I was taking 60 mg IR of Adderall per day, but that just wasn't cutting it. What needed to be done was upping my dose to 90 mg. My doctor doesn't like to go above 60 mg so we decided on something else. He started me on 80 mg Vyvanse per day with 20 mg IR Adderall as a PRN. I've never taken Vyvanse so here will come the onslaught of questions. What can I expect from the switch? Will there be a noticeable difference in effectiveness between the two? Is Vyvanse like Adderall where if you drink too much vitamin C or ascorbic acid it nullifies the effects? How long does Vyvanse usually last for? Is Vyvanse better than Adderall XR (I have tried Adderall XR, didn't last as long as I would have hoped it would). I guess I'm just looking for any answers to all the questions anyone could think of when switching from Adderall IR to Vyvanse. Thanks a bunch group and I hope all is well.
Just got switched from Adderall to Vyvanse?
Question posted by K-Lab on 28 Jan 2014
Last updated on 24 February 2022
This question has also been asked and answered here: Adderall vs Vyvanse - What's the difference between them?
13 Answers
I have to add, to anyone saying the max dose is 70 and they should switch their doctor, on the contrary, 70 is the recommended dose. A psych doctor can absolutely prescribe 2 even 3 times this milligram and it’s absolutely legal. We’re it not, the prescriptions wouldn’t even be filled by the pharmacy, they have rules to remain in compliance with laws for a reason. It’s suggested and recommended. Not a must. Actually I admire a doctor who will go against the grain to make sure his patient is adequately medicated. I have friends on 220 milligrams. And the doctor suggested it, and is also extremely knowledgeable and compliant. Every case is different because no one person has the exact same weight body mass or metabolism which all 3 effect how long or short you have effectiveness. That’s why there is no such thing as a max dose for anyone unless it’s like pain pills as those are rarely prescribed anymore. People titrations and taper multiple times to find a perfect dose. Case by case. Don’t switch your doctor.
Both medicine are very similar. But there is nothing out there like Adderall. Adderall is a very intelligent medication of its own if used properly, but can also be very dangerous. Vyvanse is similar but different. I've noticed I didn't eat as much as I would have liked to on the adderall, but while on the vyavanse I actually had a appetite.
I can say I’ve been there and done that! I love the IR Adderall due to the potency. I tried the Adderall XR and it’s just not for me. The vyvanse doesn’t last longer than Adderall EX What you will miss is the instant release. Vyvanse is very effective for me It actually allows me to focus way better than Adderall EX and IR. But everybody is different on which works for them. Vyvanse doesn’t have a generic so you will 100% get grade A products and you are on a very high dose. You mentioned 80 mg but the Max dose is 70mg they don’t make 80mg. Adderall makes me more of a “speed” and Vyvanse makes me have a better focus and it lasts all day. You will just have to adjust to the extended release I recommend Vyvanse.
Vyvanse is terrible. A 30mg Adderall is equivalent to 70mg of vyvanse. Make sure they up the dose by a lot if they are switching you. And in my opinion the effect is a lot weaker with vyvanse.
I get really hungry when I stop taking my Adderall. Will Vyvanse stop this effect?
80 mg of Vyvanse is quite a high dosage. The highest dosage the pill comes in is 70 mg. I'm guessing that your doctor prescribed 40 mg, twice daily? I've found that when you drink water it helps to keep it going longer. Also, I eat oatmeal in the morning and that seems to give it a smooth onset.
I am not a doctor and don't know where you live but the maximum your supposed to be prescribed is 70mg of vyvanse a day and 70mg of adderall a day. If that does not help than maybe something else needs to be prescribed or looked into regarding how you feel.
If you are having extreme symptoms of ADHD or ADD, it can turn out to be something else and i would go to a different doctor soon. If the Maximum recommended amount of both medications aren't helping than you could have a different diagnosis than ADHD or ADD and not know it.
I would explore different options and go to a better and different doctor.
Don't switch. Vyvanse is absolutely useless. I was switched from 40 mgs adderall to 70 mg Vyvanse. My life has gone to sh^t. I've been in two wrecks, I've lost 2 jobs in six months, I have zero working memory. Far as I can tell, vyvanse was created because adderall XR became generic.
There's a very good reason why Vyvanse was working so terribly for you.
The molecular weight of 1 Vyvanse molecule (263.378 g/mol) is nearly twice that of 1 Adderall molecule (135.21 g/mol), but each inevitably breaks down into 1 molecule of Amphetamine, which is where the focusing effects come from. So you'd need to take about twice the weight of Adderall you were previously taking to get the same amount of Amphetamines from Vyvanse. You were getting less. So already that's a problem.
On top of that, Vyvanse is metabolized much more slowly than Adderall since your body has to get rid of the big Lysine tail on it, while Adderall starts being metabolized immediately since it's already pretty much just pure amphetamines, meaning the effects of Vyvanse are spread out at a lower intensity over a longer period of time.
TLDR: Your case was a double whammy: you were getting less medication in the end and spreading it out more thinly over a longer period. I'd be surprised if you felt much effect at all when you took the 70mg Vyvanse.
PixlNXT is correct, although I'm hoping this reply notifies PixlNXT somehow because I have a question and they seem to know what they're talking about. It's so damn hard to find the correct info out there.
Putting aside the different drug that is Adderall (the mixed amphetamine salts) and the way Vyvanse is absorbed: If one were to take 30mg Adderall IR 2x/day (so two doses of 30mg, not on top of each other, not XR), what would be the closest equivalent to that with Vyvanse? And I mean the potency/effectiveness of the drug against ADHD symptoms.
I have read different things. I always thought 70mg Vyvanse was roughly equal to 30mg Adderall IR (obviously duration is different, among other things). I have read some things that say to match 30mg of Adderall, 70mg Vyvanse is too low. I have also some saying the equivalent would actually be around 130mg Vyvanse. I know everyone is different, but in general: Not sure if this is either them or myself misunderstanding something here.
I haven't done math in forever so basically so basically, I'm bad at that - however - I tried to figure it out earlier and got the idea that 70mg Vyvanse is roughly 30mg Adderall IR. Maybe technically more like 28mg. 80mg Vyvanse technically more like 31.5mg Adderall. Wondering if this sounds correct to anybody?
I assume this has to be close to true. It would seem odd to me that of the common dosages in pills manufactured that Adderall would top out at 30mg and Vyvanse's 70mg wouldn't be essentially 30mg Adderall. Personally, I take 30mg Adderall IR 2x/day as prescribed for ADHD. They work well and somehow no tolerance issues either. I've taken Vyvanse in the past (too long ago to remember details and I didn't stick with it well). It worked as well, just needed to find the right dosage. My only issue with Adderall is that like many - I get 4 hours of coverage from a pill basically. I should be medicated 12 hours, ideally. Adderall XR doesn't seem to be too different for many (maybe worth trying).
Vyvanse should last me longer if I remember my past use correctly. 10-12 hours. I'd just like to know that if my doctor were to prescribe me 70mg Vyvanse, that it would be roughly equivalent to taking 30mg Adderall IR 3x/day. Almost positive they wouldn't prescribe that to me, but if Vyvanse can give me that effectiveness for the same duration (4+4+4 hrs), then awesome and maybe I can make it work financially. But I don't want to be given 70mg Vyvanse if it's not essentially that. 20mg Adderall IR didn't do it for me, so I bumped up to 30mg and it's always worked since.
I am just going to say this vyvanse is the only ADD med that truly helps me. I’m focused. It helps my anxiety rather then, exacerbate it. I comprehend what I read. I have tried every ADD med. since, I was 8. Some made me (Strattera)made me rage. Adderall I felt panic. Concerta I was moody & anxious. Ritalin, worked great until it stopped working. Ritalin XR didn’t help. Focalin wasn’t enough for me. Vyvanse came out I have done great on from the start... I used to take 100mg in the morning now, I take 70mg i’m good to go. Once, in a while I stop it for a few days and start it again I found it more helpful that way as I did on Ritalin. But, it’s far from junk- it just has the least potential for abuse because you cannot snort it or anything the stomach makes each bead in the capsule release at different times...
Exactly. Vyvanse is useless.
Good information as I've been on 30 mg of Dextroamphetamine and once a day which is some effective for about 4-5 hours so I want to switch to vyvanse of which my doctor is stronger than dextroamphetamine. The previous posts seem to agree with my doctors opinion.
I've been taking Vyvanse 70mg for several years now. At my Dr appt this week I mentioned that I have no energy in the afternoon & in evening when I get home. In addition to Vyvanse 70mg my Dr prescribed Adderall 10mg to take by 3pm. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Thanks!
Yes that is very similar to my situation. I have taken vyvanse for close to 7 yrs now. I first started taking the 30mg dose and it wasn't until I found my most recent doctor that we finally figured out that my dose was way too low. I am now taking the 70mg vyvanse which has made a huge difference for me but still does not last through out the whole day. My doctor said it would very tough to get two vyvanse a day approved by my insurance and that the second dose would likely not be covered. Alternatively We tried a 20mg IR adderall which was taken around noon everyday. I found this to not last long at all so we switched to a 20mg extended release adderall then up to what I am currently taking now which is a 70mg vyvanse in the morning and a 30mg extended release adderall in the early afternoon.
I have found that taking two vyvanse instead of the adderall is much better for me and when taken this way it will last the whole day and I can still fall asleep without any problem at night. It's unfortunate that they have to have a max suggested dose of vyvanse set at the 70mg and I hope this changes.
Vyvanse seems to wear off for me at around 8-9 hours. An afternoon dose seems like a good solution to extend coverage.
Sorry to tell you this, but you need a new doctor, maximum dosage is 70mg a day for vyvanse, and then adding 20mg of Adderall to that, not good for your health.
Are you a doctor yourself?
If not, may I ask where you heard this information - if you are not a medical professional yourself, and heard it from your own doctor or relied on Google to make your rebuttal...
Then I kindly suggest you to know the hard facts of how medicine works prior to making a comment criticizing the professionalism of this persons provider.
My 15 year old son (10th grade) has been on Vyvanse since 3rd grade (for A.D.D. not ADHD). As of Nov1st (2016) he had been on the 60 mg for 22 months. About every 2 yrs we need to go up 10mg. He is seen by his shrink for the medication and that doctors wife is the head pharmacist at our Kroger. Between the two we are VERY informed on this medication. One, per both, the MAX vyvanse goes up to is 70mg. She said you can call any pharmacy and ask that question. As to taking more than one medication, we have for the past 4 yrs. Half way through his two yr stint on that particular mg we find it still works great right up to the point that school is out. It leaves nothing to help with the 2-3 hours of homework (high school level). Till we went to the 70mg the 1st of Nov he was taking 60 mg to get through the school day and was on 10 mg of Adderall for his 3 hrs of homework. Now that is has been upped to the next mg level we only take the Vyvanse.
As to the liver/stomach issue, it is the liver. Every 6 months his pediatric primary has blood drawn to check his liver. Between K and half of 3rd we had tried 4 ADD/ADHD medications. Vyvanse has been awesome for us. On school breaks he may skip a few days and you can really tell his fogginess, lack of attention and his slowness to process more than one activity. Vyvanse didn't happen over night, it took about a week to process through it and see a change.
The only thing I know is that vyvanse goes through the stomach not the liver. So it goes in and out of your body within a day.
i thought vyvanse went through the liver instead of the stomach. being the reason you can't get high or really use vyvanse recreationally like you can use adderal. also explaning why it feels like a slower calmer release into your system
It does go through the liver, there is a high with it but it's more or less just an increase in activity in the brain, it also stays in your system for more than a day.
I'm not sure ur right, I just saw if u have liver r kidney problems, u shouldn't take vyvanse! Idk for sure do u? Did ur Dr. Tell u this?
It's Adderall XR that is hard on the liver not Vyvanse. I was just prescribed both and am looking up everything I can find on them both. At least there is no mention of liver issues on the official Vyvanse website and there definitely is in the Adderall medication guide.
It does go through your liver. All medications, vitamins, herbs and supplements go through your liver unless they are water soluble and I know of no prescription meds that are, doesn't mean that there are not any though.
Justpassingby, Vyvanse and Adderall are both time released but Vyvanse has to be broken down into a different chemical first so it takes longer (another poster explained this much better than I can) therefore you don't feel the effects or "high" that you do from Adderall.
Caragan, I could not find any mention of liver issues in relation to Vyvanse but they did mention kidneys and to monitor if you have those problems to start with. I did find this quote from Wikipedia "The USFDA advises anyone with bipolar disorder, depression, elevated blood pressure, liver or kidney problems, mania, psychosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, seizures, thyroid problems, tics, or Tourette syndrome to monitor their symptoms while taking amphetamine." This is if you already have these preexisting conditions and it applies to all amphetamines.
I have been on Adderall IR for over 10 years total now. While I have not tried Vyvanse, I was prescribed Ritalin IR for about 6 months several years ago and it made me feel incredibly calm from the first dose. I stopped taking it because the longer I was on it, the more my personality & creativity etc. felt flat. And that led to me feeling down of course etc... but my take on Methylphenidate (two ex-boyfriends of mine were on the longer-acting Concerta, and I have worked closely with children on various stimulant rxs) is that it seems to produce less of that jumpy sort of reaction than Adderall. And Vyvanse is closer in
structure to Adderall than Ritalin is, so I thought I would just mention my experience (also, both of my exes had tried Adderall and it made both anxious/shaky, but both also did really well on Concerta). I was initially put on Adderall XR and found it felt smoother (but bad crash at end of work day for me etc.) than the IR version initially. However, you are still adjusting to the Adderall, it is very new to your system. These side effects may dissipate after a little while. If you still feel shaky and cannot sleep (it is usually recommended not to take your last dose past a certain time, usually by late afternoon to help prevent insomnia with it) after a few days, please call your doctor. Best of luck to you!
im on 60mg of Vvyanse. It keeps me calm and focus without affecting my personality or creativity. Althought Vvyanse is the first form of Adderall i have been on; at first it made me very dizzy, sick, and zombie like. After my body got use to the medication it was smooth sailing from there. i can tell a compelete difference when i am off the medication and sometimes if i forget to take it i become very tried and seem to faint often threw out the day . other than that its been great
I tried Adderall I couldn’t breathe from anxiety. I took concerta it’s different it helped some but, not enough and had a lot of trouble getting through college & was on it through vocational school. I changed to Vyvanse, I can concentrate with out all the panic and hype & got through CCMA school. I stopped it for three years just because, I was tried of meds
Hey there,
I was wondering if someone could give me a little advice. I have just been prescribed Adderall and it kind of hypes me up/ gives me the jitters a bit. I just started taking 2x10mg a day. I know I probably should give it a couple of days to get use to it and maybe take a smaller dosage first starting off, but I was up until like 2am last night.
Is Vyvanse any different?
I know this was a loooong time ago, but no it's not different. I just started Vyvanse earlier this week on either 20 or 30mg and I got really jittery and I felt like I was sitting on a vibrating chair. I couldn't stay still for once and I felt like I could run a mile (this was all on my first day). I had gotten diagnosed with add and they immediately prescribed me it. Apparently some people like it better then Adderall, but I personally haven't been on it yet.
for a couple of people i know vyvanse tends to be less intense physically as far as the jitters go.
for me personally i noticed i felt more hyped for a week or two but eventually it fades and goes away and you don't really notice it. people that i know that have tried adderall and vyvanse normally state that vyvanse was less physically intense and didn't give them the same sense of urgency but helped them focus.
Take half tablet if ya need both doses or take one in morning until you get use to then can start with half tab in afternoon till jitters subside
Take half tablet if ya need both doses or take one in morning until you get use to then can start with half tab in afternoon till jitters subside
All I know is that I was told to take 20mg. of adderall. It felt like too much. I'm not sure if it made me feel nervous,but it didn't feel right,so I broke it in half. That didn't seem like it helped, so I took 3/4 of a tablet. That helped for a while. Then in hospital for something else and Dr. took me off of it due to my age of 66. He contacted the person who was giving it to me and she stopped my next script. from getting filled. I have been existing for the past 3 mo. without it. I recently started back on my own at 5.mg.then 7.5 or so by cutting it with pill cutter. I have an appointment tomorrow and hope she will put me back on it. She has me on two antidepressants and a low dose of anti-psychotic saying these things should help with ADD/sleep/depression/poor appatite+ irritable bowel synd. which they think I have. I have diarrhea from withdrawel,not irritable bowel. I have been feeling like I am in a dark hole these past 3 mo.
and that was how I felt most of my life until I was treated for ADD AND ANXIETY. They say the anxiety is from the Adderall. I had anxiety most of my adult life before adderall. Some won't listen to the truth. Hope no one else goes through this just because they think you don't need help due to your age..Please excuse the spelling. That is a whole different problem.Thanks,Seflor
Since I was a little child I was put on Ritalin for my ADHD, I hated it because of the jitters you mentioned. I could not stand that feeling. At age 18 I went to University and then started taking Adderall. I complained about the jitters and since I also had anxiety the Dr. gave me a low dose of Valium. That combination absolutely goes hand in hand! I no longer had the jitters and the Valium or any Benzodiazepines did not make me feel sleepy just NORMAL! I graduated with a 3.5 g.p.a. ! You just need the right combo, it may take a few visits to find what combo works best for you... GOOD LUCK :)
Vyvanse is also a CNS stimulant. The difference is, Adderall starts out as amphetamine when it is ingested. Vyvanse is a slightly different chemical. When Vyvanse is metabolizing, the compound afterward (metabolites) is the amphetamine. The theory is that by introducing it to your body as a more complex form, the effect of having the metabolized by product consist of the amphetamine will increase plasma levels and therefore the bioavailability of the drug. It's worth a shot. I say go for it.
Update. 80 mg of Vyvanse didn't do a thing, so I had to get a second opinion from a different psych doc, and we all know how easy it is to make appointments with those people. 3 months later the second opinion psych doc prescribed me 140 mg Vyvanse every morning. Seriously thought this may be all that needs to be done and Vyvanse will be the wonder drug all the docs rave about. 2 weeks later, nothing, I am now taking 90 mg Dextrostat IR a day, 30 mg 3X a day, and it's working. Dextrostat is the same drug that Vyvanse turns into, yet the IR version just works better. I'm not hyped up like I was on Adderall, it's a weird feeling, I can only describe it as, I am able to get through a very hard day and my only complaints are that my feet hurt from too much standing. Dextrostat is my wonder drug.
I took Vyvanse (30 MG) yesterday morning for the first time as prescribed by my GP. Within an hour, for the first time in 30 years, I felt awake and clear headed, not at all tired. That lasted all day and I thought at last I am cured of very great tiredness even after my CPAP machine swears I have had 8 hours of good sleep. I have tried Nuvigil and other wakeful drugs over the years with 0 effect . I was elated and got lots of work done. This morning too Vyvanse did not have any effect at all, 0. I took a second 30MG at noon, 0 effect. Last night I could not get to sleep except a bit now and then. Woke my usual tired, but not my "bad day" exhausted. On those bad days I am dizzy and can not safely drive. I do healthy diet, exercise and until age 60 led an active, productive life. I had to retire early because daytime tiredness meant I could not do my job to my satisfaction, though my boss urged me to keep working.
Three doctors in Vienna and three in DC missed the fact that I had sleep apnea. The CPAP helps me somewhat, but does not stop daytime excessive tiredness. I have had 3 sleep studies but no help from their results. Captain Underdog
Watch your teeth with vyvanse, it slows saliva production over time and will rot them from the gums, i found out the hard way after 8 years of 70mg a day
Puck, I must tell you how great your response was to forum started on 05/2014. The question is closed and titled "Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine - Do different brands work differently for you?"
Great job! Was battling whether or not I'm in it for the "kick" or "high" but I've always been told I have ADHD as a kid but lived without meds for years and was extremely successful given the circumstances of my life. It wasn't until I started taking the pills that my life took a turn. All in all, after finally giving in to psychotherapy and pharmaceutical support. Testing show that I am 1000000% ADULT ADHD. So I am perscibed Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine. However, quick question which may need to be added to a new forum and sorry for diverting but need an answer. What is the difference between the one stated above and specifically D-amphetamine Salt Combo. Took the latter for years and Veteran Affairs just prescribed the first one!
Thank you so much for any reply offered
Hondatech. That's a first. I just started taken vyvanse 70mg. Thank you for this info
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adderall, vyvanse, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd)
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