Conversion from vyvanse to concerta

Last year I was diagnosed with ADHD & as a result began taking 50mg of Elvanse (vyvanse).
Medication has undoubtedly changed my life. Ironically, it’s part of the reason I’m finally able to function well enough to pursue my dreams and travel… but I think I need to be realistic, before I get my hopes up.
I was wondering if anyone could share any experience travelling with ADHD medication or ways of obtained it when travelling long term?
Context:
I’m UK based and in the early stages planning my first long term trip. So far have a one way flight booked to Nepal in September.
I have a certificate/ letter from my doctor. The added complication is that I can only be prescribed (and travel with) 30 days at a time.
So it looks like wherever I am in the world, I’m going to need to co-ordinate family forwarding my medicine on via post. Which itself feels a bit volatile.
I was wondering if anyone’s managed to successfully do this before and has any advice?
As for planning my trip, below are the counties I’d hoped to visit. I’ve put an X next to the ones it sounds like I’ll have to sadly avoid now after some research. Does anyone have any experience travelling into any of countries with ADHD medication?
Nepal Vietnam Japan (X) South Korea (X) Malaysia Indonesia (X) Cambodia Thailand Philippines
I don’t set off till late September, so I have time. I’ve read recent posts saying that some ADHD medication (like concerta) is now allowed in Japan and South Korea. I’m wondering whether I should try switching?
Or do I do a complete 180 and change my plans & to prioritise South America over SE Asia. (Nepal is the only place I have locked in so far)
I’d appreciate any advice!

Last year I was diagnosed with ADHD & as a result began taking 50mg of Elvanse (vyvanse).
Medication has undoubtedly changed my life. Ironically, it’s part of the reason I’m finally able to function well enough to pursue my dreams and travel… but I think I need to be realistic, before I get my hopes up.
I was wondering if anyone could share any experience travelling with ADHD medication or ways of obtained it when travelling long term?
Context:
I’m UK based and in the early stages planning my first long term trip. So far have a one way flight booked to Nepal in September.
I have a certificate/ letter from my doctor. The added complication is that I can only be prescribed (and travel with) 30 days at a time.
So it looks like wherever I am in the world, I’m going to need to co-ordinate family forwarding my medicine on via post. Which itself feels a bit volatile.
I was wondering if anyone’s managed to successfully do this before and has any advice?
As for planning my trip, below are the counties I’d hoped to visit. I’ve put an X next to the ones it sounds like I’ll have to sadly avoid now after some research. Does anyone have any experience travelling into any of countries with ADHD medication?
Nepal Vietnam Japan (X) South Korea (X) Malaysia Indonesia (X) Cambodia Thailand Philippines
I don’t set off till late September, so I have time. I’ve read recent posts saying that some ADHD medication (like concerta) is now allowed in Japan and South Korea. I’m wondering whether I should try switching?
Or do I do a complete 180 and change my plans & to prioritise South America over SE Asia. (Nepal is the only place I have locked in so far)
I’d appreciate any advice!

Hi, I was on concerta for a year or two, prior to that I was on methylfenidate for like 10 years. I really feel like the ritalin type drugs were better for me and my life was definitely more thriving then.
I've been on vyvanse for probably over a year. I think it helps my adhd but I basically have to use all my energy and focus and any ounce of motivation powers to get the most basic life things done and to do any social activity. Overall I feel extremely stuck.
I have mentioned this to my medication presctiber and she seems against switching me back from vyvanse to concerta. Is there any reason you can think of as to why she doesn't think it's a good idea?

how do i know if its side effects from my meds or me creating the feeling?
I need help. I started taking concerta in february, during the titration it went fine until i got to 36mg. I started feeling cold in my hands and feet, get a higher heart rate, feel nauseous etc. After around 1 week it felt better and i started to take 52mg. The side effects got a lot worse and i had a heart rate around 110-130 all day until the medicine wore off. This lasted for about 3 weeks. I tried to go back to 36 mg which didn’t help.
My nurse decided that I should try elvanse (vyvanse) instead. Started with 30 mg which went so well. I felt calmer and less side effects. Went up to 50mg and the first 2-4 days i had a higher heart rate which became more stable after 1 week. Higher heart rate in this case was around 90-100 while working by my computer. Then i went up to 70mg, the final dose. The side effects were there the first week. I had drier mouth, shaky hands, higher heart rate (100-110) but it still was better than with concerta. After 2,5 weeks with 70mg the side effects started to wear off and some days I was even wondering if I even took the meds because I couldn’t feel anything special. My heart rate was more stable around 90-95 while working. Since my blood pressure and heart rate also looked good every time I visited my nurse we decided that I didn’t need to go to her every week anymore.
This was a week ago. The last week I’ve been feeling stressed. I feel my heart rate more often and it sometimes peaks to 110-120 for maybe 1-2 hours when the medication kicks in. I also have a peak directly after lunch. My hands are also a bit more shakier. The thing is that this makes me worry about my heart health. What if my heart rate is dangerous for me? How do I know if this is side effects from my medication or if me worrying is the reason for my heart rate to be high? How do I know? I’ve also read that the effectiveness of the medication can vary depending on where u are at the menstrual cycle. When my heart rate was stable around 90 and I barely felt any side effects I was on my period. What if that was the reason why it felt different that week?
All these thoughts are driving me nuts and I get stuck googling what heart rate a person on stimulants should have. This makes me even more stressed.
I really don’t wanna switch medications again since the titration is so stressful for me. It gives me so many reasons to overthink. I overthink so much about the side effects and the wanted effect. I panic about the fact that I’m the one who has to know if it works, how I feel etc. It’s like i start to question my self and my ability to describe what i feel correctly and also to remember how i feel compared to the time before medication.
Please help. Have any of you had the same issue and thoughts?

how do i know if its side effects from my meds or me creating the feeling?
I need help. I started taking concerta in february, during the titration it went fine until i got to 36mg. I started feeling cold in my hands and feet, get a higher heart rate, feel nauseous etc. After around 1 week it felt better and i started to take 52mg. The side effects got a lot worse and i had a heart rate around 110-130 all day until the medicine wore off. This lasted for about 3 weeks. I tried to go back to 36 mg which didn’t help.
My nurse decided that I should try elvanse (vyvanse) instead. Started with 30 mg which went so well. I felt calmer and less side effects. Went up to 50mg and the first 2-4 days i had a higher heart rate which became more stable after 1 week. Higher heart rate in this case was around 90-100 while working by my computer. Then i went up to 70mg, the final dose. The side effects were there the first week. I had drier mouth, shaky hands, higher heart rate (100-110) but it still was better than with concerta. After 2,5 weeks with 70mg the side effects started to wear off and some days I was even wondering if I even took the meds because I couldn’t feel anything special. My heart rate was more stable around 90-95 while working. Since my blood pressure and heart rate also looked good every time I visited my nurse we decided that I didn’t need to go to her every week anymore.
This was a week ago. The last week I’ve been feeling stressed. I feel my heart rate more often and it sometimes peaks to 110-120 for maybe 1-2 hours when the medication kicks in. I also have a peak directly after lunch. My hands are also a bit more shakier. The thing is that this makes me worry about my heart health. What if my heart rate is dangerous for me? How do I know if this is side effects from my medication or if me worrying is the reason for my heart rate to be high? How do I know? I’ve also read that the effectiveness of the medication can vary depending on where u are at the menstrual cycle. When my heart rate was stable around 90 and I barely felt any side effects I was on my period. What if that was the reason why it felt different that week?
All these thoughts are driving me nuts and I get stuck googling what heart rate a person on stimulants should have. This makes me even more stressed.
I really don’t wanna switch medications again since the titration is so stressful for me. It gives me so many reasons to overthink. I overthink so much about the side effects and the wanted effect. I panic about the fact that I’m the one who has to know if it works, how I feel etc. It’s like i start to question my self and my ability to describe what i feel correctly and also to remember how i feel compared to the time before medication.
Please help. Have any of you had the same issue and thoughts?

how do i know if its side effects from my meds or me creating the feeling?
I need help. I started taking concerta in february, during the titration it went fine until i got to 36mg. I started feeling cold in my hands and feet, get a higher heart rate, feel nauseous etc. After around 1 week it felt better and i started to take 52mg. The side effects got a lot worse and i had a heart rate around 110-130 all day until the medicine wore off. This lasted for about 3 weeks. I tried to go back to 36 mg which didn’t help.
My nurse decided that I should try elvanse (vyvanse) instead. Started with 30 mg which went so well. I felt calmer and less side effects. Went up to 50mg and the first 2-4 days i had a higher heart rate which became more stable after 1 week. Higher heart rate in this case was around 90-100 while working by my computer. Then i went up to 70mg, the final dose. The side effects were there the first week. I had drier mouth, shaky hands, higher heart rate (100-110) but it still was better than with concerta. After 2,5 weeks with 70mg the side effects started to wear off and some days I was even wondering if I even took the meds because I couldn’t feel anything special. My heart rate was more stable around 90-95 while working. Since my blood pressure and heart rate also looked good every time I visited my nurse we decided that I didn’t need to go to her every week anymore.
This was a week ago. The last week I’ve been feeling stressed. I feel my heart rate more often and it sometimes peaks to 110-120 for maybe 1-2 hours when the medication kicks in. I also have a peak directly after lunch. My hands are also a bit more shakier. The thing is that this makes me worry about my heart health. What if my heart rate is dangerous for me? How do I know if this is side effects from my medication or if me worrying is the reason for my heart rate to be high? How do I know? I’ve also read that the effectiveness of the medication can vary depending on where u are at the menstrual cycle. When my heart rate was stable around 90 and I barely felt any side effects I was on my period. What if that was the reason why it felt different that week?
All these thoughts are driving me nuts and I get stuck googling what heart rate a person on stimulants should have. This makes me even more stressed.
I really don’t wanna switch medications again since the titration is so stressful for me. It gives me so many reasons to overthink. I overthink so much about the side effects and the wanted effect. I panic about the fact that I’m the one who has to know if it works, how I feel etc. It’s like i start to question my self and my ability to describe what i feel correctly and also to remember how i feel compared to the time before medication.
Please help. Have any of you had the same issue and thoughts?

i got diagnosed almost 2 years ago and was prescribed 50mg elvanse (vyvanse in the USA). everything was great it was literally the best thing ever I was talkative, happy, had no anxiety at all and felt very confident all the time. I was full of energy and motivation. I was able to hold proper conversations for long periods of time and this made me happy cuz I usually struggle with this. I took a break from my meds for 2-3 months because it caused me to experience slight weight loss as I wasn’t eating properly.
I started taking them again with the exact same dosage but now it completely takes away my personality. I am still able to focus but I’m literally so fucking boring and quiet with them. It also makes feel very anxious and not confident. I literally hate taking it now yes I’m able to focus at work and school but I’ve become such an emotionless boring person because of this. Like I get so serious lmao.
side notes: I am anaemic and I don’t take my iron tablets so maybe that’s why ? I’m not completely sure
I also drink a lot of redbull but I know you shouldn’t while taking elvanse so I’ve stopped but I’m still experiencing the “boring personality” effects.

I recently started trialling a second medication and have yet again experienced bad side effects. I initially started on Concerta and I had an up and down experience . The first few days I had more motivation , improved concentration and then those effects went away and I was left with feeling anxious and irritable so I had to stop . Last week I started titrating on Vyvanse starting dose of 30mg and i tried it for a few days . I did not feel more motivated or an increase in my concentration . I did however have an anxious feeling in body , mood swings and worse vision. I did not experience any positive effects from this medication . I am questioning if my adhd diagnosis is valid .
Since starting on Vyvanse my vision has become worse . I did go to an optometrist and they did an eye test for me and said my vision has remained the same however I certainly know my vision has become worse since starting this medication and I am concerned if it will go back to normal . I know the medication can cause dry eyes and I have tried using eye drops but the issue still remains.I’ve stopped my medication for a few days now . I don’t know if I am just not compatible with stimulant medication or if my diagnosis is valid.
I do have Adhd symptoms such as having a short attention span , difficulty focusing on tasks , poor time management and being disorganised . I have had these traits my whole life . Could these traits just be autistic traits ? I feel hopeless and discouraged because vyvanse was my last hope in medication . Should I continue the medication to see if these side effects will go away eventually ? I struggle to do basic tasks and have no motivation . I am desperate for a solution , everything I have tried has not worked

Hi, Im a 28yo man, I have diagnosed ADHD (diagnosed at age 20) and level 1/high functioning autism (diagnosed last year). I Struggled with depression for years, and I also have anxiety, cause these things always seems to come together in a package it seems. ADHD meds are innefective on me. I just get the bad side effects like increased anxiety and appetite loss, but dont get the good intended effects. Tried 3 different meds so far to no avail, Vyvanse was AWFUL to me and my body. I've been on Ragione for a few months now (same as Concerta -Methylphenidate), and while it doesnt screws me up as bad as Vyvanse did, it still isnt that good. I see a reduction of brain/mind "noise", but that is about it. Had Ritalin once and was the same. I used to take 20mg of Escitalopram back when I was at the heaviest stage of depression and tried to do that *thing* people try do to do themselves at that stage. I managed to get oveheal from that heavy depression, thanks to the meds and years of therapy/psychologists. However, I still don't have the will to live, but I also dont have the urge to un-4live myself (thankfully). Lets say as an analogy that before, I was at a negative debt, like -$200 on the bank, and nowadays I'm at $0, zero. I'm not positive, but at least I'm not struggling anymore, does that make sense? It is a huge step forward, but I think its still too flimsy to stay at that. SO, I still take Escitalopram, however, on a much lower dosage, 5mg, since the 20mg I used to take back then makes me extremely hyper-active nowadays and actually hinders me more than help with anything. Apart from that, I was prescribed Quetiapine to sleep. Take it about 1-2 hours before going to sleep. Turn off all the lights, all screens. No activities after taking it. You take it after you've done everything and then you go to bed. It works WONDERS, since without it I used to have LOTS of nightmares, crappy sleep schedule, used to wake up mid sleep after only 3-4 hours of sleep and being unable to get back to sleep. It is the only medication I'm having so far that is working really good and I dont feel any bad side effects going on. However, as I said, the ADHD meds dont make ANYTHING good at all, just gives me bad side effects, and the escitalopram is on a much lower dosage. I listed EVERYTHING going on because whenever I go to a psychiatrist, they just change my meds or adjust the amount/dosage, and thats about it. I tried changing psychiatrists to see if maybe it was a thing it them, but the other ones did the same thing. Not much investigation on what is going on. I feel like Im at a loss right now. I have no clue to what is going on and what I should do. Nothing seems to work. Is it a issue with me? Like, is my brain THAT F-d up? Is it just the meds? Is there more things in play that Im unaware of? What should I do? Im dealing with this with my psychologist so far, but we've been struggling with it so much, she says my case is extremely complex, and despite me changing a lot of my habits for the better like working out and having an extremly healthy diet (almost zero artificial/processed food, went to a nutritionist twice), my dopamine levels seems to be too low still :/ Is that why meds doesnt help me? or is there something more sinister going on? What directions should I take? Is there a specific thing I have to tell my psychologist and psychiatrist that I am missing? Im am SUPER lost, any, ANY help/pointers will help me out tremendously. Thanks in advance :)
(If you need more background info i.e childhood stuff, realtionships and etc. just let me know)
Disclaimer: If some terms/meds dont make sense, thats because I'm not a native English speaker, I tried to translate the technical terms like the meds and doctors areas as best as I could. Same to my mind and body reactions to my symptoms and issues. Let me know if I messed something up and you need clearing. Thanks.

Hey there lovely folks. Currently on Vyvanse 70mg, but have had very meh results on it the past year. It doesn't really ever feel like it's working well for me most days. I'm planning on consulting with my psych about other treatment options that might be a good fit, but my question is: I'm curious to hear if any people have good experiences going from being on a higher dose stimulant to a non-stim option and have equal-to-better results?
I started off on Concerta XR and tried every dose available and hated its effect on me, I've tolerated both Ritalin IR and Adderall XR pretty well.
I wouldn't want to do an IR-only route and with Adderall being in a never-ending shortage, I'm just trying to keep an open mind to non-stimulant options. So please share the good/bad/ugly. Not asking for medical advice ofc, just gathering intel on people's experience.
Thank you in advance!

i am 25 female with Autism, 140 lbs. i have tried fluoxetine, quetiapine, olanzapine, escitalopram, gabapentin, ativan, trazodone, prazocin, cymbalta, lamotrigine, risperidone, and also have self medicated with xanax, cannabis, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, psilocybin (micro, normal and macro doses), and a few other neat lil guys. i also have tried vyvanse and maybe concerta(????), though not by choice. the most helpful medicine i’ve ever tried when my nervous system freax out tho is taking a double shot of butterscotch liqueur (20%). it just takes the edge off a bit. i have pretty extensive medication trauma and medications tend to make me very sick, so i’m only willing to try a medication if it will be likely to give me as good of an effect as taking just one double shot of butterscotch liqueur. i don’t want to worry my family by drinking in the day time, but from my perspective it is harm reduction to have one shot as a prn than to freak out for days on end because i’m sick of having skin and hearing the fricken electricity all the livelong day.

Hey fellow Concerta takers,
I switched from Vyvanse to Concerta and today is my first day. So far it's much better than Vyvanse, I still feel like myself, connected to reality. I'm 1.5 hours into the experience and feeling a little bit as if I drank 3 coffees and . Slight nausea and headache, I wouldn't say euphoric, but there's an element of feeling positive/good/motivated/focused too. Things feel easier, picking sh!t off the floor feels neutral, my self-esteem seems better, etc. The worst thing seems to be dry mouth and smell sensitivity (my own shampoo residual smell worsens the nausea, I'm going for a second rinse. Turns out my building smells too, may have to move #jokes).
Does this feeling straighten out as the body adjusts to it? The bodily sensations are a bit overwhelming, less so than coffee though, as if I'm jittery a bit. The mental sensations are a little bit intense.
Kinda makes me wonder if I even have ADHD, but psych recons I do and everything I read seems to point to that. I'm a nervous type so this could just be anxiety and perhaps I need to chill and embrace the experience (I'm not a drug type of guy, even weed throws me off!)
Edit: And the weird thing is all my senses feel heightened. Sounds, smells, tastes occasionally feel too much.

One moment I'm sleeping peacefully, not even having any dreams I can remember and the next I'm jumping up with a jolt of electricity through my body and wide awake with no chance of going back to sleep no matter how little sleep I've gotten. My body is my alarm clock.
Sometimes i wake myself up flailing and whining in my sleep too, I tell a doctor but they just say go to therapy for PTSD treatment and they give antipsychotics but it's like it just made my anxiety worse. My head fills with so many thoughts I can't make sense of any of it and it gets so overwhelming. No one gets that just listening in my head is a full time job sometimes. I try excersizing and meditation. Drinking a ton of water and limiting alcohol and any medications I take just in case they could make it worse. I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to do to help it if all of this doesn't help.
Other times I feel so sleepy when my eyes are open but as soon as I close them I feel wide awake and I end up laying in the dark with my eyes closed until my alarm goes off and I have to get ready for work and that cycle can repeat for up to 4 days until I finally just pass out from exhaustion.
I've tried every medication for sleep along with changes in sleep routine. From melatonin to trazodone to Ambien and everything in between. Those didn't help. I've also been on all kinds for anxiety and what did help, they won't give me. I was put on Klonopin after a traumatic event 7 years ago which was short lived. Since then they've tried everything but that and even had me on trazodone like 4 times a day. I've even been on Vyvanse and concerta and those did make me sleep all day. And didn't really help anything. I fear that when I tell them things aren't helping they see it as drug-seeking behavior. It's disheartening. I am so tired of being so anxious from the moment I wake up to the time I possibly fall asleep. 😢
How do you help soothe your morning nerves without medication? Hot tea? Bubble bath with a nice candle? A brisk walk?

I'm in serious need of an energy drink that makes a difference in my life. For a while now, I've been consuming C4 energy drinks, which contain 200 mg of caffeine each can, but they don't really make a difference. When I questioned a coworker who is obsessed with energy drinks, he was afraid that I could drink two C4s and then take a sleep because he normally gets sick from just one of those. Monster and Rock Star are ineffective, and I detest the flavour of Red Bull. Has anyone discovered a caffeine or energy drink that truly works as a pick-me up? Having tried them all, coffee just doesn't do it for me. Although I am aware that energy drinks are bad for you, there are days when I just need anything to get me through the workday since I can't take a nap.
While I am aware that energy drinks are bad for you, there are days when I just need anything to get me through the workday since I can't take a nap.
Note: Due to my bipolar disease, I am unable to use stimulants and am currently taking 400 mg of modafinil. I've tried Concerta, Focalin, and Vyvanse, and each one of them caused hospitalisation due to manic or psychotic episodes.

After some tests, doctor (neurologist with specialization in adult ADHD) confirmed ADD diagnosis. He prescribed 27mg concerta and told me to come back in 1½ to 2 months, saying that the body takes time to adjust itself to the medication. I know that stimulants work with the first dose, and that the body adjusting is about the physiology, how it stabilizes over time to the side effects.Why would we wait for the body to stabilize itself to the medication when the effectiveness is seen within the first day? I acknowledge that it was a mistake to not ask him about this on the spot.
I took the 27mg and after 1-2 hours there was some nice clarity in my mind, for like 5 minutes. Maybe placebo. That's it. The rest was high irritability and belly rumbles. I took 54mg next day and same thing, minus the "clarity".
This is not directly relevant to this post but I'll add it: since I knew that some people respond to instant release methylphedinate and not XR, I opened the pill and cut off the sponge thing and took the methylphedinate. It felt good. For about 4/5 hours I was very motivated, I could just do stuff and enjoy it (like assembling some furniture) when normally I would force myself to do it after postponing it as much as possible. No concentration improvement though. Anyway, I did nothing with this information.
I wasn't going to wait another week or two to see this doctor again again so I had an appointment with an experienced psychiatrist who has worked with kids and adults with ADD/ADHD. He said it didn't make sense to him what the doctor said, that yes there was an adaptation of the body to the side effects but there's no point in waiting for it if the medication doesn't work, which is seen from the first day. Since he would have also prescribed Concerta to start, he recommended to up the dosage so I told him I tried with 54mg as well. He put me on Strattera, didn't work. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) 150mg didn't work. He upped the dose so now I'm on week one of taking 300mg.
Is there a reason he might be avoiding other stimulants like Adderall or Vyvanse? I ask because as far as I know, those drugs along with Methylphedinate (Concerta or whatever) or one of the primary treatment options for ADD/ADHD. Does he want to exhaust all other options first because they have weaker side effects, are less addictive, don't build tolerance that fast, or what?

I have ADHD & have been on 50mg vyvanse for 4+ years. Over the past year I started feeling like I was just going through the motions of life & was always too mentally exhausted to think straight or have my full personality. I wouldn't be able to hold a good conversation or I'd overthink what to respond to a text message, where I used to be easily social & outgoing.
My doctor thought that adding wellbutrin/bupropion could help me, so I started 150mg XL at the beginning of February & within 2 weeks I noticed a difference. My moods were overall more stable, my impulse control was better, I wasn't ruminating on thoughts as much, I felt like I was getting my personality back, and socializing (in person or over text) was feeling easier again. I felt like there was still room for improvement so my doctor upped me to 300mg XL after about 6 weeks on 150.
I'm currently on week 8 of taking 300mg (14 weeks on the med in total) & I'm not sure how I feel. My moods are still pretty stable, but I feel like my impulse control, ruminating thoughts, and mental exhaustion have declined a bit. I also feel SO tired all the time, which doesn't help with the mental exhaustion aspect.
I don't know if I felt a little better on the 150mg because I was experiencing the "honeymoon phase" in those first 6 weeks, or if that dose was actually better for me & 300mg is too high. Alternatively, is 300mg not working that well because I need to go up to 450mg? Or last option is that my body is still getting used to 300mg & I need to be on this dose a little longer (~12 weeks) to start feeling great.
I'm not experiencing any bad side effects on 300mg (anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, etc.) so I don't feel like it's "too much," but I just don't know why I declined.
TLDR; I don't know if: 1.) 300mg XL is too high for me, 2.) 300mg XL is too low for me, or 3.) if I just need to wait it out a little longer to see if this dose is good for me & I start to feel great more towards the 12-week mark.
**Obviously I know that this is a conversation I need to have with my doctor (and I will), but I'm just looking to hear perspectives/experiences from other people who take the med**

I have ADHD & have been on 50mg vyvanse for 4+ years. Over the past year I started feeling like I was just going through the motions of life & was always too mentally exhausted to think straight or have my full personality. I wouldn't be able to hold a good conversation or I'd overthink what to respond to a text message, where I used to be easily social & outgoing.
My doctor thought that adding wellbutrin/bupropion could help me, so I started 150mg XL at the beginning of February & within 2 weeks I noticed a difference. My moods were overall more stable, my impulse control was better, I wasn't ruminating on thoughts as much, I felt like I was getting my personality back, and socializing (in person or over text) was feeling easier again. I felt like there was still room for improvement so my doctor upped me to 300mg XL after about 6 weeks on 150.
I'm currently on week 8 of taking 300mg (14 weeks on the med in total) & I'm not sure how I feel. My moods are still pretty stable, but I feel like my impulse control, ruminating thoughts, and mental exhaustion have declined a bit. I also feel SO tired all the time, which doesn't help with the mental exhaustion aspect.
I don't know if I felt a little better on the 150mg because I was experiencing the "honeymoon phase" in those first 6 weeks, or if that dose was actually better for me & 300mg is too high. Alternatively, is 300mg not working that well because I need to go up to 450mg? Or last option is that my body is still getting used to 300mg & I need to be on this dose a little longer (~12 weeks) to start feeling great.
I'm not experiencing any bad side effects on 300mg (anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, etc.) so I don't feel like it's "too much," but I just don't know why I declined.
TLDR; I don't know if: 1.) 300mg XL is too high for me, 2.) 300mg XL is too low for me, or 3.) if I just need to wait it out a little longer to see if this dose is good for me & I start to feel great more towards the 12-week mark.
**Obviously I know that this is a conversation I need to have with my doctor (and I will), but I'm just looking to hear perspectives/experiences from other people who take the med**

If you're struggling to pay your Vyvanse prescription please read below.
I recently got switched to Vyvanse from Concerta and it has helped me a lot. The only problem I was facing is that its so expensive! I currently don't have insurance as I finished school in April and didn't work much this year. After talking to my doc they recommended I give Takeda (the company that makes Vyvanse) a call. They have assistance programs that can help reduce the cost of your prescription.
Here is their information:

• Company website: https://www.takeda.com/en-ca
• Assistance program: https://www.takeda.com/en-ca/what-we-do/helping-canadian-patients/vyvanse-assistance-program
• You can call them @ 1-855-442-9395 or email [vyvanse_support@smartsti.com](mailto:vyvanse_support@smartsti.com). To call they are open between 8am-8pm EST

I called them recently and got a 1 year virtual card which covers 100% of the cost. The call was about 15 minutes. I had to answer some personal questions like how much I make, where I live, if I have dependants or a spouse, etc.
I'm sure there could be something similar for Americans and people in Europe, I just haven't taken a look.
I would recommend anyone that's in a similar situation to mine to give them a call. Even if you don't qualify for 100% there's a good chance you qualify for some savings.

I started on Vyvanse a month ago. at 20mg. initially it was pretty good. I liked it much better than the Concerta. The crash was much smoother. And I felt better.
There was a lot of inconsistency with its effectiveness though. And I did not like how much of a 'Wild card' it felt like. It took about 1.5 hours to fully kick in. and it would only last for 4 hours. (despite what the manufactures say) I then got approved to take 2 - 20mg a day. One in the morning when I woke up and then again around noon. It was very annoying having to plan around this medication for when I think it would kick in and when im sure it would be wearing off. If I was out for a social event I had to literally plan and prepare the perfect timing because when the crash comes, I couldn't stand to stay out any later. Despite all of these inconveniences I still rather liked this medication. And it made me feel really calm, and collected and I felt pretty good. Depression was non existent with this as well.
When it wore off depression started hitting a little harder as I went on.
And then the final deal breaker was the afternoon munchies..
I am aware that this medication is also prescribed for BED. I did not have issues with eating. I followed a strict Keto diet and was already in the habit of tracking my daily calories and macros. I would have a normal breakfast, and maybe a lighter lunch (the medicine did make me not as hungry when it was in effect) but then dinner when it wore off I was ravenous and could not stop eating.
I have seen others mention theories that if you don't eat during the day your body wants to make up for that. While I understand that point of view, I have also done OMAD in the past (One Meal Day) and its a way of eating while you are intermittently fasting and then consume your daily allowance on calories in 1 meal (sometimes two) but this was BEYOND that.
I had absolutely no control over this binge eating at night and it was mentally the most painful thing. As I said I did not have binge eating disorder. This medication seemed to have initiated it for me in some sense. And I just kept doubling and tripling my daily caloric allowance. It was devastating.
I would eat until full. Like Thanksgiving; stuff your face full. And my belly would be stuffed and I still wanted more!
I have experienced “munchies” in the past with herbal remedies, but this was insane.
I decided this medication is not for me even tho it made me feel better mentally it also created some damage in other areas. I couldn't find too munch on Vyvanse CREATING binge eating disorder, so I just wanted to share my experience in case there's anyone else who is, or has, or will experience this side effect.
Today is day 4 without it, and my guts are finally starting to feel a little normal.
The next step from here is Adderall. I have tried that in the past. It's been about 6 years. Hoping that switch will be a better fit.

I just got diagnosed with ADHD and got prescribed the 18 mg of Concerta. I have literally no bad side effects besides the decreased appetite. Which I needed, as I’m a bit overweight. Even if I don’t eat anything the entire day, I don’t crash, or experience severe hungeheadaches.
All my life, I have had a severe stutter. Not only that, but I would unconsciously make sounds between my words which made it very difficult to understand me. My neck, jaw, and tongue muscles were always so tight and it made speaking difficult. It has literally made my life hell, because even though, I have a lot of college degrees & Im over qualified for all the jobs that I’m applying for. I’m not being hired due to my disability.
Now that I’m on Concerta, I literally can’t stop speaking! My facial muscles are so relaxed, and now I’m not stuttering or making sounds between my words!
I take my medication around 8-9 am, and by 3 pm, my stutter comes back a bit more. So I think I will need to up my dosage from 18 mg.
Not only that, but I can finally not impulsively over share and take over conversations and make it about myself. I’m much more socially aware, I can maintain a clean bathroom & bedroom. I have less negative thoughts of myself & Im more comfortable with myself. I’m not happier, but less cynical about myself and my abilities. Before, if I wasn’t perfect, I’d hyper focus & lose confidence about myself.
I wasn’t aware of how much ADHD was impacting me and my life.
Plus, you mean with one pill, not only will I stop stuttering, help my ADHD & executive dysfunction… I can become a skinny legend by simply taking a pill! Literally changed my life!

I was wondering if anyone is currently taking Vyvanse chewable tablets ? I was started on Concerta and have tried two different dosages but didn’t see much in the way of improvement and too many side effects. My doctor switched me to Vyvanse 20mg and sent the script in. I got a notification from the pharmacy that it’s on order and when I checked the notification, I noticed it was for chewable tablets. I didn’t know that was a thing and I’m also wondering if I’m going to be waiting forever for it to come in.

I appreciate the offer but no because of the way the last appointments happened. I don’t think we are a right therapeutic fit, my problem is that I’m afraid of people and I feel guilty about everything,I feel like I do everything wrong, and among other things that I tried to explain but you brushed off I was suicidal, and your response was to cut me off before I could explain why I feel that way and to try to take away my concerta and government aid.... Don’t you think that if I didn’t cry every time people judge me I would just go get a job? If I could get a job I would have Also the way you told me to “take a risk to be homeless” how is that helpful ?? I’m sorry but no, the way you dangled the consent papers in front of me told me that if I’m really that uncomfortable you could rip them up to ease my anxiety only to change your words and say that it’s actually not legal and you will keep them.. I appreciate your promise to not contact my doctopsyciatrist but I did not feel it was sincere. I can’t even function every day, my boyfriend has to come to my apartment and help me shower, I microwave raw chicken because everything is too difficult, I don’t leave my apartment unless I am being forced and with all due respect your approach is very coercive and controlling, the only reactions of empathy I saw from you was when I was explaining why I pretend to have anorexia in front of my mom. But when I talked about the things that actually affect me and keep me stuck you changed the subject, you haven’t given me any advice and your only plan is to be controlling... This is creepy and terrifying. I am not impulsive, I’ve been pushing myself to go to the appointments for every single appointment even though its stressful/embarrassing to take the elevator of my apartment because sometimes my neighbours talk to me... I dislike that I’m putting in so much effort with the promise of what? Homelessness? You are trying “tough love” this does not work on me, I got kicked out on my 18th birthday... I have the same issues that I’ve had my entire life literally 0-23. I have adhd. If I don’t take my concerta I don’t get out of bed, I spend money on my credit card, I can’t focus on anything, I can’t focus on tv or the internet... Do you remember when I mentioned I notice people’s emotions and I get really strong intuitions? I don’t want to over analyze everything it’s so exhausting but my brain won’t shut up no matter what... I don’t like video games... I do not sit around happily... I don’t have anyone... You say that you don’t take other professional’s notes as the absolute truth but you seem angry every time I try to tell you that I do not have bpd, and you change the subject?? In social situations, if I don’t feel anxious enough to cry I’m extremely alert it’s kind of like anxiety ... and I can’t stop thinking about it Even if I’m won’t extremely anxious where I want to crawl out of my body my brain will not ever shut up, and socializing makes it so much worse.. I tried to take one class the previous semesters and it was almost ok, people talked to me and invited me to hang out but I was extremely anxious during the time I was outside and also when I got home, I feel like I process things later So I’m anxious during and also after, usually the after feels much worse... I know I look very confident but I genuinely can not take it... I always feel like people think like I’m bad and I’m doing something bad and it makes me feel awful, so I wasted the first few appointments trying to prove that I’m a good enough person to receive help... I imagine that must be off putting to a professional... “why would you try so hard to tell me that you are not bad if you didn’t do anything bad?” I made our conversations weird by doing this and acting like I’m in a life or death situation super stiff and overly serious...... Usually I imagine patients come to you for comfort and reassurance... I was very thankful when you did tell me reassuring/comforting messages... I am upset at myself for the way I reacted I was too alert or scared to let myself “act
like a victim” I genuinely wish I would have let myself cry or just listen without being tense... I know that I ruined our therapeutic relationship by being robotic and weird and I am very sorry to you but to me also... I was offered help, I am clearly not able to be helped or understood because of me... I don’t want to waste resources and also I just can’t go outside... it’s not even worth it I’m always stressed for days and weeks after I see anyone. I am not a danger to myself or others. I do not want any contact with my family doctor or psychiatrist please, I do not want to be lied to. Thank you.