Withdrawal From Vyvanse (Page 7)

My son had a terrible experience on wyvance. He has phyciatic systems to include halluciations. The doctor took him off the drup cold turkey and Ihe seems to be having withdrawal systems? Is that normal?

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To Em..you are young and have a full life ahead of you. Do not believe for one second that you can not overcome this. Stand tall and take control of your situation before it takes control of you. Falling short to your family and friends is no reason to sell yourself out. We all fall many, many times before we get it right. This is called success!! Good luck and God Bless You

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I'm 21 and I'm addicted to Vyvanse. I have been taking 50mg for about a year and a half now. I take it every day and I only miss a day when I have to refill. I was prescribed Vyvanse for symptoms of narcolepsy. The medicine helped, but it came with huge side effects. I've lost too much weight, and I tend to become very anti-social and depressed because of the drug. I tried to stop taking the medicine by throwing the pills into a trash can. Sadly, two days later I found myself searching through the trash for each pill. This drug is dangerously addictive. I still take it, because it has positives, but I know I think this mostly because of my addiction. Soon as I find another solution, I want to stop taking this medicine.

If anyone knows another substitute for Vyvanse please let me know.

Thanks.

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Sadly the medicine is very addictive and has serious side effects when taking it and trying to quit. There is hope. My adult daughter was taking it for about a year also and experienced a 100% change in what was a very normal and prosperous life. Until January 1, 2011, we received a call from the Hospital 900 miles away. She was in critical condition due to the drug. We drove for 22 hours straight. Could not get a flight fast enough. 5 months later she is just starting to work her way back into the real world again. The anger, anxiety, and depression still exist. She was a vibrant, healthy, and successful young lady all destroyed by our so called Dr's who would rather make money by pushing the drug than to face reality. Sadly it will take many more cases like ours and yours before anyone will make a change. Good luck to you. The longer you wait to go through the side affects of quitting, the longer you will experience the pain of withdrawal. The only thing that helped us get through the most horrible periods was a drug called xanax.

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I've always been worried about the long term effects on the body. I can't imagine taking a strong drug like this not taking its toll on the body. Three weeks ago, I tried to get off Vyvanse because I knew I was dependent on it. When I stopped taking it, I couldn't get out of bed and the house because a mess. I had no energy. I gave up and started taking Vyvanse again. Last night, I threw it in the garbage so I won't cave in and take it again. I found this forum to see if anyone else had the same side effects.

Today, I dug through the medicine cabinet and found an anti-depressant that I used years ago.Hopefully, it will get me through the withdrawl period.

Thanks for your post.

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I had hallucinations while on Vyvanse. By doctor told me which med would get me out of it and it worked. However, I was hallucinating for a few days before I was able to tell anyone. I had to fax a letter for help because it was so hard to pick up the phone. If I have to take one med to counter the other, there's a problem.

Just my two cents: better to go cold turkey than to hallucinate. Blessings.

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I have had to go without my 50mg per day on Vyvanse due to my RX being stolen twice from my home! that right there is a red flag. I did not know it was a drug people would "seek". I had all of the symptoms described to a tee that everyone else had. I could fall asleep sitting straight up. NO motivation, depressed feeling and was eating like i could not get enough food. All I wanted to do was sleep, stare at the TV, eat, and every little thing aggitated me. I am now scared that I have started my body on something that it has to have to function. I have a previous opiate addiction and it almost killed me getting over it. I swore i would never be dependant on anything again. I feel cheated and discouraged. Although it does help me, now i still have to plan vacations, business trips etc. on making sure I have my RX filled and on hand daily. :-(

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Denise, yes people usually have withdrawal symptoms when getting off the medication. However, there is nothing "normal" about having them. It is a good thing that the doctor took him off it.

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I'm wondering if the benefits of taking Vyvanse outweigh the negative side effects. I haven't seen many positive reasons for taking this medication, which I understood is given to help people with impulse control, scattered thinking, and difficulty staying on task which affects their daily living. Has Vyvanse improved the life of anyone out there?

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Vyvanse improved my ADHD symptoms for about a month or two. After that, my life became crazed! It wasn't an abrupt change so I can't even pinpoint how or when it happened, but I slowly started seeing personality changes in myself as well as feeling LOUSY every night when I'd crash off the Vyvanse. After about a year, with a daily dose at 70 mg, I was hospitalized for a near-heart attack. My heart, however, is fine. It was the drug causing all my heart problems. The doctor stopped it cold turkey and here I am, dealing with all kinds of withdrawal symptoms that I had never imagined possible.
My advice is to keep children away from this drug!

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i took 70mg's of vyvanse for 4 years. i quit taking it about 2 months ago and i still feel like garbage most of the time. the first 2 weeks were almost unbarable. to be honest the hardest part for me is that i had to quit vyvanse and cigaretts at the same time because for some reason without vyvanse cigarettes make me feel really sick. i think it helps to force yourself to get up and be active in order to wake your body up the natural way but i cant help but feel kinda hopeless. Ive lost interest in a lot of things that used to be important to me i really hope thats temporary. PS. when i was on vyvanse i was really skinny and now im starting to get fat haha life sucks.

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Wow, reading all this has made me feel like less of a freak. I took 70 a day for a year and just stopped cold-turkey 2 weeks again. My doctor never warned me about the side effects of the med or withdrawls.
The first few months on it were great, I was able to work & go to college full-time and still be focused, but then I started becoming angry all the time and crying at the drop of a hat. Felt very disconnected from my body and then began to fantasize about breaking my own arm all the time. So creepy I had never felt that way before. After 2 months of the urges becoming more intense I quit the medicine.
So far the withdrawls have been suck-ish. I'm super tired and hungry all of the time. One thing that makes me feel better is running, I think it's the endorphins?
I would seriously think about how much you want to screw up your life before taking this med.

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I just started this med yesterday and it's made me a lot better. I was able to study for several hours, where before I would have sat there doing nothing but worrying about the assignment. I've already noticed a withdrawal symptom, however. After the drug begins to wear off (or stops kicking in, perhaps) I feel the urge to knock my teeth together softly. I'm in college, so I plan to only take it while I'm in school, and not on days that I don't have to do school work. While I do like not feeling tired all the time and I love the fact that I'm not getting urges to eat (before I had the urge to eat fast food and snack on low-calorie foods that were high in fat and sugar, now since I don't really have a preference in what I want to eat I can eat vegetables for all my cravings care) I don't think that being on this drug on days that I don't need it is a good idea. It's not like Prednisone (which I also take) where it's a really friggin' bad idea not to take it every day. Hopefully this will also help alleviate addiction a little bit :)

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I also don't really believe Vyvanse's lower addiction rate is as prominent as they advertise. If it's a drug, someone somewhere in this world is gonna have some adverse effects. Especially with this class of drugs. I really don't worry about getting addicted, though.

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I've been on Vyvanse off and on for a couple years. Honestly, I hate medication, especially psychiatric ones, for a variety of reasons. For one thing, I get sick of doctors telling me how "benign" this or that drug is, when we all know that most of these drugs have at least some risk for abuse or dependency, and at the very least, getting off them can be uncomfortable. That said... I have a rare genetic disorder that comes with chronic pain and fatigue, and Vyvanse has really improved my quality of life (unlike the whole gamut of SSRIs and SNRIs, which have all made me feel insane in one way or another). I also have ADD, but that's the least of my worries--I take Vyvanse as a wakefulness promoter. While it is not a panacea, I do get several good hours a day, which is just huge for me.

A few months ago I backed off ALL pharmaceuticals because I really felt the doctors had me overmedicated, and I couldn't discern what was helping and what wasn't. ("But it's all so benign...." You wouldn't believe me if I told you how much crap I was on. I was a pharmacist's dream.) Honestly, aside from some sleepiness, the getting off the Vyvanse gave me less trouble than anything else. Not surprising, since I was taking enough narcotics to kill a horse. However, I don't doubt that others have experienced nasty side effects/withdrawal because I've taken just about everything from adderall to zoloft, and I've been mighty uncomfortable coming off of most of them. But this one I went back on--it really helps me get through the day, and sometimes that's all you can do.

Everyone is different... my best advice to anyone before declaring a drug evil (I know, I know--so many of them are) is to dose yourself down slowly. Cold turkey is generally unnecessary unless you're going into anaphylaxis or something (though it has happened). For a doctor to tell someone there will be "no withdrawal," especially from a drug as relatively new as Vyvanse, is just so irresponsible--they can be so cavalier, but it's YOUR health, so do your own research. I've yet to find any drug of this ilk where there wasn't SOMEone out there who had trouble getting off it, even if the addiction is only psychological. (But mostly it isn't, IMHO...)

And one more thought... I'm 43, and I've been off and on adderall, ritalin, etc. for 20 years, but I never took any of these drugs as a child. I'm not judging any of you parents who have relied on doctors to make recommendations for your children. We've been conditioned to trust doctors and assume they have our best interests at heart. But I would think very hard about the potential effects of these powerful drugs on developing brains. If you've reached the end of your rope and your child is miserable, you may feel you have nothing left to lose. But there are studies suggesting that addictive drugs can radically alter our brain chemistry, perhaps permanently. Given my experience with narcotics, I'd like to believe that neuroplasticity of the brain (especially the young brain) allows for some kind of recovery, but we really don't fully understand how most of these drugs work. There is a reason drug addiction is so hard to kick--our bodies/brains get to the point where they NEED these drugs. The anxiety alone from withdrawal is enough to set my teeth on edge--I can't imagine how an eight-year-old would cope.

I believe glowworm used the word "suckish," which I think is a pretty good description of mild to moderate withdrawal. I've just decided that my life sucked way worse without this drug than with it, so I'm sticking with it for now. I may switch things up and go back to adderall or ritalin for a bit, but I think I'm stuck taking one of them, at least for now. I think everyone needs to decide what their threshold for pain is (that is, how much does your life really suck?) before turning to drugs, whether they come from a bottle or pipe or your local pharmacy. It seems a visit to our family doc is not complete unless we leave with a script in hand, and they've done little to disabuse us of this notion. Not to sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist, but the pharmaceutical industry makes money hand over fist, and they don't do it by discouraging drug use. They count on people becoming habituated to these drugs--and doctors are rewarded in a variety of ways. I'd like to think most of them mean well, but it's easy to get caught up, especially when patients see ads on TV and come in asking for pharmaceuticals by name.

It sounds really old and tired, but given how out of shape we've become as a society (obese children are especially sad), proper diet and regular exercise do a whole lot more than most drugs. But sadly, these things require a lot more time and discipline and commitment than most of us have. (And kids like pizza and chicken nuggets so much better than salad... just tonight--so I don't have to listen to the whining...)

OK, before I get too preachy I'm going to take my own advice and get the dog out for a walk. Parting advice to those of you suffering--vitamins and hydration are always a good idea (think electrolytes!) but trust me--the best thing you can do is to get moving. I dropped 35 pounds five years ago, and at my most active I was taking no drugs at all. I have lots of excuses as to why I've arrived at this point (I'm in pain, I'm tired, wrestling practice is at 7 and there's no time to steam vegetables....), but... let's face it--we can all do better. Eat less--move more!

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Em--are you still out there? I know it's been a few months, but your post touched me. I hope you talked to your sponsor. I hope you stopped beating yourself up. I hope you're on the other side of this. Listen--you don't sound like you've abused your Vyvanse. You took it as prescribed. Your doctor made the mistake when he cold-turkeyed you off it. You can't help being habituated to an addictive drug. I don't care what doctors say--enough people feel like crap getting off this drug, so it certainly has addictive properties. That doesn't mean you can't take it--if it genuinely helps. You know the difference between helpful and high. You are not a fraud. You have a disease, and you are young enough to be entitled to a misstep here and there, if that's even what this is. My partner is 52, and he didn't get fully sober until he was 42. Hopefully you'll be luckier. Just trust your support network. And tell your doctor about your experiences. Staying quiet only perpetuates the idea for them that these drugs are benign. Most of the people on this forum are not addicts, and they are having the same issues you are. It's not you--it's the drug! You're so young--this too shall pass (and be replaced by another challenge, hopefully one that doesn't suck as much...)

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Hello everyone! My problems with vyvanse started within the first week of taking it. I was first prescribed 70 mg per day approx 2.5 years ago and completely loved the way it made me feel. The only thing I did not like was that the effects, or "high" of the drug wore off 4-5 hrs after taking it. To prevent this from happening, my Dr. upped the dose to 140 mg per day. 1 70mg in the morning, and 1 70 mg after lunch. I was prescribed this drug after a 10 year opiate addiction that completely destroyed my life. The end of my opiate addiction was supposed to be the beginning of a new life, not the beginning of a new addiction. I detoxed from opiates through suboxone treatment and this took about 1 year to get through. The very day I told my Dr. I was ready to stop the suboxone treatment, he started me on the Vyvanse. My life was just starting to become normal again until this new prescription was filled. I have been addicted to almost every drug in the book to some extent, and the "high" this drug produced made it impossible for me to take it without abusing it. Over the course of the first year on vyvanse, I watched in a daze as everything I had worked so hard to build back up was rapidly being taken back away from me. Several months cosecutively I would take the entire bottle of 60 70 mg pills within 2 weeks, then spend the next 2 weeks trying to recover from the withdrawls until getting the script refilled again. I was on probation at this time, and my weight had dropped so significantly my probation officer was accusing and testing me for methamphetamines. After about 1 year of continuing in this destructive pattern, I simply could not take care of myself anymore. The script was costing almost 300.00 per month, and getting it filled was put before paying bills, eating, or getting a job. At 33 years old, I ended up living at my parents house again and am still there now. My struggles with this drug still continue, but I am slowly and surely getting my life back on track again. Through the course of my time staying here, I have had upon my request, the dosage lowered from 140 down to 70, 50, and currently at 40 mg and WILL end this nightmare at this dosage. The past year I have primarily taken the drug as prescribed at 1 pill per day with occasional slip ups. When the desire to get "high" has been to much to handle, I have achieved this by buying adderal from friends. Doing this only makes it harder to stop altogether. Primarily because coming down off a intense amphetamine high is almost unbearable. The past month I have taken the prescribed dose of 50 mgs correctly and every day as it wears off after a few hrs, the rest of the day consists primarily of extreme headaches, body aches, and agitation. I have gotten myself back into the workforce and have not missed a day of work in 4 months even though each day is miserable when taking this drug. I recently went 40 days cold turkey without vyvanse and was beginning to get my life under control again only to give in to my haunting temptations and refill the script once again. This week I requested that my dosage be lowered to 40 mg and have begun to build the confidence within my mind again that it will take to make another attempt to end this destructive cycle of life I am living. The hardest part is coming to the conclusion that this drug in no way can be beneficial to me because of my past drug abuse history. Over the course of this addiction, I have repeatedly convinced myself that I can take vyvanse as prescribed and it will help me gain control of my life again. This just is not possible! My only option is to suck it up, be a man, and fight through all of my problems with the help of God and the healing power of our Lord Jesus Christ. The only good thing this drug has done for me was put me back in the house of my parents whom are both Christians, and are willing to stand by me while I overcome yet another addiction that has destroyed my life. When I was a young boy I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but by the age of 14 I began to use drugs heavily and chose idolatry of drugs over a relationship with God through Jesus. Over the past year, I have been getting involved in Church again and have begun to surround myself with Godly people whom have supported me and helped me in any way they can. This addiction is minor now compared to how bad it was at this time last year. My relationship with God is blooming again, and I am beginning to enjoy the way his love for me feels alot more than the way Vyvanse makes me feel. Over the period that I went 40 days without vyvanse my love for Jesus was renewed to how it was as a child, and God began to bless my life in many ways. After relapsing and starting on the drug again a little over a month ago, I can feel his grace starting to slowly move out of my life again. This let's me know it is time to stop this childish game once and for all and put my trust in the Lord to lead and guide me within his will for my life. I completely believe God will once again restore my life and renew my mind, all I have to do his give up this drug and follow. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but we must all at some point put our trust in the lord and lean not unto our own understanding. My own understanding has always been that I need a drug to feel normal and be able to function within this world. The only thing I truly need to change my life is his love and grace to be first in my life. This was made clear to me within the 40 days I went without vyvanse, and by own choice I made the decision to start taking it again. I have no one to blame but me for putting myself in this situation again, but through faith and perseverance, God will bless me with the strength and courage to fight and win this battle once again. The choice to stay on the right path belongs to me. Although it may not be the road I'm used to traveling on, it is the road I choose to stay on. I hope this helps some of you who find yourselves becoming hopelessly addicted to this drug to see how bad it really can be. The potential for abuse is always there, and the more you take, the more it will take you! This level of abuse is certainly not normal, but as you just read, it is a reality. Do what you can now to get yourself as far away from amphetamines as you can, and stay away! It is not meant for long term use in the first place, and the longer you use it the more distant your life will become. Put your trust in God and he will deliver you from the stronghold that vyvanse has put over your life. From reading the posts on this site, most of the people have the desire to break free from this drug. Let God be your will and your way. I will keep you all posted on how it is going for me as I begin to practice what I'm preaching! Hahaha! As the scipture says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthenth me!

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I'm still here, still reading. It seems that every day I get an email notifying me that someone has replied to this thread...really speaks to the fallacy of 'benign' amphetamines, huh?

Sadly, I'm still in the same boat, although I've devised strategies to keep me from abusing the med as much -- I stay at my boyfriend's house every Saturday night, so I take a week's worth of pills with me but leave the rest there. (Hidden, mind you, because he doesn't know about this whole mess.) That kind of solves the problem, but only in a superficial way. The joy of being free from dependency on substances is not having to jump through hoops just to feel okay. I'll keep you posted...something has to give, sometime, and then we'll see.

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Wow you its amazing how you just explained every single problem that I have been dealing on vyvanse(70) The lack of motivation, the feeling of having the life sucked out of you, everything. Iv stopped taking it cold turkey several times but never lasted more than 2 weeks. Usually once I make it to that period I start to notice my "free" self come out and the fatigue goes away. But I always end up telling myself, take the pill, have an easy day. And I always end up regretting it down the road.

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I was doing the same thing with Vivanse, taking my whole month's dose within 2 weeks, then suffering for two weeks waiting for my next refill. After doing this about half a year, I surrendered and knew that the only way I could stop was to report my abuse to my caretaker. I told her I was starting to get addicted to it and had abused it. She immediately stopped prescribing it. I had been without it for two weeks and it was hard to be honest but I pulled within my self a desire to really to the right thing for me, not the easiest thing. It was really hard to have to keep going without it but she is trying to figure something else out to help with my ADD and general fatigue problem. I am doing OK I miss it but know that I did the right thing, because now I can't get it if I want to.

Turns out I may have saved my own life because, recently I had a complete physical and have an small issue with my heart where Vivanse could have been real bad to take and abuse.

Lowering the dosage is a good step. Pick a time where you haven't much responsibility, like a long weekend and just do it, if you find that you can't let go of Vivanse.

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Hey! So far I am on day 10 without vyvanse, and I an starting to feel good again! Today is the best I've felt in a while. My normal thoughts and feelings are coming back again, and the horrible feeling if total paranoia is almost gone. Last week was terrible! Every muscle in my body hurt, and every thought in my head was negative. All I wanted to do was go climb back in bed and sleep through it all. I went to work every day regardless of how bad I felt, and I think that helped alot. If nothing else it has made work alot easier this week. Going to church on wedsday night and Sunday helped alot too! My spirit was recharged and I left there in confidence that this problem is going to be lifted from me soon. The worst part is over, now it's just staying away and not relapsing again!

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