Mental Health Vyvanse questions

[grizzlycan2011]

Hey everyone,

Recovering alcoholic here been sober since February. I've been prescribed 300 mg wellbutrin and currently trying 1 week of 50mg then 60mg and 70mg of vyvanse. Probably shouldn't have but I felt no different with 70mg of vyvanse so decided to try 140ng and felt real motivated and in a fairly good mood. Is that how it's supposed to make you feel or is it just a result of taking so much.

 

[swisscurrie]

Hi

140mg is over twice the highest prescribed dosage which is a overdose. A dose that hugh will make you feel great for a day but just know that as you feel good now your dopamine neurons are being fried off. Dexamphetamine (actuve ingredient) can be neurotoxicant (causes permanent brain damage just like using Meth which has a similar mechanism). Taking vyvanse in that dose regularly will certainly fry off a large amount of your dopamine neurons (if it hasnt already) through dopaminergic neurotoxicity.

If you dont want to suffer permanent depression and brain damage I suggest you use no more than 30mg/day and under no circumstabces more than 70mg/day (is likely already unsafe at that dose with regular use). I also suggest you use if no kore than teice a week and use other methods than abusing Speed to deal any your mental health issues.

Also note that wellbutrin is also dopaminergic and unlike definite confirmed neurotoxicity in humans there is only preclinal (animal studies) indicating some neurotoxic potential. Combining high doses of wellbutrin with amphetamine will increase the likelihood of toxicity. If you truly suffer from depression it may be Ok to take Weolbutrin for some time if you need it to function. Rememher that though that you will have a greater dopamine deficieny and be worse off after stopping Wellbutrin than you were before you ever started it. Its a stimulant aswell, but technically an antidepressant, only a mild stimulant and not nearly as toxic to the brain as vyvanse and other amphetamines.

Moderators will likely either edit or delete my post as they often do but keep them in mind I have done thousands of hours of research, am very well informed and have your health in mind. I have suffered permanent damage from legal stimulant use
in dosages similar to those you describe and I would not wish you to suffer the same fate.

Unlike most of the users who post here under the mental health section, the moderators here on mental health are mostly pro pharma and all psychiatric drugs so I suggest you take what they say with a grain of salt.

All the best

I just wasted 15 minutes of my life. If you know your unscientific claims will be censored, why post them?

 

[Mmp85]

I'm a recovering alcoholic and I've taken VyVanse although I'm currently on adderal.
Vyvanse is a better choice for addicts because it's harder to abuse in the sense it isn't something you can crush and snort which is how most people abuse amphetamine prescriptions. But obviously you can still take too much. 140 is definitely too much.
If it's not helping at it's recommended dose you should talk to your doctor about changing meds. But because you have a history of addiction even if it was alcohol a doctor will likely be picky about what they give you. There are non-stimulant meds like Strattera, I tried it when I was first diagnosed ADD because it was specifically for adult ADD. It didn't do anything for me and I switched to adderal and then VyVanse when it was brand new because it's considered to have less side effects like loss of appetite. When I was in rehab for alcohol I had to be taken off the VyVanse because it was considered a narcotic. They gave me Strattera again during the 28 days I was there which still did nothing for my concentration. After rehab my psychiatrist was fine with giving me the VyVanse back because I had no history of abusing it. Eventually I went back to adderal because I could control the doses better during the day because I could get a higher count of lower milligram pills and if I didn't need a full dose I could just take one pill whereas on days I worked longer and needed to stay focused longer I could take a full dose.
You mentioned your mood, is that what you're worried about with the VyVanse? Because an elevated mood is a side effect and not a negative one but not the purpose of the medication. If your mood is a problem it's the Wellbutrin that needs to be adjusted or changed.
Medication can be a touchy subject when you're in recovery for alcohol so make sure you're being honest with your doctor. If you can find a psychiatrist that specializes in patients with addiction do it. They're better at finding meds that work for you without being a trigger.
I'm bipolar and rely on a lot of meds to keep me stable and that's part of what keeps me sober, having my mental health straight is the first priority for me because without that I can't maintain my sobriety. But you have to use common sense about anything you take that can be mind altering.
Congrats on your sobriety.

 

[grizzlycan2011]

Yeah I appreciate it, and I am seeing a psychiatrist. I was on wellbutrin and told her I was getting cravings and asked for that medicine that makes you ill if you drink. She suggested vyvanse. I was asking about vyvanse because I don't know what to look for I didn't even know I had add. But I found myself in a good mood and pretty motivated. Not euphoria at all, I know what euphoria is and I didn't know if better mood and motivation. was the intended result or if that was a side effect, I've also increased my tobacco intake by double what I used to and I'm finding myself looking at porn too.

 

[Mmp85]

Oh yeah I forget the name of that drug, there's one that makes you sick and one that makes alcohol lose it's intoxicating effect.
Never tried either myself as I would benefit more from a drug that doesn't let me walk into bars.

 

[rainyday107]

I'm not a doctor but IME, Vyvanse doesn't make you ill if you drink. It's not a good idea to drink, as you have to stay hydrated and alcohol dehydrates you. Mainly IME, I never felt intoxicated from alcohol while on Vyvanse. It's not like Antabuse, for example.

Stick with your prescribed dosage. The initial, mild euphoria is short-lived, but you will feel that nice pick me up when you take it. Takes a good hour or two to kick in.

You can really focus and get stuff done but it does NOT motivate you. That is where you decide you're going to get caught up with a school or work projects, etc. you can easily blow hours on the internet (porn is common and increased smoking).

So if you're not using it recreationally, keep track of your time. Get up and get going on that task that needs done. That is you motivating yourself and Vyvanse will keep you focused and efficient.

Stay hydrated and eat something every couple of hours. A yogurt and a banana. Some protein. Even a spoonful of peanut butter. Drink water. Lots.

I no longer take Vyvanse as it was too expensive for me and only lasted 6-8 hours, not 12. Just swallow the pill. No other ROA.

Hope this helps. It shouldn't make you crave alcohol but I don't know why your doctor thinks otherwise. Maybe I'm wrong. Just don't redose. You gotta get sleep. Food, a shower and a benzo (I'm prescribed Klonopin) is good for the comedown, which is more minimal on Vyvanse for most. Benzos probably not good for you. It's not critical to have....basically you can mentally learn to chill without a drug when vyvanse is wearing off but you're not sleeping yet. Some people like a darkened room, headphones with good music, Netflix, sex, etc.

Hope this isn't against the rules....ADDforums dot com is a good resource. There is a subforum for Vyvanse and also one for addiction. One of the mods is a recovered alcoholic. I know your main focus is sobriety---you can keep it up!

I have a rule where if I run out early, tough. I never buy off the street and I'll never try meth. I learned my lesson on redosing and follow my rx instructions. Don't chase the dragon, he's gone. But it's still working, it's just subtle. Tolerance takes quite awhile to develop of taken as directed, IMO.

Take care.