasks done, and I am so productive at work and school. It's the greatest feeling in the world, and something I was convinced I would never experience. I used to think that despite my IQ I was lazy and a failure at getting anything done. Now I feel amazingly accomplished, and in turn the feeling of accomplishment increases my motivation even more. It's definitely the medication I needed to aid in my adult ADHD.
Before taking Vyvanse PLEASE READ!!!... I am 28 years old and have been taking Vyvanse going on a year and a half. I have dealt with numerous side effects that I convinced myself to overlook because of all that I was able to accomplish on this powerful drug. If I could go back to day 1, I would choose not to ever get started. I sought help with my physician today actually because it had gotten so bad that I had to come up with a plan of action to get off Vyvanse. I started at 50mg and my Dr. (needless to say, I changed docs) aggressively kept increasing my dose until I was taking 180mg per day. This is more than twice the highest recommended dose. This is a new drug for adults, and I have searched hard to see if it was only me suffering from all the emotional ups and downs, anger inside, and finally today lacking ambition in life in general. Back in December because of holidays, I had to go without the drug for almost a week, and I thought I was going to die. My hands were shaking, and I could barely function. It was then that reality sunk in. I knew I was in trouble. Not long after I finally got my dose, I was going again only things started to go downhill for me fast. It seemed like my life was passing me by, and I was on the outside looking in. I became unsocialble, and began to crash like never before. Vyvanse was taking it's toll on my body. Once I did sleep, I couldn't get enough. My body was exhausted, overworked, and pushed to its limits. I no longer had the excitement or motivation to improve the quality of my life. I started oversleeping for work. I would set several alarms, and never remember turning them off. I could not get out of bed. Once I did, my bottle was the first thing I grabbed. I lost interest in the things I used to enjoy, and I am rarely happy. I don't even like answering my phone. It seems it is an interruption to what I am trying to do. I am a single mother, and looking back, my daughter has also suffered from my distance she senses. It hurts me to know that I am in such a mess. I can't get back to normal fast enough. I go in the morning to get blood work to run all sorts of tests, especially my liver function. The inside of my eyes have even started to have a yellow tint. My hair is thinner and will not grow. My enamel on my teeth is weak from the unconsciously grinding I have been doing, even in my sleep. My life is controlled by Vyvanse. It was time for me to outweigh the good versus the bad. This is my story, and I thank you for taking the time to read it. If I can stop at least one person from starting this drug then I am grateful. Hope I have been of help.
Anonymous,
What an awful experience for you. I'm so sorry to read that you went through that. Readers should know, though, this is NOT the typical experience.
You were taking a very high dosage, and it sounds like your physician was not careful. You might have co-existing issues with anxiety or depression, which should have been addressed. Perhaps you don't even have ADHD but some other condition.
It also sounds like you might have been attempting to use the medication to achieve extraordinary productivity. It just doesn't work that way. There is a price to pay in the end, as you sadly learned.
Perhaps your doctor did not use rating scales or question you carefully about how the medication was affecting you. Perhaps you unwittingly gave incorrect feedback that prompted the doctor to increase the dosage. (There are many reasons for that, which I won't detail here.)
In fact, though, I wonder if you are actually as debilitated as you say. Your writing is clear -- no typos, etc. Perhaps this post is even a hoax by someone who is anti-medication.
At any rate, the moral of the story is to use any medication responsibly.
i have been taking the meds for about 1 month already... im on my second now and its been fine. my dr started me on 30mg then went to 60mg which works a lot better. after a few days the 30mg wasnt enough. my body got used to it like the dr said it would and now the 60mg has been great. my wife says that i'm alot bearable and a lot more fun to be around. i used to have mood swings before i started on all of this and it has changed dramatically. i have had a positive experience with this and hope it works for other ppl. i DID notice that my hair has been thinning out slightly since i started the meds. only reason i realize it cause my hair was super thick and straight. wife noticed as well. i keep it really short anyway so that really didnt bother me.
- Jay 28 yrs old
That's great you are seeing positive results, Jason.
I'm no doctor, but I would be concerned about the thinning hair. This isn't a cosmetic issue; this is a health issue. Look at this as a symptom of something that has changed in your body and might be having deleterious effects system-wide.
I would also question the doubling of the dosage. The recommended protocol is to go up by small increments, and slowly, being sure to track symptoms before each increase.
And, generally, no, you do NOT habituate to stimulants. What more typically happens is that the person with ADHD is going by the "feel" alone. You notice that something new is happening, and when the newness becomes familiar, you stop noticing. This is NOT the way to track symptom response. This should be done with a list of symptoms -- logically and methodically. Not by how you are "feeling."
Gina Pera, author
Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?
http://www.ADHDRollerCoaster.com
the thinning hair thing may have started a little before.. my wife says she noticed it even before i started taking the meds but i have brought it up to my dr and they are checking it out. it has stopped and im not really losing any. i may have just been trying to justify my hair thinning for a concrete reason that i had if that makes sense.
i do understand what you are talking about not going by ur feelings. i have been tracking my symptoms on and off the meds. and i asked my wife to do the same. im not one to just go by a few days of observance but a good period of time.
i will have the dr look into everything i have discussed and the reasons for the high dosage to start off with.
thanks for replying gina!
-jay
heh heh. That's funny, Jay. After all, it can't be AGE that's thinning your hair, eh? :-)
Congrats on figuring out ADHD and finding a workable solution. That places you in a top minority of people!
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