Vyvanse vs Adderall ER, Which One Should I Go With?
Which one of these works better for you and your ADHD? Vyvanse or Adderall extended release? My Dr. started me out on 15mg of the Adderall ER, but the effects were so intense that I could only make it two days of taking them. I was so jittery, anxious, sick to my stomach, I could not eat or sleep for 2 days.
So she changed me to 10mg Vyvanse, which wasn't as bad, and I kept taking it daily until I was moved up to 30mg. I can eat fine and sleep while on it. And now my next appointment is tomorrow, and I think I'm gonna ask for 40mg and maybe a booster. But the only issue is I recently tried some of those 15mg Adderall ER I still had for 2 days. Instead of taking my Vyvanse, I took the Adderall, and it really wasn't bad, nothing like the first time I tried it. Instead, it just helped my ADHD like the Vyvanse does, but I think I felt more energy. I could also eat and sleep fine on it. The only thing was that on the second day, 6 hours after I took it, I got so, so drowsy that I had to go take a nap. Like, I could not hold my eyes open at all. I thought this stuff was supposed to last longer than that?
But yeah, anyways, what do you all think? Which do you prefer, Vyvanse or Adderall ER? Do you still get that initial "rush" or good feeling at the start of both, or is the Adderall stronger at that, that you feel? I'd really like to know what you all think because I see my Dr. tomorrow, and the option to change back is on the table.
I'd really like to hear from only those who have tried both. Thanks a lot.
TL;DR: I’ve tried both Vyvanse and Adderall ER, and I’m trying to decide which one works better for my ADHD before my appointment tomorrow—so I’d like to hear from people who have tried both.
11 replies
Generally, you aren't going to get the proper day to day feeling of any of them after taking them for one or two days. I would also strongly suggest against just "switching it up" on your own. You can and should totally talk to your Dr about your concerns and questions, and they can help you with planning out a safe way to properly test the different meds and how they effect you.
As others mentioned you likely can't take these for short periods and learn the full effect on you. Usually just stepping down and then slowly stepping up is what most need to do. That's for most psych meds I've taken, though, not just stimulants.
As for me, I don't get jittery from Adderall really, but I do from too much caffeine and I still need both to balance just right, just now I only have a single, small cup of coffee instead of the constant stream of it I needed before Adderall.
Also, yeah, even the extended release doesn't last all day. For me it lasts about 8-10 hours before I need a booster and then I take an immediate release which only lasts maybe 4 hours.
But, this is different from reuptake inhibitors that most psychiatric meds are. In these cases you are stimulating production of hormones, with RIs you are partly just making the hormones you already produce stay around longer in your brain. So the effects of the stimulants only last about as long as the drug is in your digestive system and blood stream. Once the extended release coating finishes digesting, then shortly after, the effects wane. With RIs the effect builds up and lingers across doses. Though I've also taken an SNRI that I had to take twice a day to avoid them spiking or wearing off, so it's not a hard rule that the effects linger for everyone. And that's of course an oversimplification. You can read details elsewhere about SSRI/SNRI effects if you'd like to understand more.
I've never tried Vyvanse, but I've heard it doesn't give you the crash that Adderall does. I think that's why they'll often prescribe a 'bump' of non xr to take a few hours after the xr. Then you don't crash so hard.
I use both: 1 rather big dose of LDX (Vyvanse) in the morning and small Methylphenidate doses of 5mg each starting with the morning and like 1 to 4 at 12:00 then every 2-3 hours depending on need.
sigh I've passed three weeks of waiting for my first stimulant prescription to even come in...
Yeah, if you're in the US there's an ongoing national shortage. Started because of consolidation of manufacturers and the one factory that made generic Adderall getting flooded due to changes in climate where they're located. Since then, the DEA has refused to allow additional production to catch up, much less to keep up with increased demand. So, likely there will be supply issues for many years to come.
I ration between each prescription. I got a cheap milligram scale and empty medicine capsules and I split mine for a few weeks before the new prescription and take the rest of the split ones while waiting. Usually it takes 3-4 weeks between each 90 day prescription fill, so I just adjust for that. Sometimes I'll also reduce my dose on weekends I'm not doing anything, but I can't do that too often since my job takes up all of my spoons from doing chores and such during most of the week.
oh really why is the pharmacy out of them or something?
Yep. Got the "we're out of stock, we'll tell you when we have it" text same day i got the prescription
Just an idea but can't you try another pharmacy?
I'm running into a issue right now one of my meds needs my dr's approval before insurance will cover it, and it's a simple med just a different kind from one of the other i was i was taking. anyways it's friday and i have been trying to get in touuch with my dr and i can't gewt not response . it's looking like i'm gonna be screwed until until mondaay.
Tbh, i really _really don't want to play the pharmacy jumping game just to hopefully live like a normal person, so I'm going to ask for something else that hopefully isn't hit by a shortage??
I feel the the same way you do. Now I got to wait on a pre approval insurance thing before they can release the meds