Stimulants (Vyvanse) Question about vyvanse and Panic Attacks

[mtxj30]

So last Spring i used to occasionally take adderall around big tests and finals. Then one night as the adderall was wearing off (around 5 am, i was pulling an all nighter) my heart started racing and i thought i was having a heart attack.

Since then i was scared to use adderall. Over the summer i had a few panic attacks and i came to the conclusiong that what happened to me that night was a panic attack.

I have been able to control my panic attacks mainly by telling myself nothing is wrong and breathing slowly (they rarely happen anymore)

I have a big project due soon and its incredibly boring so im debating taking vyvanse tonight to help me get through it.

My questions is: if i take the vyvanse around 630 PM would 40 mg be too much? Will i be able to sleep around 2/3 am? Do you think i will have a panic attack again?

I know 100% i can handle a panic attack but because i am going to be on vyvanse i am going to tell myself there is something actually wrong with my body and i should probably go to a hospital.

This will be my first time taking vyvanse because i heard its better for panic/anxiety than adderall.

 

[BIGsherm7272]

I too suffer from extreme panic attacks, sometimes for no reason at all. You should be fine, but just remember that you know that vyvanse causes you panic attacks, so when you start to get that feeling of adrenaline pumping in your chest, and feel your heart start to race, just tell yourself that you are having a panic attack and just need to calm down and it will subside soon.

Also having some benzos on hand will stop it right in its tracks. But if you don't have access to any then I would just try and remain calm. The more you worry while having a panic attack the more your going to feed it and turn it into a monster.

 

[RedRum OG]

we cant say what will push you over the edge, its all up to what your mental status is throughout the time youre on the vyvanse.

learn to deal with your attacks, stop them before they get bad, or just dont take amphetamines in the first place if youre prone to panic...

 

[Lightning-Nl]

Adderall and Vyvanse are both very well known for causing panic attacks - it's not uncommon.

I made a huge mistake with prescription stimulants when I first started taking them, the euphoria you get from them isn't supposed to part of your treatment. Just because the euphoria goes away doesn't mean the medication has stopped working. It's hard to learn, and it's hard to deal with, but you have to remember that these drugs aren't here to make you feel good - they're here to make you focus.

I'm not accusing you or anything, but I know that I kept bumping up my Adderall dose (against the advise/knowledge of my psychiatrist) because I was chasing the euphoria. I quickly learned that Adderall's euphoria doesn't comeback, nearly at all, when you bump up the dose and all it DOES do is give you horrible anxiety to the point of psychosis.

I got switched to Vyvanse and also quickly realized that Vyvanse is not better than Adderall when it comes to anxiety. In fact, I would say that Vyvanse causes more anxiety than Adderall. I believe the reason for this is the fact that Vyvanse's effects are very noticeable and profound WAAAAYYYY after you take it. I can't take Vyvanse after 9 AM because if I do, I can feel it well into the late hours of the night.

The fact that it lasts much longer than Adderall (coupled with the fact that 80% of my anxiety is at night) is why Vyvanse seems to give me more anxiety.

A good way to stop this is not increasing your dose. Stay at the least, but effective dose. In my experience, that's best when it comes to controlled substances.

 

[JT_5]

I believe the reason that Vyvanse has a tendency to cause a greater amount of anxiety because its so much longer acting than Adderall. All stimulants will make you feel anxious because they activate the sympathetic nervous system (AKA fight or flight) However, some more than others. Vyvanse is a very long acting drug because its metabolized differently than other CNS stimulants like D-amphetamine (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin) and D-methylphenidate (Focalin). A small dose of Adderall might be better with your anxiety because it does not last as long. The longer you have it active in your system the more uncomfortable your body will become and Vyvanse's tendency to cause a nasty rebound (comedown) effect which might greatly increase your chances of an anxiety attack. Hope this helps for future reference.