Updated: December 23rd, 2019 The truth about Vyvanse withdrawal is that it’s challenging, but absolutely possible to do. It’s also true that there are many things you need to know about withdrawing from Vyvanse before you go through it. This article is based on my personal experience with quitting Vyvanse. But, you can learn a lot from what I went through.
Contents
The Truth About Vyvanse Withdrawal (Introduction)
If you’re going to stop taking Vyvanse, please make sure to talk with your doctor first, since some side effects of withdrawal can be severe.
With that out of the way, let’s go over some of the real-life truths of Vyvanse withdrawal – so that you can know what to expect if you decide to stop taking Vyvanse.
Why Do Some People Choose To Stop Taking Vyvanse?
While I personally have plenty of good things to say about how Vyvanse helped me deal with my ADHD, it’s also fair to say that not everyone will share the same experience with Vyvanse that I had.
For example. you might consider stopping Vyvanse if:
- You develop weird side effects from taking Vyvanse (like anxiety or an increased heart rate)
- Vyvanse doesn’t mesh well with your brain chemistry for whatever reason, and you simply feel bad while using the medication
- You’d rather treat your ADHD symptoms naturally
At the end of the day, many people find that certain ADHD medications don’t work well for them.
So, if you feel like Vyvanse isn’t the right fit for you, there’s no need to worry. You can make it through this, just like I did…
How I Slowly Stopped Taking Vyvanse And Became More Free (Quick Overview)
Vyvanse once gave me an amazing sense of mental clarity and focus. And, I still believe that Vyvanse is an exceptional medication for many people with ADHD.
But, there came a time when I stopped using Vyvanse because I felt that it had done enough for me.
In other words, my time with Vyvanse was up. We had a great relationship for more than one year. But, people change. I guess I became more holistic in my worldview too.
I also had an epiphany late in 2016 that really changed me.
In late 2016, I realized that treating my ADHD was less about looking for something to speed me up. Instead, I started to look for foods, lifestyle habits and natural supplements that would reduce my anxiety.
Eventually, I found that naturally reducing my level of anxiety caused my ADHD symptoms to practically disappear.
With less anxiety, I could suddenly focus on work, chat with strangers, and live my life much more freely.
These Are The 5 Steps I Followed To Limit My Vyvanse Withdrawal Symptoms
After more than one year of using Vyvanse on a daily basis, I stopped taking ADHD medication in November 2016.
Here’s how I slowly stopped taking Vyvanse with the least amount of pain possible:
Step 1. Slowly Decrease Intake Of Vyvanse (Taper Down)
I didn’t stop taking Vyvanse cold turkey. I think that would’ve been pretty bad for my brain and body.
Instead, I slowly reduced my daily intake of Vyvanse over the course of a month or so. I figured this was the best way to help my body transition into a new lifestyle.
Here’s how I slowly and steadily tapered off of Vyvanse (example)…
Early October: Take 40mg of Vyvanse daily
Mid October: Take 30mg of Vyvanse daily
Late October: Take 20mg of Vyvanse daily
Early November: Take 10mg of Vyvanse daily
The process of tapering off of Vyvanse was pretty simple. I just lowered my Vyvanse dosage by about 10mg every week.
To accomplish this, I did something that I call a Vyvanse dosage hack – which simply involves mixing your Vyvanse with water, and gradually decreasing the amount of Vyvanse water that you drink each day.
I slowly tapered off of Vyvanse in this way, because I wanted to give my body the necessary time to come off of a powerful ADHD medication.
And, I personally felt that dropping my intake of Vyvanse by 10mg per week worked extremely well.
Step 2. Stop Taking It
In November 2016, I came to a point where I could stop using Vyvanse.
I still felt the urge to use Vyvanse at this point, because my body and brain was so used to being on Vyvanse. But, I just had to keep pushing through.
I also felt mild anxiety and headaches for the first few days of stopping Vyvanse.
This sucked. I’m not going to lie.
But at the same time, it wasn’t all that bad.
Self-discipline and mental resilience helped me a lot. I also watched more TV and Netflix than I’d ever watched in a long time.
Yeah, make sure you get some good movies to watch if you decide to stop using Vyvanse.
Step 3. Give The Brain and Body Time To Recover
The most challenging part of withdrawing from Vyvanse was feeling the need to sleep for at least 8-9 hours every night.
When I was using Vyvanse, I could run off of six or seven hours of sleep no problem. I was like a machine.
But when I stopped taking Vyvanse, I could easily sleep for 9 hours every night. This felt really strange to me, since I’d gotten pretty used to running off minimal sleep. I think this might’ve been my body’s way of telling me that I’d been deprived of sleep for a very long time.
I ended up “listening” to my body, and just allowing myself to sleep these long hours until I felt that I didn’t need to anymore.
This was an important part of withdrawing from Vyvanse. I gave my body the sleep that it needed in order to fully recover, and I’m perfectly good now.
Step 4. Flood The Body With Healthy Food, Exercise And Supplements
While I’ve generally been eating healthy for the past few years, I made sure to eat an extremely clean diet after stopping Vyvanse.
I knew that eating bad food and being lazy would have just been a way of coping with negative emotions. I didn’t want to go down that slippery slope.
Instead, this was my personal routine after withdrawing from Vyvanse:
Eat healthy food
Smoothies, smoothies and more smoothies.
You’ll probably want to take down a gigantic green smoothie at least once a day after you stop taking Vyvanse.
I blended kale, spinach, apple, maca root powder, and various other ingredients in my smoothies.
Drinking smoothies will help you tremendously while your brain is adapting to life without Vyvanse.
If possible, you’ll also want to eat high-quality lean meat, brown rice, quinoa, seafood, and other nutrient-rich foods.
Don’t be afraid to spoil yourself a little bit while you’re making such an important lifestyle transformation. Maybe eat a nice juicy steak once in a while, too. It’s perfectly OK to reward yourself.
Exercise daily (cardio + strength training)
I experienced some light headaches and maybe a little bit of lethargy after coming off of Vyvanse.
In other words, I felt lazy and sluggish.
So, what’s a guy to do?
Well, I forced myself to go to the gym. Or at least run around the neighborhood, and then do some push-ups and bodyweight squats afterwards.
You have to stay mentally busy when you stop using Vyvanse, otherwise your brain will try to make you feel guilty for stopping Vyvanse in the first place.
Exercising is a great way to keep your brain and body busy, while improving your health at the same time. It’s a win-win-win.
Take good vitamins and supplements
I’ve already written extensively about the best natural supplements to use for ADHD, depression and similar conditions.
I personally felt that withdrawing from Vyvanse did create some light symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Of course, this was just my experience, and it was only temporary. And I was also able to cure my symptoms relatively quickly…
So, you’ll ultimately want to flood your body with the right vitamins and nutrients to compensate for the lack of Vyvanse in your system.
Don’t worry – this will be a healthy replacement. These are the best supplements that I recommend you take while withdrawing from Vyvanse:
Life Extension Complete B Complex
Life Extension Complete B Complex (Amazon) was a cost-effective and great supplement for helping me stop feeling so moody when I quit using Vyvanse.
The B vitamins in this supplement are high-quality, and I trust the Life Extension brand as well (dietary supplements are unregulated, so you have to be smart about which vitamins you use).
I should also mention that this supplement gave me energy when I was feeling lazy and compulsively watching Netflix immediately after stopping Vyvanse.
Pure Encapsulations Energy Xtra
Pure Encapsulations Energy Xtra (Amazon) is another great supplement from a brand that I trust.
Energy Xtra is a nice supplement because it contains energizing herbs like ashwagandha, Asian ginseng and rhodiola.
This supplement worked great on days when I was feeling extra sluggish after stopping Vyvanse.
Life Extension Magnesium Citrate
Life Extension Magnesium Citrate (Amazon) is a powerful mineral that can enhance your sleep, and change your life.
And, while I personally had no problem getting sleep after stopping Vyvanse (I love sleep), I found that using a high-quality form of magnesium helped me sleep even better.
Magnesium Citrate also helped to calm my nerves and reduce my anxiety. So, it’s a product that I highly recommend for sleeping better and feeling happier after quitting Vyvanse.
There are obviously many other important supplements that you can take while stopping Vyvanse.
But, these are my top three supplement recommendations that I personally used after quitting Vyvanse.
Step 5. Begin “New Life”
After a few weeks of stopping Vyvanse, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia because I felt like my “old self” again.
This is also the point when I realized I’d have to figure out how to get my ADHD symptoms under control again.
So, I went back to focusing on reducing my anxiety above all else.
(For me, I’ve started to realize that anxiety plays a huge role in my ADHD symptoms.)
To fight my ADHD and anxiety symptoms, I continued to eat healthy, exercise, and use “boring” (but necessary) supplements like…
- Etc.
During this time, I also tried to keep myself mentally busy by working on passion projects, going out with friends, and having as much fun as possible.
I really do believe that the key to coming off of Vyvanse is about finding ways to keep your mind busy.
If you can figure out ways to channel your energy, you won’t feel as distracted by negative emotions and thoughts that might arise.
It’s also important that you figure out how to best control your ADHD during the time that you stop taking Vyvanse.
- Are you going to take control of your ADHD naturally?
- Will you use a separate ADHD medication (maybe like Adderall XR) to treat your ADHD symptoms?
- Or will you focus on reducing symptoms of anxiety to get a better grip on your ADHD?
It’s ultimately going to be up to you and your doctor to figure out the best strategy going forward.
This website is about helping you figure out the best strategies to control your ADHD regardless of how you choose to do it. I don’t care if you use medication, natural food or even meditation to treat ADHD symptoms.
As long as you figure out a safe strategy that works well for your life, that’s all that matters in the end.
This is about doing what works best for your brain, body and lifestyle.
ADHD is a tricky condition to manage. But with some persistence, I know that anyone can take control of the disorder. Just don’t give up, and there’s no way you can fail.
My Future With Vyvanse (Vyvanse Withdrawal Conclusion)
Overall, I’ve had a very good experience with Vyvanse, so I can’t knock the prescription medication in the least bit.
During my one year on Vyvanse, I was able to:
- Build the ADHD Boss website
- Do a lot of freelance copywriting work for clients
- Clean the hell out of my house on a nearly daily basis
- Eliminate plenty of limiting beliefs
- Realize what I was truly capable of accomplishing
I’m actually not opposed to using Vyvanse in the future. I very well may use it again at some point.
But for now, I’ve learned how to use natural resources to thrive with ADHD. I don’t feel the need to use Vyvanse on a daily basis for the time being.
However, this website will continue to focus on finding ways to make the most of life with ADHD without any judgment.
I’m always open to the possibility that something else out there, like another ADHD medication, product or supplement can benefit everyone in the ADHD community.
I’ll do whatever it takes to help people like yourself.
In fact, leave your comments below to let me know if this article helped you better understand the process of withdrawing from Vyvanse.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Hello!
I am so glad you wrote this article! Goodness, I only took Vyvanse for 3 days and a really low dose (like the lowest, 10 mg) as a medication test for treating my add…and woah, I knew right away it wasn’t good for me. What you wrote here is so precious and represents exactly how I feel. I will go back to my natural remedies with strenght, it is so much better for me. I am impressed how strong of a drug it is…it flipped me out a little to be honest.
Thanks for sharing, it is very comforting.
Marie
Hi Marie. Thank you for your comment. It makes me happy to hear that the article was comforting to you.
That’s great that you took Vyvanse for only 3 days, and immediately knew that it wasn’t for you. That’s called trusting your instinct.
I agree that natural remedies can work very well for ADHD if that’s how you choose to live your life. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Best of luck.
Hello,
This is amazing and scary all at once. I’ve known for sometime that there is growing clash between my medications. It seems the longer I take Vyvanse, regardless of the dosage, I’m presently taking 40mg, I eventually end up like a dead fish washed up on a gravel pile. “One” of the long term side affects that develops when Vyvanse is combined with topiramate is fibromyalgia. Just horrible. The withdraw from topamax is dangerous, so here goes the Vyvanse be gone plan!
Thank you so much for your comment Brenda.
I wish you lots of luck on your journey going forward.
Hi, I was prescribed 50mg Vyvanse about 2 years ago and it’s made me a recluse who stays at home and has turned me into a person nowhere close to how I used to be. I’m down to where I only take a pill on Wednesday,Friday,and Saturday. Do you think I have a shot of coming off completely? Thanks
Hi Jonny – thank you for your comment. I believe you can come off completely. Confirm with your doctor, but 1 week from now you phase out to 2 days a week, and then another week goes by and you do 1 day a week until you are off completely. It’s not easy, but if you have the goal in mind don’t let anyone (even yourself) stop you.
When I first started taking Vyvanse I thought so this is what normal feels like.
I actually talked to people without agonizing over everything I said. I held family get togethers at my home and my guests enjoyed it as much as I did.
I was given the responsibility of bi-weekly presentations in my workplace simply because I was good at it.
Fast forward 11 years and I am now the same anxiety ridden recluse I was before medication. Possibly even worse.
Reading this has given me hope. Obviously the Vyvanse is not helping like it did. My doctor added adderall to help maintain ADHD symptoms control throughout the day. Vyvanse didn’t last 12 hours for me.
I feel like an addict and the expense as well as the stigma of taking stimulants is killing me. I go through extreme anxiety every month when it’s time for refills.
I want to stop the cycle but am terrified of worsening depression and anxiety. Reading about your experience gives me hope but more importantly the tools needed to survive breaking free from the cycle of meds. Thank you for that!
Also, when I have tried this in the past I did watch more tv than I ever did and in my life. Hopefully, your technique with supplements, diet and exercise will work for me as well. Just knowing the depression and/or low energy levels are not permanent is a huge help.
I am so looking forward to managing my ADHD with healthy alternatives that work for me.
Thanks Cindy you got this!
I thank you for your very honest article. I am a little different in that I do not have ADHD. I have leukemia, it is chronic myeloyd leulemia. My dr is using it off label to try and counter act the fatigue from chemo daily , and oxycontin for pain. I have now come off oxycontin , and tappered down to oxycodone twice a day. I am now on a very small dose, and in the next week or so I plan to be off it all together. At the same time I stopped vyvanse cold turkey. To be honest, I am just tired of loading my body with so many meds. I have been off for about two weeks now. I don’t crave it, but I gotta say I have had very bad head aches, and have been moody, and not very nice to be around. I hope these symptoms stop soon. It is probably difficult coming off two strong meds at the same time, but truly I am done with all these poisons I put in my body. I also take Ativan for anxiety. That , and my bupropian are my next
on my way to drug free. I fear the Ativan withdrawal the most. I am on low dose two times a day, but have been on it for 6 yrs since my diagnosis. I am stuck on chemo for the rest of my life, but thinking about CBD Oil instead. I just want to tell people it may be hard, but you can come off these meds. Stay strong, and take care of yourself. With great positivity / and love.
Frankie
Dear Frankie,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment and words of encouragement.
It’s very interesting to hear that your doctor prescribed you Vyvanse off label for dealing with chemo. And, that’s great to hear that you were able to come off of it.
Since you’ve been off Vyvanse for two weeks – you should be right at the point where things start to get a lot better mood-wise, and with headaches.
I’ve also heard amazing things about using CBD oil to fight cancer. I have a feeling that CBD oil could be something truly special to try.
You’re a brave person for taking on CML. Do whatever it takes, and you’ll make it through.
I know you probably receive all sorts of cancer-related advice, so I hate to chime in here. But I’ll just say one more thing:
Green juices and fruit juices can work wonders for your immune system. I’m a big believer in the power of juicing. If you don’t already have a good blender, getting a good one now can make your journey a much happier and healthier one.
Thank you for writing this article. Over the past several years I’ve become heavily addicted to both adderall and vyvanse, taking more and more to feel the same “high” that I once got from it. While it has helped me both academically and professionally, it has eliminated the joy in life that I used to have. I’ve read hundreds of articles on overcoming the withdrawal symptoms, I would have to say that this is the best one I’ve read. Thanks for your insight and guidance.
You’re very welcome for the article J. Thank you for adding your comment.
Yes, ADHD medication is almost always one of those love/hate things.
I totally agree that it helps a lot when it comes to your academics and career. But, it can also make you feel like a zombie, since you’re operating on a different “wavelength” than most people (while using ADHD meds).
I totally understand why people with ADHD flock to using medication though. American culture is so competitive, and most people with ADHD are just trying to get by in life, which medication can definitely help with.
I was on 40 mg last summer until I was slowly increased to 70mg September to February. Im now on 40mg and want to completely come off of Vyvannse. Im so nervous for some reason, I don’t want to gain wait or be super exhausted and depressed. BUT! My heart rate is out of control. I’ve ran 10 marathons and am training for another. I use to have a resting heart rate of 50-55 bpm. Now it’s high 80s and feels awful. I ran 16 this past Sunday, I shouldn’t have such a high heart rate. Did you expoence such a huge heart rate change? Did your heart rate decrease when you stopped? My anxiety is bad with or without vyvannse. I am encouraged to hear that reducing anxiety is possible naturally. Do you have any other tips I should know?
Hi Brooke,
Thank you for your comment.
I can’t give medical advice. So, I have to tell you that a doctor will be in the best position to help you out.
But, I will tell you that I personally experienced heart palpitations when I was taking a high dose of Vyvanse. I’m extremely sensitive to medication though (I’m a hyper-responder.) I had to lower my dose to get rid of the palpitations.
Yes, the good news is that my heart is in great shape after stopping ADHD meds. It took about 3-4 months to feel totally like myself again. So, there is definitely hope for you (don’t worry).
The best tip I can give you is to focus on reducing your anxiety to the best of your ability, and life will get a lot better for you.
Deep breathing exercises and meditation are my 2 best tricks for reducing anxiety. Search YouTube for “Wim Hof Breathing”. His techniques are unbelievably helpful for those of us with anxiety.
Good luck!
Hi again! Quick question- do the natural stimulants like coffee and caffeine in general ever name your anxiety worse? I’ve read a lot of your posts and wondered that. Also, when you came off of vyvannse did your heart palpitations noticeably change or very slowly? Did you feel depressed or just tired?
Thanks for the great website!
Hi Brooke,
Thank you for the kind feedback.
Natural stimulants don’t really make my anxiety worse when I use them in moderation. I drink mostly yerba mate and smoothies, do deep breathing exercises, and meditate. I also take NAC Sustain (not a stimulant, but helps with anxiety).
You said you’re a marathon runner, and that should help with anxiety too. I also do a lot of running…so I know how calming it feels to run (I wish I could capture that feeling 24/7).
Yeah, I definitely felt depressed and tired when I came off of Vyvanse. It was only really annoying for a few days though. After a week or two, I was feeling like my old self.
The palpitations gradually improved in my case. I felt like I was at my very best after 3 months or so of stopping.
Thank you so much for sharing all of your experience. I get so fearful I’ll never be able to run or be effective without it. But I did so many things before I was ever on it! When I don’t just pop back to my old self I feel like it’ll never get better and am very tempted to just stay on it. So your answers help a lot!
No worries Brooke. You’re totally welcome. People are really hesitant to tell the truth about using ADHD meds…so I’m just trying to help spread awareness. There are plenty of pros and cons to using Vyvanse.
Yes, things will definitely get a lot better for you. It sounds like your body just needs some time to adapt. The human body is amazing because we can recover from most things in life.
You’ll probably see the most progress after 2-3 months have passed, and then it only gets better from there.
I also was a marathon runner. I also learned Transcendental Meditation about 30 years ago. I ran, as a child, just because it felt good. I came from a very dysfunctional family and I ran as a way of coping, although it never occurred to me, consciously, and I was not diagnosed with ADHD until I was 60 years old. I have analyzed all of this in retrospect. The feelings (of the runner’s high) are very similar to the state of consciousness achieved when meditating. When you are running, you need to focus just enough to not run into anyone or anything or trip over the curb. Otherwise, your mind is 100 miles away. It’s just like a mantra. The effects of meditating are cumulative over time and the quiet consciousness you experience begins to seep into your daily activity. So, you can experience that runner’s calm 24/7, slowly but surely, with regular meditation. And I need to re-inspire myself because I’ve gotten away from the regularity.
You have amazing insight Tom thank you for sharing this with us.
I had been on Vyvanse 70mg for years. While this article is comforting I cannot say things were/are as simple as it’s made things out to be. In most ways Coming off Vyvanse isn’t as hard as many other types of medicines, unless of course you aren’t able to take the appropriate time to heal from the withdrawals.
I have Crohn’s and have had three surgeries. My bodies ability to digest nutrients is already at a lower level thus I too was prescribed Vyvanse as off label for energy AND as a anti-depressant.
The main reason I stopped was two fold: the crashes from Vyvanse are extreme. Much more extreme than from Adderral; at least for me they were. Nothing but 70mg in a water bottle worked for me. My body burns through medicines so fast due to my metabolism and lack of bowel that I’d start crashing earlier and earlier in the day. It was so bad that I’d wake up around 6:30am and have to be away from all people by 1:30pm as the depression and lack of energy from the crash was devistating.
I had a serious and life threatening problem this year and believe it was due to a mixture of all the medicines I was on. Pain relievers, uppers in the AM, benzos at night, and the generic Wellbutrin XL as the brand was insanely expensive even with insurance. This was all a disaster waiting to happen.
Why would I mention all this some may wonder? I’ve found that doctors who prescribe ADHD medicines seem to prescribe more than one medicine. I would come in with how I was doing, a list of problems and research I’ve done. At one point last year I was on 70mg Vyvanse and two additional doses of Adderral in the afternoon and evening to prevent the huge crashes. That’s a serious amount of legal ampethamenes.
I was forced to detox off all my medicines at once. I knew it’d be bad and it was. However, what I didn’t expect was how long the lack of energy and side effects of stopping them would last. Here’s what I experienced:
– Extreme Lethargy. So much that caffeine can not touch it. And while getting off my meds I also stopped caffeine which should have reset my tolerance but it didn’t. I can still pound a energy drink in the AM and be extremely tired.
– Extreme Relief: from not crashing mid day. However, I will say that I started experiencing what I can only describe as some kind of Sundown syndrome. It had to be the Vyvanse withdrawal as it matched the same pattern as my daily crash except I wasn’t taking the Vyvanse. It could be related to caffeine though.
– Extreme Insomnia: During detox I literally slept two hours in a total of five days. I’m not even sure I was asleep those two hours. By day three I felt like i was starting to lose my mind. Lost all my internal thought boundaries. Begged for sleep and desired it so bad if I didn’t have strong support I would have found some chemical way to sleep besides melatonin. In fact on day six I took two Ambien and it did nothing. I threw all the Ambien away the next day. Do keep in mind I was also coming off Ambien and Klonopin. But these helped me with the Vyvanse crashes and sleep which I should no longer need to take because I wasn’t taking Vyvanse.
– Extreme Loss of Motivation: I am still having this issue two weeks later. This is what’s prompted me to post this. For one I’m curious if anyone has been on the highest dose for years and successfully regained their energy and motivation. The lethargy for me is not mild nor light. It’s extreme. I can lay in bed all day watching TV almost passing out from being so tired only for my adrenals to kick in and release my own stimulant which keeps me awake. A chicken and egg problem still happening two weeks into stopping.
– I’m not sure a one month taper is slow enough to have stopped any of the major side effects. Once you go from 70mg to 40mg, all the withdrawal will start happening. As I went cold turkey I’m wondering if lowering for one month and THEN dealing with the all out stopping is better than just stopping. Vyvanse withdrawal isn’t one that can kill you from stopping. However, I cannot say I’m recovering at any significant rate here. As I said I’m two weeks in and it’s only gotten worse not better.
– Delayed Headaches: I just started getting headaches yesterday. An entire two weeks of no headaches and now all of a sudden I’m getting massive ones. I feel this is a GOOD sign as it means my brain and body are fighting for some normalcy
– Blood Pressure dropped significantly. On Vyvanse my BP would be around 150/90+. The day after I stopped it went back to 125/80. I need to lower it more BUT stopping Vyvanse has single handedly allowed me to stop my BP meds, two sleeps meds and anxiety meds. All from the Vyvanse side effects. This stuff is nasty but it works. That’s what makes it so hard. Knowing you can pick back up and be at work again. I don’t because I known I’m living on borrowed time if I don’t stop.
– Reduced Anxiety: My anxiety’s levels reduxed by 70% after the first week of stopping. It was amazing. I still have the depressive withdrawal happening but i cannot describe having a high BP, high HR and then that along with a daily crash ending with high anxiety levels. I would watching the clock daily for when I could take my anxiety meds. Sometimes I’d just stop living my life until it was time to take them. Now I can lay in bed and it’ll be 7pm before I know it. 4-5pm was when I’d take my anxiety med.
The reduction in anxiety and lowering my BP have been the biggest benefits.
Extreme lethargy and depression (or lack of a stimulant to mask the depression) have been my largest withdrawals. I’d suggest one find a way to take off at least a week from ALL responsibilities. Everything if you can. The gym, work, friends, shopping etc. Why? For me it crosses my mind that if I didn’t throw away my Vyvanse I’d be tempted to take just a small amount to make it through a responsibility for a particular day. Then it would all start building again; needing more and more to make it through each responsibility.
Perhaps my case is unique but I wanted to share it. By sharing it I’ve come to learn that it isn’t as unique as I would have thought. And while these articles are comforting it does have the effect of making one have self doubt if things aren’t as easy as described in this article. I want others to know that my time with it has not been easy. So far it’s been doable and I have no plans on starting again. I understand if one needs to though. Homeopathic therapies have taken the lives of many great people. Because they don’t work. Prescription medicines have taken the lives of many great people because they DO work and have been abused. The difference between Steve Jobs and Michael Jackson. Jobs thought he’d be ok with homeopathic treatments for cancer and he paid with his life.
Exercise works. That’s not a homeopathic treatment though. It’s scientifically proven to release certain hormones. Hormones we need to feel ok. Vitamins are up in the air but I know they make me feel better taking then when I don’t. Perhaps placebo effect as long as they aren’t too high in concentration and hurting me.
Ampethamines are no joke. Prescription meds seem safe as they are so easily prescribed. I’ve found that doctors give out meds so quickly yet never have a solid plan for helping someone off them. They all appear to plan on either “Take then for Life” plan or the “Its not that hard to stop” plan. All the while they’ve never taken them nor have they had to come off them. They only see the results of people who have stopped down the road and never the results of actually having to stop.
Powerful comment. This is one of the best comments that I’ve seen on ADHD Boss. Thank you so much for sharing.
I am in the same boat. Quit cold turkey, was on 60 mg for about 3 years, and it’s been.. well.. a hot mess. Physical withdrawals like nausea (threw up almost daily the first week), lethargy, and other flu like symptoms were nothing compared to the psychological. dark dark depression set in the first two weeks, social anxiety (wtf I’ve always been outgoing), suicidal thoughts etc etc.. now it’s been almost two months and I cannot for the life of me focus. My memory is terrible, I wake up tired, and I’m worried.. I’m in grad school and still haven’t done the paper I should have done a month ago, but lord I have tried. I work out, eat healthy, have tried supplements but honestly I just feel like my brain is fried. Like I’m worse off than I was before the meds. My mood has stabilized a great deal, but as far as every day functioning goes I’m nowhere near where I normally would be
Jea that’s incredibly rough. I hope you find the power to take care of your work one way or another. Taking care of your grad school assignments is an important thing. I have faith you will get there!
I really am concerned because my mom was giving me Vyvanse from the age 12 too 16 and I know she was abusing my medication witch made it harder for me to get help but how long did it take you to get rid of the Vyvanse crash episode? Because I’m tired of this crash I’m having
Just found this web site. Been on vyvanse since 2010. I am in final stage of tapering off vyvanse. Gone from 110 (70 +40) a day. In feb 2017 Went from 110mg to 70mg with no issue. then to 60 with no issue, then to 40 with heavy issues. Went back to 50 for a few months. Back to 40 with no issue, then 30 feeling better. I’m at 29mg now and its difficult. Next month, I’m going to 10 mg next month. I’m excited and very nervous. My journey to quit started after a minor stroke and high bp 2 years ago. Vyvanse helped me but side effects were taking my a toll on my physical body. The experience strength and hope on this site is appreciated.
I am currently on the fence and trying to get the courage to face what lies ahead for me I need to quit taking Vyvanse and Adderall I’ve been on it for about 8 years I can’t imagine functioning without it I’ve tried and couldn’t even go a complete day without it the withdrawal was awful I also take large dose 70 mg of Vyvanse then 15 mg of Adderall later when I start to crash i noticed ur story is alot like what I am now going through that was back in 2018 were u able to stay away from it or did u relapse do u have any advice for me?
Hi Francis – thank you for your comment. I was able to stay away (fortunately) because of the plan I put in place. That’s my biggest piece of advice for you. The plan was centered around staying busy, working out, eating well (smoothies) and having natural supplements to take as well. Another tip could be a daily affirmation you repeat in the morning before you start your day.
this is me and i have a big final in 2 weeks but i NEED TO STOP THIS MEDICATION
Good luck on your final. Yeah I know all about the mixed emotions that come with using Vyvanse for school!
Thank you for your website. I found the information very helpful. I’ve been on Adderral for 6 years now… 60 mg a day IR. I just switched to Vyvance 60 mg to first stop Adderral. Eventually I’m hoping to stop Vyvance altogether. I’m nervous to do it now though because I start computer programming boot camp in May. I’m hoping taking thebVyvance just once a day vs Adderral 4 – 5 times a day will be better. And I’ve heard there’s less to Vyvance than Adderral. It is very scary though. This is Day 1 on Vyvance alone… I’m going to try to be consistent with running every day as well. I had a question… I’ve been taking L- Tyrosine I’ve been adding it to protein shakes. I’ve heard this isn’t effective if taken with protein…. is this true?
Thank you for your comment.
I used to work with a mobile app start-up company, so I always find it funny how many people in the tech industry use Adderall or Vyvanse.
I personally felt healthier while taking Vyvanse rather than Adderall, and I think most people share a similar experience. So you’re probably making a healthy choice in that regard.
I’ve heard great things about L-Tyrosine, but I have no idea about how effective it is in protein shakes.
Good luck with your programming boot camp!
Thank you so much for writing this! I’ve been on Vyvanse for 4+ years now and have always defaulted to the guidance of my doctor every step of the way. About a year ago I requested to go down to 30 mg in the hopes of weaning off. My doctor agreed and said after finishing up the month supply, I could give it a go without Vyvanse for a bit and follow-up with any concerns. In other words, I went cold turkey. I was really excited to be done with it but the side effects of withdrawal were so severe (mostly the fatigue) that I only made it about 10 days before asking for a refill. It was incredibly discouraging since I thought it was confirmation I would need to be on this for life. About a week ago I had the same epiphany to work towards eliminating this from my daily routine and realized I needed to be my own advocate in this process (it’s been hard to find a doctor to walk me through weaning). Your article is incredibly helpful and gives me so much hope! I truly appreciate it.
I am getting ready to come off of Vyvanse for Binge Eating Disorder. I am on a 40 mg dosage and I have been on it for about 8 months. I have felt very edgy, snappy and I have a lot of headaches. I don’t like this feeling. I do like the energy and I will miss it as I suffer from chronic fatigue. There has to be other ways to deal with the fatigue since I don’t feel very good on this medication at all. Thank you for laying this out. I am on a lower dosage than you were, but I stopped once and was convinced to give it another try. I did it cold turkey and the headaches were not fun. Again, the information is much appreciated!
Hi RP. I wish you the best of luck on your journey coming off of Vyvanse. I didn’t like the edginess/snappiness of Vyvanse either. That’s a negative side effect that hurt certain areas of my life – especially my relationships with people.
Chronic fatigue is a tough one to deal with. It often requires an entire change in lifestyle. I recommend juicing fruits and green vegetables, hitting the gym 4x per week, and getting plenty of natural sunlight. But, you can do it!
Thank you for reading.
Hi. I have been taking vyvanse for about two years. I am presently taking 50 mg a day. I don’t misuse or abuse it and it has been an amazing tool for me. I have experienced withdrawl before, not intentionally but not being able to fill my prescriptions. Terrible, tired, flu like, headaches and depressed. I know this is going to likely happen again, while I am on vacation with my son. Not looking forward to this. I cannot fill the prescription even a day early and will be out while we plan on being on a camping trip. I cannot get away with sleeping a lot, or locking myself away in my room with a headache. I am pretty stressed about how I may turn this into a really cruddy trip for me and my son. I will take vitamins, drink coffee, have headache meds on hand. I am also concerned about the long long long drive. It is so unrealistic to expect that people cannot even fill a prescription a day or two early. I am thinking about perhaps skipping a day on and off between now and the trip so I don’t have to go several days without on the trip,instead can be just “off” here at home. What you do think would be the best way to go about this? I am also on an antidepressant medication and will continue to take it. I have some old very very very mild anti anxiety medication and have been thinking about having this with me to help with the withdrawl. I am not sure what is the best way to minimize the effects here. Thanks for any insights.
Hi I just posted about my anticipated and unwelcome few days without my vyvanse. I have a couple of additional comments and afterthoughts/questions.
1. I used to be on adderall and felt mean, grouchy and kind of hungover while taking it, have not ever felt any side effects from vyvanse. I have some old adderall, perhaps two or three days worth but do not want to use that since I hated how I felt on it.
2. I will be withdrawing from the vyvanse from the same time that I tend to be going into my pms stage of the month, which in itself is semi manageable but only if I keep telling myself that it is hormones and I am not crazy and don’t be a total “b” to my family and don’t hate myself..
3. I have auditory processing problems and the vyvanse has actually helped me a little with that in addition to the attention issue. (It takes times for sounds to actually reach my brain and then to have that noise turn into something that actually means somethings more than just noise. I had neurological issues, born with them, that were actually disabling until I finally arrived at vyvanse. Being on it is more than just being more focused.
4. I am on a relatively low carb and high protien diet for weight control and mood. I used to be obese and now I am just a little chubby. I know that dietary changes can impact withdrawl. I wonder if you know of any reputable websites with dietary information that might be useful for me to consider during this temporary break from vyvanse?? thanks again!
Hi Cecilia. Thank you for your comment. That’s great to hear that Vyvanse has been an amazing tool for you. That’s a healthy way to view Vyvanse.
It seems like you want to enjoy your vacation with your son rather than experience withdrawal symptoms.
Since this is a really unique situation, I think that you should try your best to continue your medication treatment during your vacation.
Is there any way that you could re-fill your Vyvanse prescription at a nearby pharmacy while camping?
If it came down to it, I would probably even take the Adderall during the trip. I totally agree that Adderall is a “gritty” ADHD medication that gives off some harsh side effects. But, it may be better than nothing for your difficult situation.
1. I totally agree that Adderall isn’t very fun. But in your situation, it may be better to use the Adderall rather than nothing at all.
2. Rainbow Light makes an awesome “PMS Relief” product. I’ve heard that it works well.
3. This is part of the reason why I recommend that you stick with taking Vyvanse / ADHD medication if possible. You definitely need it for the best!
4. Low carb high protein is a great diet. I recently wrote an article in conjunction with a personal trainer about the best strategies for dealing with “Vyvanse weight gain” (i.e. gaining weight after taking a break from Vyvanse). The article is a little bit hardcore, but it works very well:
http://adhdboss.com/vyvanse-weight-gain/
If you need a more thorough website strictly for dietary information – Wellness Mama has some of the very best nutritional information on the web. I’m a huge fan of her stuff.
Generic Dexedrine is way better than adderall to me you should ask doc about if if you can it’s basically short acting vyvanse that lasts only 4 hours
This was a phenomenal read. I’ve been on Vyvanse for nearly a year and I feel like I am ready to move forward without it. I stopped using it two weeks ago (went from 50mg to 30mg to nothing within a month). I don’t believe that it was a smart idea to stop at the 30, but since that first week off of it, I feel wonderful. I mean, I’m exhausted, and my house is a mess (I lol’d at your comment about cleaning your house daily because.. SAME!!!), but overall I’m happy. I’m laughing again. I’m Netflixing again. I truly do feel like the “old me”. And, similar to you, I realize that I wouldn’t be the person I am at this very moment without taking Vyvanse for the past year. I’m sure I will take it again in my life. But for now I am feeling so positive without it and surprisingly my motivation is only limited due to my exhaustion. Maybe I need a weekend of sleep to catch up from the past year. Anyway, thank you, thank you. You are so wonderful for sharing this. Cheers!
Thank you for the kind words and great comment Becca.
One year of Vyvanse seems to be the sweet spot for so many people. It’s the perfect amount of time to really pull your life together, and then move on as normal.
Just keep in mind that the exhaustion is only temporary, and your body will continue to adapt.
That’s great to hear that you’re laughing again. It seems like you’re ready to live life to the fullest.
Yes – taking some time for self-care after a year of Vyvanse is a must. Enjoy yourself!
Interesting read. What you said about reducing anxiety in order to focus is true because I had anxiety issues before ADHD meds and I was able to focus if I reduced anxiety but I started meds anyways because I thought my anxiety problems were rooted from ADHD. I’m glad someone else has the same perspective I have.
I’ve been taking Vyvanse for 6-7 months(2.5 years ADHD meds)which I started from 50mg to 40 mg twice a day and now 40mg once a day. I want to get off of it because managing the side effects including increased anxiety,dry mouth, and sleep debt is not worth it to me plus I’ve become somewhat of a socially awkward jerk. I’m also too fast to learn things at work and becoming incompetent at a new job. However my life has improved in everything else since taking it.
Do you think I should wait to 1 year of taking it or should I talk to my doc to taper off of it right now?
Hi Mo,
Yes, anxiety seems to be the root problem in a lot of people’s ADHD.
I have no idea how common this actually is…but I just know that people like yourself and I benefit the most from *controlling anxiety* above all else.
I personally stopped using Vyvanse, so my advice is kinda biased, and I believe that ADHD/anxiety can be manageable without medication.
But it’s totally up to you. I’m not opposed to taking Vyvanse. Vyvanse can be a huge help on certain “rough” days when you don’t sleep well, or need to power through a lot of work.
How about keeping the Vyvanse prescription for rough days, while also seeing how you perform at work without Vyvanse in your system?
Vyvanse has been a nightmare for me. I have been taking it for a year and a half, which is a long time. On the medication, I can’t eat, I have trouble sleeping, I am moody and very short tempered. I can’t stay on it but I can’t get off of it.
May, I was on 50mg (highest dose).
In June, doctor dropped me to 30 mg (hell).
In July, doctor dropped me to 20 mg (hell again)
My body just does not want me to stop taking it. Even with my doctor lowering the dose by 10 mgs a month, I still go through a cycle of 2 weeks of feeling horrible.
Here are my withdrawal symptoms:
Severe depression
Lack of Interest in anything
No Libido (who cares at this point)
ANXIETY that never quits
I still have problems eating. I don’t know why but I feel like throwing up when I see food. To say the least, I have a big problem.
I am seeing a therapist starting tonight, I really need to move past this. So far this medication is ruining my life and relationships with others.
Hi Eric. I’m sorry to hear about your situation with Vyvanse. People have such wildly different experiences with the medication, and it seems like your experience is a pretty terrible one.
Luckily, you seem to be on a positive path at least, since you’re now chatting with a therapist. Professional guidance has the potential to change everything for you in a heartbeat, so make sure to keep your hopes high. Everything can get much better for you extremely quickly with the help of a well-reviewed professional.
I am finally off the medication (3 weeks without it!!!) and my life is getting back in order. Thank you for this post, it really helped me.
Congratulations on taking control of your life and getting everything back in order Eric. I’m very happy to hear that this post helped you. I wish you the best of luck going forward man.
I have been taking Vyvanse for years (took adderall for years, but it stopped working, so switched to Vyvanse). With my doctor’s supervision I have started to ween myself off of the Vyvanse as the side effects were really starting to bother me. The biggest withdrawal symptom I have is fatigue. I feel like I could just sleep all day and all night. I am trying to push through it, but some days I give in and take a nap. I, too, am hyper-sensitive to meds and changing doses. I know feeling this way is only temporary, but I am ready for it to just go away. I want to wake up in the morning and feel full of energy and ready to take on the world!
Thank you for the comment Sabrina.
Great to hear that you’ve spoken to your doctor about weening off of Vyvanse, and you’re taking positive steps in your life.
Yes, fatigue is the worst. But, if you can focus on the fact that it’s only *temporary* – you’ll be feeling MUCH better soon enough.
There’s nothing wrong with giving in to a nap now and again!
Keep up the great work Sabrina…you’re almost there.
Occasionally my med has not been filled on time due to situations completely out of my control. A missed signature or a lost piece of paper could result in at least few days of unplanned withdrawal symptoms and no medication. This disrupts my life and I have a hard time coping on those days. I am a grad student and I work full time. I do not want to disclose the fact that I have ADHD or that I am on medication to my boss or my professors. I found this site looking for a natural alternative and kept reading because I appreciate the author’s unbias. Medication is a great tool. Deciding to go off of any medication treating a condition like ADHD should be strategized not only because of the withdrawal symptoms you may feel but the ADHD symptoms that will return. I have never tried to withdraw from Vyvanse. I have found a few new ways to cope over the years with the physical discomfort and frustration I experience in the few inevitable days I cannot get my medication filled. I’ve used oils with wintergreen and peppermint to soothe my aches and calming herbal teas to help deal with the frustration of my severe lack of focus. The caffeine helps some with the fatigue, but the result of over caffeinating for me is a complete inability to sit still on top of an utter lack of focus. I appreciate the information on this site. I think there is too much misinformation out there on ADHD and if you really have it you know it’s a constant battle. You know you aren’t faking it and you know to keep your mouth shut about it because telling anyone will be met with the typical response, ‘I think I have a touch of ADD too’. I think this is the first time I have researched ADHD solutions in a long time and found answers and not shame or doubt in my condition or my choice of treatment. I don’t know your expertise but this seems like sound advice and I appreciate it.
Thanks a lot for the awesome comment Jane.
Sorry to hear that you occasionally have to undergo withdrawal symptoms. It’s definitely a painful experience to deal with.
I agree that medication can be a great tool when it’s used strategically.
At least you’ve been able to cope with the withdrawal symptoms using essential oils and caffeine! That’s always good.
Plus, you seem to have a great grasp of using ADHD meds responsibly and effectively – and that’s just about the best that any person can do.
Thank you very much for reading the information on this site Jane.
You’re right that there’s no need to feel shame or doubt about having ADHD.
This is all about managing your ADHD the way you choose to, and living life on your terms.
P.S. As for my expertise, I’m literally just an ordinary guy with ADHD, diagnosed in 2015.
You can see my official ADHD diagnosis in this article, if you’re interested:
http://adhdboss.com/what-is-adhd-causes-symptoms/
I also have a Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship…so I like to think critically, and help people like yourself.
*I’ve been taking V for about four years and I’ve been on 70 mg for the past 8 months… i started throwing up blood on a regular basis and found out my anti-depressant didn’t mix with v….also both medications do not mix with Endo either… but that’s a different problem. I choose to keep my anti-depressant and stop V… already feel more like myself when I get home from over. My hubby says i’m more talkative and less zombie like now… it’s only been three days…but the daily mood swings and constant crying suck.. I went cold turkey. All I want to do is sleep and cry and eat anything I can find… it really sucks and it’s really hard. My boss isn’t the type of person I can go to and ask for a day off b/c I am going through withdraw… I was just off for a month due to surgery… I guess I’m just a little lost.
Hi Lynn. Thanks for your comment.
Even though your situation sounds like a bad one – the bright side is that you’ve STOPPED throwing up blood (I hope, at least). That’s definitely a good thing.
Yup, a LOT of people report feeling “more like herself” after stopping Vyvanse. You’ll probably start to appreciate having your “old personality” back pretty soon.
Just remember that the pain is only temporary. Life can actually get a lot better after ADHD medication *if* you stay on top of your health and wellness.
Stay strong, persevere, and try to work with a great therapist/doctor if you need additional support (you definitely might).
I wish you the best of luck pushing forward.
Thanks for your article. I’m wondering if you’ve always been health conscious or if your aim to stop taking medication inspired you? My son is 22 and has been taking Vyvanse since he was 16. He was an athlete throughout high school and benefited from the regular exercise. He’s always been slender, but he had decent muscle mass and ate fairly well. He moved out after graduation and stopped taking his meds for almost two years. I don’t really know what he experienced as far as withdrawal, but he asked for assistance with medical insurance so he could be start vyvanse again. He says he feels much better medicated, but he no longer participates in any sports, and he’s incredibly thin (6′ about 135lbs). I worry about the long term effects of taking an amphetamine, and that his previous experience with any withdrawal symptoms may make him reluctant to ever choose another option. He doesn’t seem to have much motivation to look into what’s best for his own health as far as diet, exercise, nutritional supplements.
Hi Karen. You’re very welcome for the article.
I’ve always been health conscious, but I became 10x more health conscious after taking ADHD medication, because I’m always interested in mitigating risks as much as humanly possible.
I’m a bit older than your son, but I can still relate to what he’s most likely going through. He’s right around the age where he’s entering “adult life” for the first time – and he may be experiencing some of the more stressful aspects of adult life. This can definitely cause someone with ADHD to seek out Vyvanse, to help deal with the stress of adult life.
It’s totally normal to worry about the long-term health effects of taking an amphetamine, and I fully understand where you’re coming from.
I’m not a doctor, but I personally believe that taking a LOW dose of ADHD medication, exercising regularly, and eating healthy should eliminate most of the health risks associated with using stimulants therapeutically.
The tricky thing is that there’s a good case to be made FOR taking ADHD medication, and there’s also a case to be made AGAINST taking ADHD medication. There are so many different factors at play.
At your son’s age, his body will ultimately be resilient enough to handle most “unnatural stressors” that life throws his way (like a small dose of ADHD medication). But, I agree that he may want to take care of his health NOW before it’s too late. Building those healthy habits early on is crucial.
I recommend “gifting” him something related to a healthy GROUP activity. Gym memberships don’t always inspire people to get healthy. But, group fitness classes, jiu jitsu classes, dance classes, or anything group-related turns getting healthy into a fun event.
Good luck!
I can’t figure out how to leave a new comment. And can I possibly send a private message to you?
Sure Ashley just send me an email!
Thank you so much for all your work and dedication to helping others! I have been on Vyvanse for about 14 months for BED (Binge eating disorder). My addiction has been since early childhood and switched to alcohol for many years. Long story short I’ve been sober for about 5 years and finally accepted that I cannot eat sugar/flour/grains.
I asked my doctor to prescribe Vyvanse after yet again losing 100lbs and deciding a bite here and there wouldn’t hurt…fast forward 3 months and I was bingeing worse than ever. I truly thought I was going to lose my mind struggling to find my way back.
Vyvanse has worked great for me but I don’t want to be on it any longer… both my doctor and I knew at the beginning it wasn’t a cure but a temporary tool to get back on track and truly understand that I can’t eat these ingredients.
I’m doing this by going down in dose from 70 mg to 50 MG’s all last week. My concern is that I am currently going through the most stressful point in my career and I’m finding I can’t even think straight… having to redo work over and over. This was a huge motivation to come off V as I’m sure it’s affecting my mind at this point.
I know that I will have withdrawal symptoms but I just wanted to be sure that all of a sudden having heart palpitations is normal and that I’m not making things worse by doing this at the same time as being completely overwhelmed at work. Just a note it’s not the work perse but the fact that my brain has felt completely fried for a few months.
Should I try the water tritation method?
I’m going to reach out to my doctor tomorrow as well.
PS I’m 56 and have been on meds for OCD for over 20 years
Hi Christine,
You’re very welcome for the work. It’s no problem really. It’s honestly the readers like yourself who make ADHD Boss a helpful website.
Thank you for sharing your story with the community here, Christine. And congratulations on your sobriety for the last 5 years!
It definitely sounds like you’re going through a tough time at work, and combined with Vyvanse withdrawal, things might seem extremely rough for a little while. But, life can absolutely get much, much better after Vyvanse, if you choose to go down that route.
The water titration method is a great way to adjust your dose of Vyvanse. But of course, make sure to swing the idea by your doctor for best results.
And if you feel like your brain has been a bit fried lately, then you might want to take some time off from work if you do decide to stop using Vyvanse. Taking time off from Vyvanse + time off from work can be a HUGE mental relief.
I wish you the best of luck Christine.
8 years on 70mg, I’m ready for a reset. What once worked for me seems to be now working against me. The last few weeks I really felt like I was “coming off the tracks” (again), you name the side effect and I was trying to cope with it. After reading all over this is site and forwarding articles to friends and loved ones, my mind is made up. Today is day 5 of going “cold turkey” (under doctor supervision). I am very excited for the light at the end of the tunnel. After this I plan to go after all the meds which have been prescribed to help with the side effects of Vyvanse (Ambien, Zanex, Trintilix…)
Thank you,
Jeff
Hi Jeff. Congratulations on making the decision to eliminate side effects and unhelpful medications from your life. It sounds like you’re on a track to becoming MUCH more “free” in your life. I’m happy for you. And it’s also great that you decided to stop taking your medication under the supervision of a doctor. That’s always a smart thing.
Enjoy your new life ahead Jeff. You’re going to love it.
Hi- thank you for this article. I have been on V for a year now (30-40-50-40 mg). In the beginning it was amazing- I felt like I could see straight and got so much done at work. The afternoons were horrible and I felt more depressed than ever recently so I decided to stop with the support of my therapist and psychiatrist. This medication is amazing when it’s working, thinking clearly and being able to listen without the embarrassment of forgetting what people say was something I never experienced. However I always felt so irritable and straight up bitchy after work- started isolating and have lost touch with a lot of friends. It’s hard to know which is the better choice, but I want to try some of these natural supplements to help. Thank you so much for the article and responses. I can really relate. Best to all of you!
Thanks so much for your comment Steph. I’m sorry to hear that you had the “rollercoaster” side effect of Vyvanse. I’ve heard about that happening to quite a number of people. I experienced something very similar to you, but on a much lighter level.
I totally agree that Vyvanse is amazing when it’s working, but it isn’t perfect by any means. I know that people like yourself have had some real problems with the medication. And that’s OK. It’s great to hear that you’ve managed to stop using Vyvanse with the help of your doctors.
Natural supplements can help you improve your mood and feel more balanced, so they’re definitely worth a try.
As for your friends – make sure to keep in touch with the good one’s, if you can. It’s so important to have good friends in life 🙂
You’re very welcome for the article, and I really appreciate you commenting Steph.
I wish you the best of luck going forward too!
Thank you for your great article! I’ve been on 30mg for 9 months, now 20 mg the last 4 months. My focus was better at first, I loved the energy, lost 45 lbs, had issues sleeping and hair loss. More recently I have felt very anxious. I tried stopping Vyvanse, but the slugglish depressed feeling was too much. So, back on 20mg. I have clearly half the hair i had prior to starting Vyvanse, I’ve lost a relationship with someone I love, and recently lost my job. Feeling depressed and anxious, not sleeping, hair loss. I definately need to re-balance. I’m going to try following your advice. I need to get back to feeling my old happy self again, even if it means I put some weight back on.
Thank you for your comment Vickie!
Really sorry to hear about your hair loss issue. That’s really odd.
Either way, it’s great to hear that you’re back to finding balance in your life, and becoming your old happy self again 🙂
Great write up! I am 31 years old, own my own business and have been taking Vyvanse off and on since I was 20. I’ve been taking 60mg opd for the last year and a half. My wife and I definitely feel it’s time for me to go without. I’m not getting any younger and we all eventually reach an age where we realize that our health is not invincible. My epiphany came after my 31st b-day when my wife (who is 5 years younger than I) said, “Wow you’re going to be 40 in 9 years….”.
So I’ve made the decision to start tapering off of Vyvanse hopefully for the last time and start looking for healthier alternatives for combating my ADHD symptoms. This has been one of the only sites I found to offer good suggestions for working through the process of coming off Vyvanse.
For me it is extremely easy to tell who has genuine experience with Vyvanse and who does not simply by the way the author of any article describes their experience……in most cases it sounds like a checklist from WebMD.com; you however covered the real topics that real people go through when dealing with the effects of removing this medication from their system.
You would think that since I’ve been through this process twice before I wouldn’t need any additional motivation or pointers but anyone who has completed this task knows that it’s not a cake walk. So yeah, if there are any pointers to learn about, I want them.
Just as an FYI, some of the real life pointers that I’ve found helpful are:
1. Try to finish your last dose of Vyvanse on a Friday so that you will have the weekend to rest up before going back to work or school. If you can arrange it, do it on a 3-Day weekend like Labor Day Weekend.
2. Let a friend know that you are doing it so that they can help support you with encouragement through the process. It’s much easier to accomplish if someone is there to help hold you accountable.
3. Stick to the 6-Day Rule! In my experience, I have found that if you can make it 6-Days without any Vyvanse, you are pretty much home free. The two times I have tapered off of Vyvanse, I vividly remember the feeling of catching the first glimpse of my old self. If you can make it to the 6 day mark and catch that little fragment of natural happiness or laughter, it’s more than enough to finish the task; it’s like hitting a walk of Home Run…..you are simply rounding the bases from that point on.
Thank you again for offering your perspective, insight, and a place for others to affirm and share their own!
Wish me luck! I will be completely off Vyvanse for the 3rd time in 27 days.
What an epic comment.
Thanks so much for leaving your extremely helpful thoughts on here, CB.
Seems like you’re at the perfect age to make a transformational change in your life. 30/31 is right around that point where you can still make big changes in your life, before making changes becomes a lot harder (once you’re near the 40 mark especially).
Great tips, by the way.
The 6-day rule is definitely true. I felt like I was 100% back to normal after just a week or two.
I wish you the best of luck. Since you’re a business owner, I assume that you have the resilience to make it through Vyvanse withdrawal with very few issues 🙂
I’ve read just about every article on your site over the past 3 hours. I’ve cried endlessly, because I resonate with literally everything.
I’ve been on ADHD medication since I was ~8, Vyvanse since 16. I’m now 25. I take 60mg in the morning, 60mg in the afternoon. I’ve been a slave to Vyvanse for way too long; I know that vyvanse is at the root of many of my problems, but I ignored it because it got me “so far” (or so it seemed).
But life is more important than productivity and laser focus. Thanks to your site, tomorrow morning I will finally begin tapering. I’ve been opening a business for the past 1.5 years, and I’m mortified that this might ruin everything.
But hopefully I can find a lower dose that works for me, and find peace with myself and with life in general. Perhaps I can take the full dose rarely, only when I really need that “laser focus”
Anyways, please keep up this great site 🙂
Thank you so much for your extremely thoughtful comment Michael. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me.
You’re right that life is more than just productivity and laser focus. We all need a little bit of balance.
I wish you the best of luck with your business and life in general.
Very best regards,
Stefan
Hello,
I have noticed that cardio and yoga are a HUGE way to feel better naturally. Watching a tv shoe that you may have seen 100 time but makes you laugh, or I call someone and we talk about good memories–humor is a great thing.
You’re absolutely right that cardio and yoga are amazing mood boosters. I love cardio and yoga.
Humor is amazing too. I’m also a big fan of comedy Audrey.
Hope you’re doing well.
Hello!
Thanks for this website full of great content. I haven’t been able to stop reading your articles. I’ve been on and off Vyvanse for years along with anti depressants. I always go off of it for pregnancy and I usually stop cold turkey and its extremely difficult for a week or so. I would love to try some of these natural remedies and talk to my doctor about it. My question is are there certain websites you found info about natural remedies for ADHD? Do you research about ADD? I exercise, and try to fuel my body with good nutritious foods but it doesn’t seem enough for me. I also struggle with depression so that could be part of the issue. Thanks again for your work. Something that I appreciate reading about and I know others could benefit from your articles.
-Carrie
I appreciate you Mama Daring. You’re awesome. And thanks for sharing your honest thoughts on here with all of us.
I think many of us struggle with the issues that you’ve just described (depression etc.) and it’s a major problem without easy answers.
Yes I research ADHD frequently and natural remedies as well. You ultimately have to experiment and find what works best for you.
But you’re a smart girl and it looks like you’re on a great path.
Hey Stefan,
Thank you for writing this. It is very encouraging to read the experiences of someone else who has undergone both the positive and negative effects of Vyvanse. I am currently weaning off of this medication. I started tapering down in January. It has been extremely challenging as I have been on Vyvanse 70mg since I was 16 years old. I am now 27. Nevertheless, I look forward to receiving any more encouraging material you may have. While this is tough, I know its going to be worth it in the end.
Congratulations Jonathan. It sounds like you’re happy with your decision, and that’s all that counts. I wish you the very best and thank you for reading!
Thank you & value your insights,
l have been frustrated with with ongoing challenging set backs EVERY month with filling vyvance ,,,
I’ve been on now for 5 months started at low dose & on 50 mg.
Anxiety is brutal, l am disheartened ADHD symptoms seems provoked rather then helped & not sure about asking about another adhd drug with Dr. Or just getting off & seeking natural resources,
Been resisting going cold turkey yet AGAIN l couldn’t get refill due to prior authorization & pharmacy not having drug at all till nxt week! It’s always something,,, leading me to trust universe is saying ” d ont take it” trust my gutt & get off it , scared of w ithdrawl cold turkey, yet going through this monthly refill challenge has pushed me over the edge,,,, sorry to ramble,,,another ADHD symptom that causes me problems & worse those around me, what’s worst side effect to be concerned about cold turkey? Been on 50 mg, 3 months now
Hi Amy. Thanks so much for your comment.
Worst side effect? Feeling lethargic for the first week or so. After that, coming off of Vyvanse isn’t so bad.
Whichever decision you make, I wish you the very best either way.
Thanks for all the advice and resources on your site. It’s so important to have some real-life advice because time with specialist doctors or therapists is expensive and all too brief.
I was diagnosed with ADHD late last year, I’m 45 and have struggled with depression and anxiety for decades. I went on to Vyvanse and immediately felt hopeful and energised by the changes.
Unfortunately, I was not able to stay on it because it caused severe dry mouth and oral discomfort. Under advice from my Psych I tried lowering the Vyvanse and also my SNRI antidepressant in the hope that it would lesson the side effect. This didn’t help and I had to stop. I didn’t taper off as it had only been a few months. It was pretty devastating to have to have to give it up because I felt so good and so optimistic about life and my wellbeing. I am on the path to figuring out what else will help in terms of medication.
The reason I am writing, is that even after more than 2 months since discontinuing Vyvanse, my dry mouth symptoms have not resolved. I have tried numerous over the counter remedies and all of them give minor temporary relief.
Have you heard of this before?
Thanks for your site and your help.
Nic
Hi Nicole. Thank you very much for sharing your Vyvanse experience. Honestly I haven’t heard of dry mouth symptoms continuing after stopping Vyvanse. I know dry mouth is a very common problem while taking Vyvanse, but I haven’t heard of that issue continuing for so long. Have you brought this up with a doctor? I would definitely ask a doctor about this! I wish you the very best.
Hi. My name is Matt, I’m 43 years old and I have been on some drug or another for treating ADD – or what my psychiatrist calls “executive function disorder” – for 13 years. I’ve gone from Ritalin to Adderall, and for the last 7 or 8 years it’s been Vyvanse 70mg. I wish I had tried going off of it sooner in my ADD “career” to at least develop the skills for letting it go. I’m not completely without a tool chest here, as you may imagine in 13 years I have run out of meds multiple times. The longest I’ve been off it has been two months which I did twice but years apart. In each of those two-month periods I found lethargy, anxiety, and irritability to be the most crippling withdrawl symptoms. They did not seem to give way in me and I ended up back on the meds each time. My life before ADD meds was filled with drug use and abuse, and significant depression. At first I was introduced to anti-depressants which just made me sick and more volatile. The ADD meds helped stabilize me and for the first time since I was a kid I felt eager and able to participate in normal life again. For me the benefits come with side effects that affect my relationship with my wife among other things. The drug, being a controlled substance, requires strict refill procedures which can be a real pain around travel – I’m always running out right before I have to leave town etc. – but my family’s overall well-being is my biggest concern and the stress and anxiety they feel over the personality changes I exhibit is something I don’t feel they deserve. I’m stuck, I feel like I can’t live with it, can’t live without it. It feels good to be able to share my struggle with someone who may understand but I’d also like to share one key point of strength in my life. Meditation. Fortunately I’ve been meditating since I was 20, 10 years before I began taking ADD meds. I do it to this day and I can tell you that it is the one thing that has kept me in touch with who I really am throughout my experiences as a self-medicator and as a psychiatric patient. I don’t know if I’ll ever be completely off the medication but I’m ready to look at the second half of my life as deserving of freedom. Thank you, hope this was worth your time. Matt
“I feel like I can’t live with it, can’t live without it.”
That’s a VERY common theme with Vyvanse Matt. You aren’t the only one dealing with this conundrum! Far from it, actually.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with all of us.
So my mom used too give me Vyvanse from the age 11 but I’m 20 and I really need help on knowing how longer should I be intelligent I’m done with the withdrawal symptoms!
You can do it Aaron. At 20 years young your brain and body are still highly adaptable. You’re in a position to easily make changes in your life…and you will adapt. You can do it.
Thank you for your honesty. I am currently on my second month of 40mg. I love the clarity and energy, but it’s also all I think about. I’m not me. I am scared of withdrawals and have researched symptoms for days. I have recently had two panic attacks and I think it might be due to Vyvanse. I appreciate your transparency and suggestions. I have to get off of it and get me back. Thank you for giving us the courage to do it and live a healthier lifestyle.
Thank YOU Stephanie. Really happy to hear that you enjoyed the article. Good luck with your new life ahead of you!
I just discovered this site and it’s amazing.
If anyone is still reading comments here, I wanted to mention that I noticed several people on here dealing with issues of running out of meds/not being able to refill them, and that you could ask your psychiatrist to also prescribe something short-acting, like dextroamphetamine. My doc has prescribed both, because for some (not for me) Vyvanse wears off too quickly and you need a late-in-the-day boost, say to do homework or something. I usually take the dex if I sleep later than usual or on weekends, because if I take the Vyvanse past 8:30 I won’t be able to fall asleep.
I have found it helpful being able to choose what to take based on my day. I also have 20 mg. and 30 mg. prescriptions and toggle between those. But I do think my doc is quite liberal in his prescribing.
I’m not trying to encourage anyone to keep taking meds! But it’s nice to *choose* when you’re going to quit rather than being forced into it!
Thank you so much for the kind comment Virginia. I really appreciate it.
I just posted above about medication back-ups, but wanted to ask about quitting Vyvanse in a separate comment.
I was DX with ADHD 3.5 years ago, at age 47, and after a brief attempt with Adderall have been on Vyvanse for 3 years (30-40-50-40-30/20). It has been amazing. I haven’t had the problems of flat affect or irritability. But I am beginning to wonder if I need to try a more natural route. I am particularly intrigued by your post here about CBD oil.
I appreciate this blog SO much for making the connection between ADHD and anxiety. When I first went on meds, the main difference was that I was calmer and HAPPY. It was so incredible; all of a sudden I didn’t hate myself or feel like a screwup. (And, yes, my house got a lot neater :)) In a way, the greatest gift was just to experience that initial clarity, and know that it was possible. I had been on an SSRI for years (still am) and had always thought that all my issues stemmed from depression. But I realized that what I mostly had was anxiety and that the Vyvanse was really helping with that–and I wondered why more people didn’t talk about it in that frame.
It didn’t do wonders for my focus, though. Some days yes, some days no. At first I just felt blissed out–I have found that only happens now if I’m taking 30 mg., but that interferes with my sleep if I take it every day. I am often bursting with ideas, but I’ve gradually learned that just because I have 1000% more ideas doesn’t mean I’ll follow through with them, and sometimes I have committed to things in a burst of enthusiasm and then realized I shouldn’t have because I really don’t care that much after all. Hyperfocus has turned into more of a problem, not less. That initial calm has gone away and now I’m more jittery.
The main thing, though, is that I am starting to wonder how it’s affecting a certain type of creativity. Before I was diagnosed, I wrote several books. It was torture, but I got it done. Then I started taking Vyvanse, and also went through a lot of life changes that were pretty distracting, so it’s hard to blame everything on the meds. But I wasn’t writing. I was doing a million other things but not that. Now, I’m working on a new book, and I’m finding that getting into that zone is as hard as it ever was, if not harder. So I’m wondering about making a change.
I exercise more than I ever did before the Vyvanse–I learned I had to if I wanted to sleep at night! That was a gift, because I realized how helpful exercise is. I also recently switched to low-carb Paleo and have given up gluten. I’m hoping I might be able to make a go of it without the meds. But I remember how I was before them, and get scared.
I’ve gone without them for a day or two at a time but more than that and I definitely get very depressed, which frightens me. I haven’t tried to go six days…I’m wondering if I should just tell myself it’s just for a while. I do think one trap I fall into is wanting to find THE solution that’s going to fix everything permanently. But I’m beginning to wonder if our bodies don’t work that way–if our chemistry is constantly changing. (To that end, I’m thinking about tapering off the SSRI too.) I get tired of taking so many pills and supplements (am already taking omega-3, D, B complex, mag citrate, curcumin, and drinking yerba mate) and being so sensitive and having to titrate so carefully. I might be in a bad way today because I didn’t have the mate. But maybe that’s just the way it’s going to be.
I don’t want to get into this thing of stopping meds just because. They can do a lot of good, and I don’t have a prejudice against them per se. Now I’m just rambling…see, the Vyvanse isn’t working well at all, haha. Anyway, I would love your perspective, especially on creativity. Thank you so much for this site.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts Virginia. You’re an incredible person. I love hearing from you!
Hey everyone,
After reading this article and the comments from other people, I don’t feel so alone in my battle with Vyvanse. I was first prescribed in 2014 (30-60-70-60-50) and have been on and off of it since. At first, the medication did wonders for me. It benefited me in all aspects of my life: socially, academically, and physically. Taking Vyvanse daily, along with rigorous exercise and a healthy diet, I was able to transform my body in ways that I never thought I could. It also gave me confidence and a better self-esteem. But most of the euphoric effects of the medication have worn off when I take it nowadays. In fact, the last few months of taking vyvanse have been horrible. It was giving me chronic shoulder/neck tension and constant diarrhea. And it was also giving me really bad anxiety. I quit cold turkey about a month and a half ago and the withdrawals were hell: (extreme headaches, panic attacks, body fatigue, really bad depression). I am past the worst part of vyvanse withdrawal, but there’s a part of me that wants to get back on it. I have been on it for so long that it feels strange to be off of it. Vyvanse became so much a part of me, I almost don’t know who I am anymore. I have a deep attachment to the positive effects of the medication (energy to workout and stay lean, euphoria, and sense of self) that is making me want to go back on it, but I know that these things aren’t sustainable. I know I have to keep taking higher and higher doses in order to experience the same effects, and that’s why I am choosing to try to get off the medication completely. I am going to start working out again and playing basketball and try to get my life back on track without the medication. Hope I can do this.
Really amazing comment Artic. Thanks for sharing your deep, honest thoughts on this issue that MANY people have with Vyvanse. It’s really easy to become attached to the person who you become on Vyvanse, but in the back of your mind, you know that feeling can’t last forever (unless you take Vyvanse forever, which is an option for many people to be fair). Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
You said that you quit a month and a half ago, are you still having withdrawal symptoms? I couldn’t stand any adhd medications anymore so i quit cold turkey 3 1/2 weeks ago. I’m really scared. I can barely get through work. I feel dumb and numb. All I do is sleep. I am forgetting everything, messing up at work, messing up as a parent. Is it normal to still be having withdrawals after almost 4 weeks? I want to apply for a new job and finish my last two classes for my bachelors and I’m scared I won’t be able to do this without Vyvanse.
Stacey it sounds like you’re almost at the end of the tunnel since you’re just about at the one month mark. At this point I think you should just keep pushing forward and see how you feel in 1-2 weeks!
i was taking 100 mg of vyvanse for the last few weeks. prior to that i was taking 80 mg a day. I was feeling paranoid and suspicious. I also thought I seen everything clear as a whistle and figured the rest of the world was incompetent. so I decided to stop cold turkey a few days ago. I am still convincing myself of what I think is worst case scenarios for things I am uncertain of. Is this a normal side effect of taking or quitting my meds ? I also feel drained and spend all day in bed except for a few minutes at a time. any advice would be appreciated. I do not want to taper off the meds, I simply want to function without them. I am 50 years old and lived without the meds for most of my life. I think I can do that again.
100mg is an extremely high dose of Vyvanse so I think your body needs time to recover. Definintely chat with your doctor if you have any other questions. I hope you feel better soon Dave.
why didnt you post my comment?
Sorry Jordon, I’ve been dealing with a backlog of comments. I will approve your comment.
How are you guys getting prescribed adderall and vyvanse? I’m on 40 mg female and I cry in the doc offfice saying I crash midday (I don’t tell him I take 2 some days when I am really busy) and it’s been 6 years PLEASE up my dosage and he just says no! All the other doctors in my area will not even prescribe this medication. I live in a old school, conservative community I guess. I feel like I’m just going to have to quit. I loved vyvanse but I assume I would just have to keep making my dosage higher and higher like a crack addict or something. I can’t live this way anymore. I have a son that depends on me and alcoholic family members, so I cannot go to rehab. I’m trying to decide if I can do this on my own, or just keep living in misery until a miracle happens, or start doctor shopping in other cities, or start doing methamphetine. I’m literally getting to this point.
Your plan sounds ideal but I have no self control at this point. 6 years makes you do some weird things for this substance. I used to be sweet and ya e morals and I would be interesting in romantic relationships. Now I’m narcissistic, manipulative, perfectionist, I use men at my convenience and act crazy when they start to show signs of being disloyal to my needs… LOL guys HELP. My son has stuff going on at school and I just straight up tell the teacher I am not participating, my son is good. I let him do what he wants and he’s a mess too. I used to not be this way. I’m about to graduate with a psychology degree which shows you how even more powerful the drug is. I know better what I’m doing is ruining me, family, career, and more. But the crash period is not feasible for a single mom with no one to watch her kids. If you want to leave a snarky comment I do not want to hear it. Yes my son is fed and taken care of. I’m posting this because any one who thinks they can stop vyvanse and come back is dancing with the devil.
All those great effects from vyvanse (mental clarity, focus, motivation) yeah that goes away after a few years. I wish I would have stopped years ago but I want to be “skinny”. It made me work out and diet obsessively How dumb is that? All this too look good. For what? I don’t even care about love anymore? Blaaaaaaaa. I need a vyvanse.
I appreciate your honesty Misty.
I don’t have any easy answers for your situation, but I do appreciate honest comments like this one.
I’d rather hear the gritty truth rather than some kind of fabricated story where your life appears to be perfect (even though it isn’t).
Thanks for sharing, and I wish you the best of luck going forward.
Hi Misty- I don’t have much to offer as I’m only just starting Vyvanse for adhd (I’ve been on Concerta for 4 years), but have you tried asking your doctor to split your dose? If he’s refusing to give you more, perhaps asking for 20mg capsules to take twice /day will make him understand that you’re not a “junky” but that you’re having real issues with the short term effect.
Personally, Concerta has been great for me, but I live in the UK where there’s practically no understanding of ADHD. I’ve finally fought my way to a little help (took 2 years), so I’m trialling Vyvanse as I also have binge eating issues.
Perhaps it’s also just not the right adhd med for you. There are others out there too. I’m worried about this “crash” I keep hearing about, as the Concerta I’ve found will generally last about 12-14hrs and there’s no crash. Perhaps alternatives should be explored?
Misty,
Sending you a big hug, I can feel your discouragement. This comment is about 8 months after your post, I hope things are getting better for you.
My only helpful thought is that I know when I have more stress than usual, it’s like I sprung a leak in my Vyvanse bucket, and the benefits of the medication seem to wear off much sooner in the day. So, I try to manage the stress in my life as much as possible. Maybe you can start with one thing you know causes you a lot of stress and come up with a strategy to eliminate or manage it, then move on to the next stressor…. Stress sucks and is so detrimental, both mentally and physically.
Best wishes,
Kim
Thank you for such a wonderful article.
I have learned a great deal from you and used your comments, along with the reader’s comments to get through the Vyvanse craziness.
Honestly, I think I need Vyvanse right now. I am unemployed, just relocated to another state, and my tenants (at my former primary residence) are not turning out to be the creditworthy applicants that I was originally led to believe. I need to be on speed. After all, that is all Vyvanse really is. Cocaine. I am not stating that Cocaine is bad.. well to many it is, but it is the same type of stimulant.
I simply ran out and my husband’s new employment opportunity did not come with the same benefits and it is TOO expensive. I welcome the opportunity to be free of this drug, and have, for a long time.
Just wondering when is it best to use this drug? I am Strattera now and the withdrawals are not as bad as I thought. Straterra was originally prescribed to me as a booster, but I am finding it makes me feel normal (i am on day 3 and have a couple more days to go – I was on 60MG for over 10 years). I did have more anxiety on Vyvanse. I have Valium just in case, but it makes me sleepy. I do use Kratom. Actually it is more natural and better than Valium; however, it is not regulated by the FDA YET.
Another problem is… I don’t remember being my “old self” since I have taken it so long. All I wanted to do is stop being a slave to Pharma and monthly trips to a physician. My time is too precious.
Any and all responses are appreciated!
Thank you again for this article. I look forward to the feedback!
Betsy
I wouldn’t really equate Vyvanse with unregulated drugs like speed or cocaine Betsy. With prescription ADHD meds you’re getting a world-class, lab-tested pharmaceutical vs. some shady (dangerous) stuff manufactured in a basement with who knows what.
With that said thank you for your comment Betsy I do appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
Thank you for creating this site, it has a lot of useful information.
I started taking Vyvanse last October at 30mg, went up to 40mg, and although more effective I had side effects such as increased heart rate,bad dry mouth and sexual side effects. I have been back on 30 mg for a month, and my psychiatrist told me to take a week off from taking it and seeing if I really need it, since I have been taking a small dose of antidepressants for years and the ADHD is a recent diagnosis (and only a maybe at that).
I’m not so sure this was a good suggestion, as I feel like crap not taking any and it is only day 3. At least I am seeing her tomorrow to discuss tapering off instead.
Thanks for your comment Chris, I wish you all the best!
Hi Stefan,
I take 70 mg of Vyvanse daily. I don’t have any side effects, I still overeat, can sleep 8-10 hours and have days when 70 mg doesn’t feel like enough. What does that say about me, lol (rhetorical)!!
I would like to treat my ADD with a completely natural approach, but I feel, given my history, that I do not have the diligence and self-discipline (and energy) it would take to follow through with the healthy eating, exercise, etc.
Do you have any suggestions to help me?
Thanks! Kim
Hi Kim. I think you sounds like a pretty normal ADHD’er! Is your current routine working for you? Even with the overeating (which I don’t really see as a problem as long as you’re exercising and eating high-quality, healthy food)? Taking a completely natural approach is always admirable if that’s what works for your current lifestyle. I’ve personally taken the medicated AND natural approaches throughout different stages of my life. So it’s completely up to you based on where you’re currently at!
Good article that helped me understand the withdrawal. I have taken vyvanse for 4 years and did well on it for the first 3 but started to develop a lot of anxiety from it and have decided to come off. I believe a big part of my ADD derived from my anxiety. I stopped 40mg vyvanse cold turkey due to the extreme anxiety I was getting from the medicine. I have been off 12 days now. The first 3 days I had many sleep disturbances (sweating, cold, vivid dreams) and fatigue. The sleep disturbances have lessened to just vivid dreams but still am fatigued. The most difficult symptom I am experiencing is extreme fatigue. I am out of college for the summer and have been sleeping over half the day and have no energy. I am wondering how long I will have such low energy levels? What particularly can help me with this? I need to get some energy back within the next couple of weeks.
Time is one of the best remedies for Vyvanse withdrawal Jackie. The longer you go without the easier it becomes. Your brain and body will adapt. Just remember…sleep, high-quality food, water and exercise. You can’t really go wrong there.