Withdrawal From Vyvanse Experience (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I have been on Vyvanse for 4 weeks and I am now tapering off. I was going to quit cold turkey , but I wke up this morning and felt like I'd been hit by a truck. It's been a few hours and I still feel like I have a mild case of the flu. Anyway, I started 4 weeks ago and the first 3 days I never felt better in my life. I 'd never been so productive, focused, and organized! By day 7 , I was back to my normal under- acheiving, scrammbled , self. Then my Dr. raised my dose from 30 mg to 50. Well this threw me into severe anxiety. I have been chewing my nails till they bleed. I can't seem to stop. I have a feeling of being completely overwhelmed, my house is trashed and it's driving me nuts, but I have no energy or drive to get up and clean it.....Can anyone else out there relate to this?

REPLY

REPORT

thanks for the support...I have been off of the poison since december and starting to feel better.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

This is meant to be an encouraging message to all sufferers with difficult Vyvanse withdrawal. The key to avoiding the terrible withdrawal symptoms is to reduce your dose gradually. I have been on this medicine for 3 years and on similar medicines before that. I know when you have been on such a medication long term, your weaning off period could be a year, with extremely gradual reductions over that long period. Never, never try to stop this medicine cold turkey.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

I've read every post on this thread and wish I would've come across it sooner. I'm 28 y/o and have been on Vyvanse 50 mg for almost 2.5 years. The first several months on the drug were amazing! I felt I could get anything done at work and it even seemed to enhance my personality and make me even more outgoing than normal.

Slowly things have become worse to the point were I find myself doing just about anything to avoid "working". I work in a commission-based industry and have many clients and prospects I could call on that would result in almost immediate business. However, I'm been so unproductive and unmotivated the past several months that I've had to dip into my savings and accumulated a decent amount of credit card debt simply to pay my bills and get by. I find myself constantly saying, "Ok, don't worry, you can start being productive tomorrow." Of course I'm not and the cycle almost repeats constantly. I never was a lazy person, but now find it so difficult to accomplish minor things at work.

Like many people, I have difficulty retaining key details from stories or conversations and feel like the majority of my thoughts are primitive and simple-minded that lack any substance.

I find myself unable to sleep and regularly find myself watching tv until 4-5am when I have to be up at 6:30am. In the back of my mind, I know that I will be able to get through the next day because of the Vyvanse, but it always catches up to me at some point.

I've become more and more depressed. It's almost sad to look back at the last two years to see what I accomplished or experienced. Professionally the answer is next to nothing. Outside of time with friends on weekends (alcohol usually involved) or playing sports, I feel like I've completely wasted the last 2 years of my life. I have very little sex drive and make little or no effort to meet new people or even go on regular dates.

I'm having awful vision issues. Before I knew vision was a side effect (I found out today after 2 years - pathetic but glad I know now) I find it very hard to focus when looking at a computer screen. I can no longer where contacts and lately even wearing glasses have not helped much. I easily get eye fatigue and even pain occasionally.

I take no other medication and want to develop a plan to get back to normal and not become dependent on my Vyvanse. Like many people here, I become extremely lethargic and feel almost ill when I skip a day or run out of pills.

Beginning tomorrow, 3/31/12, I'm either going to start weaning myself of my 50mg dosage or skip a couple days and maybe take 25mg on Monday. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but am committed to getting off Vyvanse. I will contact my doc and get his input, but would love to hear from anyone who's had success getting off Vyvanse when it's their sole medication.

To the people in the early stages on Vyvanse or who haven't experienced any side effect to date, I would just like to provide a word of caution. I thrived on Vyvanse for 4-5 months and never had any major side effects besides losing some sleep and having a smaller appetite. Heck even now, I usually have a day every once in a while where I almost feel invincible. Trust me, it DOES NOT LAST. Best of luck to everyone and for those considering whether to start, I can only say DON'T DO IT!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

OMG, I am going through the exact same thing... been on vyvanse for about 2.5 years and can completely relate to your story. I feel like the only reason I take the med anymore is to get rid of the daily hangover I feel when I wake up... the euphoria that went along with the first few months never came back. Even 50mg twice a day doesn't motivate me to do much work anymore. Anyway, I decided to quit cold turkey - today being day 2 with no meds, I feel like I've been kicked in the head and had to take 3 or 4 naps today. This stuff isn't a long term solution and I want my life back, drug-free if possible.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

I know im late to this discussion but i was prescribed vyvanse about 6 months or so ago. After 4 months my dr passed away and i wasnt able to get my monthly script of vyvanse. i had to go without for over 2 weeks until i found a new dr. but the only thing i noticed was i was more sleepy the first few days and my appitite definately spiked but thats all. My biggest fear was that i wouldnt be able to perform as i always do while im medicated. im an electrician, so im always on my feet and moving around alot and i was able to get by without vyvanse for 2.5 weeks with little to no problem. i think its all in our head the we NEED this to just get up and go to work. and that we NEED this just to perform but the truth is you will do just fine. its all mental. i really hope you all the best with your suffering.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

number 20 is the truth. There is no physical withdrawal from stimulant meds besides being really tired and hungry. Amphetamines and their derivatives don't screw with your endorphins in the way that long term opiate use does. Chill out. You'll be ok.

p.s. If medications for AD/HD make you really anxious there is a good chance you may not be diagnosed properly. Most of us sufferers of AD/HD are very anxious when not medicated and stimulants calm our racing thoughts.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

I have been on Vyvanse for approximately 4 years. As of last week, my doctor and I decided to discontinue using the drug from 40mg, as I ran out on my Rx, and getting off of my prescriptions has been a long term goal of mine. I feel like crap. I am on day five, and as of this morning have had extremely bad nausea, headache and dizziness. It has been five hours since I woke-up, and I feel like I have to go back to bed. Yesterday, I thought I was in the clear. I didn’t feel quite right, but I didn’t feel as bad as I feel today, and I assured my parents/bosses that I would be able to work today. I feel devastated as a 27 year old, who now has to have her mother bring her home from work because I don’t feel able to drive, and am nonfunctional as an employee. I don’t understand how I could go from feeling so crappy, to feeling just about alright, to extremely crappy again. It’s not so much the sleep at this point--- I slept the entire weekend, Friday-Sunday, and took Monday off from work (I am lucky to be employed by my parents), but I don’t really know how to deal with these other withdrawal symptoms. I just keep hoping that the end-point will be better than what I’m going through to get there. As for the 15 year old who is afraid, I say the same thing, hopefully the end-point will be better than what it takes to get there, you have every right to be afraid, but don’t let that get in your way. As crappy as I feel, I am still trying to stay positive. Nothing I read is making me feel any calmer, but at least I know I am not alone.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Here-here! I'm emploed in the healthcare field and, statistically speaking, opiate withdrawal is far more dramatic. That being said, if a patient is experiencing extreme anxiety / panic, euphoria, not sleeping for days, experiencing tics and / or jaw clenching, increased BP, heart palptations, and not limited to angry outbursts, these are all noted as possible side effects of Vyvanse on Shire's website as well as on the medication insert. Both the website and insert clearly designate which are dangerous, to stop taking Vyvanse, and call your healthcare provider. More likely than not, one who is suffering such side effects from Vyvanse is either terribly misdiagnosed or has multiple disorders. Case in point, there are comments in this thread from someone who is bipolar. A manic depressive should not have, EVER, been prescribed a stimulant medication such as Vyvanse in the first place! Or, was not thouroughly examinedand interviewed FIRST to assure a correct diagnosis of ADHD. This brings me to my next point. ANYONE diagnosed with ADHD should be done so by a professional TRAINED / SPECIALIZING in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder! In most cases, this is NOT to be your family doctor! One or two, 20 minute visits with a family doctor is NOT enough time to thoroughly interview and test a patient for an accurate diagnosis! ....either is an overwhelmed 2nd grade teacher with a classroom of 32, 7-year-olds a trained professional to make such a diagnosis either! To ACCURATELY diagnose, other family members, teachers and in the case of late diagnosis in adults, the interviewing of spouses and coworkers and bosses if they're willing to do so. A psychiatrist to prescribe and monitor YOU and the stimulant RX he/she prescribes as well as an ADHD counselor with training in life coaching to assist and guide the ADHDer to function and live even more effectively than on medication alone. Statistically speaking, stimulant medication for one that has ADHD is far more successful in the management of symptoms than an antidepressant is to one who suffers from depression. The numbers don't lie, folks. As mentioned earlier, an ADHD, life coach / counselor paired with medication improves on the dramatically positive numbers on medication alone. I know this not only because of researching, BEING MY OWN ADVOCATE, and being a woman who at 46 years old finally recieved a correct diagnosis of ASKS and has been taking a daily dose of 70mg of Vyvanse daily at 6:00a.m. and a 10 mg dose of Foclan (sp?) at 4:00 pm daily to cover those last few waking hours because the Vyvanse wears off for me. ....the 10 mg of Foclan is AS NEEDED, meaning at MY discretion. For me , my daily functioning, my life, has improved beyond compare with the correct and accurate diagnosis of ADHD, medication, and life counseling.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Dude, shut up. I've been down the stimulant train too it sucks, coming off benzos is hell, HELL. We were addicted to drugs, these are people whose doctors know not s*** about the drugs they doll out. Putting a 5 year old on stims... Jesus help us. Doctors are f***in numb nuts. I'm in your boat though, Dexedrine makes me feel like I can accomplish something. We self medicated and now are getting help we really need. We know that stimulants cause extreme anxiety coming down and off. When we chose to do drugs we knew that s*** was no good. These people don't know what to expect when coming off drugs. 6 months at the highest dose of vyvanse is nothing and has done nothing to the dudes brain that can't be solved with eating and taking proper vitamins. PARENTS do your research. Google blue light. They will help you. The lady with the 14 year old, he is a teenager for 1, 2nd he is probably just anxious. Anxiety can really, really change a person. But weather the storm and let his brain recover from years of stimulant use. Anyone can do drugs dude and meth is an easy one physically to get off of. Glad you got your s*** together though. Stay busy, eat well, take vitamins, expect to be edgy, and expect your teenagers to be hormonal edgy devils for about 2 months at most. Then expect them to be little bastards until they are grown.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Listen Oxy, thanks to Vyvanse, I have an uncountable amount of seizures, ambulance rides and hospitalizations. That was while I was on it. The only good part about that is that I was so out of this universe, I couldn't realize the pain. Now, that I am withdrawling from, I developed motor/vocal tics, constanst excruciating headpain despite the anti-seuzure meds, difficulty speaking, thinking, walking, vomit literally on myself, pins and needles thru my whole body and brain, muscle cramping, lost abiliy to function as a mother, lost career, and a whole lot more. And I have been at this since August. And guess what, I still haven't looked for an easy way out and gotten myself an OXY fix. AND TRUST ME, I've been to hell and back. So don't you dare come on this forum with your self-righteous attitude and down to others that have suffered just as you once have. That is sick! Get off this forum!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Are you replying to someone's post?..you seem so aggressive.. Why are u so Angry? It Makes me sad that you have no empaythy for others that you don't feel have been through all you endured. I assume most of us here commented to share stories and compare our feelings after we stop taking it...if you have no encouraging words, why would u bother to comment

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

I have fought this battle for 10 years. On and off meds for ADD . After finally realizing it's a never ending cycle I decided to get off and get my life back. The first two weeks is a struggle I am taking a multi vitamin from advocare called coreplex and also drinking two of the vitamin energy supplement drink called spark by advocare. It's helped me . I refuse to be medicated, I had tried Wellbutrin adderall adderall xr, vyvanse, Effexor, they put me on antidepressants and mood stabilizers for bi polar which was ridiculous. I finally had enough of it that cycle of being on it and off it trying this one and that one maybe it was this maybe it was that ..... Never ending !!! I choose to end that cycle . I hope anyone who is starting out on this to really consider why why are you on it ??? Don't let it fool you it's like a magic cure AT FIRST that won't last long I promise you. I hope everyone the best !

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

I am on day 7 and I the first day was great second day was a little anxious and scattered third day was great fourth day was anxious fifth day was calm yet some what anxious at the same time six day was ok and today day 7 was the worst ever. My chest was hurting and stabbing pains in my chest. I felt like I could not communicate with people and I was jittery and my mind was racing horribly and my freaking jaws hurt and neck and back. Panic Central! Not good! Have to talk to Dr. asap. I want day one to be how it is always!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

if i was just starting i would quit becuase i have been taking it for two years and now it seems like i cant quit taking it, and if i dont take i feel like crap

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Jerry, another point as I just re-read your post... You (and I really am sorry, cause I have suffered from anxiety for a number of years, and it really does suck!) said that you are suffering from anxiety now, that, again, sucks. I actually had to take Clonopin for a while and get over that sh#t before my primary care physician would refer me to a Psych in order to take any ADHD meds.
For those of you that don't know, anxiety, is a killer. I am sure that I am not the only one out there that has rushed to the emergency room a time or two thinking that I was having a heart attack! Anxiety has the same symtoms as a full blown coronary.... I hope you feel better Jerry, really. God bless, and again, I hope that not only you, but everyone else that has shared their experiences feels better in the days to come.
Have a better life, ya'll! :O)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I've had a similar experience. Took Vyvanse for one month, terrible withdrawal. I'm 51, had ADHD all my life and decided to seek a medication solution. I was prescribed 20 mg/day on January 3rd and about two weeks later the doctor upped it to 40 mgs/day. I've taken no other medication for ADHD, other than a couple week trial of Ritalin and Adderall, both discontinued due to side effects. This was several years ago. On 20 mgs the first few days I was jittery and jumpy, but loved the focused feeling. Some trouble sleeping. After two weeks, that all went away, so the Dr. upped me to 40 mgs. That was rough for a few days, but I then loved the energized feeling and the focus it gave me. One heck of a time sleeping still, so I decided to try a day without the Vyvanse about three weeks into taking it (remember I was on a LOW dose). I felt deathly ill. I almost could not get out of bed and felt as if I had the flue and I was shaky, horribly depressed, and panicky (not like me at all). Took me three days to feel normal. I was baffled. Low dose for three weeks, stop and this response? So I tried again for five more days at between 30 and 40 mgs Vyvanse/day (sometimes split one of the two 20 mg capsules I took each day) and sleep was so poor I did not take any today, January 29th. This time the withdrawal was worse! Ached all over, flue-like, shaky, hopless mood. Wow! I think I just took my last dose of Vyvanse. A total of 28 twenty milligram pills over about a month and I have this withdrawal. I am dumbfounded. I am so glad this medicine kept me awake to allow me to discover its horrible (and quick onset) withdrawal. I'd hate to think what it woud be like to be on this for a year and then have it quit working and then try to stop.

--Nate

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Hello! Im 17 years old and have been on 50 mg vyvanse for about half a year now and I adore it! I do not take it on weekends unless I have an ACT or practice test and I am always super productive on it. Honestly, Ive never experienced the side effects that y'all have described when Im off it. I've recently stopped taking it since I am on spring break and I feel wonderful! Of course, I am super unfocused considering I am ADHD, but that is expected and who needs to be for focused on spring break? Granted, the are some days though where I feel like I'm burned out when I skip sometimes. Sometimes when I stay up way too late and then take it the next morning, I feel like crap. But I've never felt this wrecked for more than a day. I can truly say I've never experienced the dependency to vyvanse like other users. I feel like Vyvanse has turned my life around because I recently got accepted into a new highschool that is harder to get into than college. I always knew I had it in me but I just needed that e tea push to get there and my medication has show myself and many other people the drive I can have.

Consequently though, since I've been off it (about 5 days now) I feel bloated and like I've gained weight. Ive weighed myself a couple times and haven't seemed to gain more than a couple pounds (I'm 100 pounds). I've concluded this is because my body is not used to eating 3 meals a day since I only eat one meal a day on. Vyvanse. In turn, I believe every person reacts to vyvanse differently and to any drug for that matter. My advice is to move on a search another ADHD medication because sometimes a certain type is not right for you. I go to a school specifically for people who have learning differences like ADHD and I've met teens who become severely depressed on ritalin but are perfectly fine on concerta. So I believe it all depends on the persons body chemistry and no person is identical.

Overall, i give my medication a thumbs up. I have attained no dependency and have had few side effects besides the obvious ones such as lack of hunger and mild headaches from dehydration- both easly fixed or expected. Just don't give up. There is a medication that works for you and if there isn't, it is possible to overcome hyperactivity through different forms of therapy. After all, I survived without medication alright for 16 years. Good luck! I hope my input helped.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I would like to say you are a very strong person. I have been on vyvanse 70 mg for 6 years. I have almost never missed a day and if I did then I became a monster. Recently my bf got mad and his only way if hiring me of course was to throw away the vyvanse. Anyway I lost my med for about 10 days before I could fill it again. I was very scared the first couple days I was happy I felt emotion I laughed played with my kids and they didn't seem to irritate me as easily. Every one around me complimented me as I seemed to be a new happy person with an actual personality. I started thinking very seriously about never taking the med again. After day 5 I started waking up sick to my stomach. As the days went on I became very nervous and started counting the days til I could get the script filled. I went 7 days and felt pretty good besides the stomach and I ate way more than usual. A little scared of gaining weight but it was nice to actually feel hungry. I took a vyvanse this morning since then my vision is blurry I am very jittery and have clinched my jaw so much I am having a sever head ache. I felt like a failure when I took the pill I have no family that can even relate to my situation they just say I should quit but don't know the control vyvanse can have. It is nice to hear others who can relate. The way I feel right now I never want to take it again but following through I'm not sure I can do. :(

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I'm beginning to taper off 50 mg daily after over 2 years on vyvanse. I've been on the other stimulants, and every anti-depressant available, all with no benefit. Over the past 4 years, I've become even more anxious, and have lost interest in everything. I've had ADD, anxiety and depression my entire life. I'm 56, and have lost hope at achieving a more "normal" life. I'm on disability, single, and don't have enough supports. Managing a house and a large young epileptic dog add enormous stress. The vyvanse hasn't helped me focus. I'm trying to return to meditation practice, and trying to learn better productivity tools. Since vyvanse, I've steadily dropped a lot of weight and my family doctor is alarmed. So, I'll have to put up with the fog and lethargy of weaning off the stuff. I do believe that a lot of my problems stem from the constant stream of obsessive disaster-scenario thinking that I do. I can't feel much worse trying to develop healthier self-care habits, rather than the pharmaceutical approach, which has helped very little, and possibly harmed me. Best wishes to all of you. I certainly identify with your suffering.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

hey guys, I am on vyvanse as well. But I was heavy into stimulants in my days of drug use, and just wanted to let you guys know it wont last much longer than 3-5 weeks, you will most likely feel depressed, tired and pretty unmotivated.

your brain gets used to the stimulation on the neurotransmitters, and produces less of the chemicals (thus tolerance haha). Just be grateful it doesn't work on your serotonin like mdma, talk about feeling s***ty after a while.. But just wanted to let you guys know its gonna suck for a little while but it will end, nobody permanently damaged anything, you don't have to worry :)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

My son had a terrible experience on wyvance. He has phyciatic systems to include halluciations. The doctor took him off ...

428 REPLIES

Hi All, thanks for this useful chat. I live in South Africa and have been on cymgen 60mg for about 8 months for anxiety ...

2 REPLIES

Hi pat and thanks for the input am trying to get as much information before my pain management appointment in 3 weeks, i...

5 REPLIES

so i am a college student and my friend is prescribed 50mg vyvanse... i used to take about 1 every couple weeks to help ...

8 REPLIES

Good Morning Everyone, I have been on Vyvanse 50 mg for about 7 months. Took it everyday. My company that I work for cha...

2 REPLIES

I have been on kolonopin 1 mg daily for 14 months now I am depressed and very anxious most of the time I want to get off...

292 REPLIES

I have been on stelaine for 25 years with short breaks but I am trying to stop it and getting nasty withdrawal effects. ...

87 REPLIES

Last dose of Imipramine (25 mg) taken on Monday July 2nd 2012. Under a doctors guidance. Slow, very slow taper. Took 5 m...

23 REPLIES

I've been abusing vicodin and percocet for over 7 years. I'm fed up with it all, but terrified BEYOND TERRIFIED ...

16 REPLIES

Why do you think docs prescribe Suboxone or Methadone for opiate withdrawal, make patients stay on it until they are com...

13 REPLIES