Has anyone taken Vyvanse for ADHD?

[jennyyellowhat]

I've recently been diagnosed with ADHD and the doctor has recommended Vyvanse. It took me ages to actually decide to get/try for a ADHD diagnosis, but when I realised I could be treated for it and potentially make a positive impact on my slowly imploding life I decided to make the appointment.

Now I have been diagnosed I'm really scared how the treatment could affect me. There's been quite a long wait from my diagnosis to my treatment (and I'm still not due to start for about 4 weeks) and in that time I've been researching and making myself worry.

Would anyone be willing to share their experiences on it? Hopefully positive!

Did you start?

I'm due to start on it, almost exactly the same reasons as you.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria I've still not started. I was diagnosed via Psychiatry UK who have a long waiting list for titration and I think I still have a week or two to wait. Do you know when you are due to start?

Do you recommend Psychiatry UK? I am considering them. Could / would you recommend the particular doc you saw?

I'm waiting on a titration appointment too Jenny. Am trying to be patient!

Must admit, Channel I'm impressed by Psych-UK, who were recommended on a thread on here. I spoke to Dr Bindman who was very efficient and helpful.

I was sceptical about how well things could be done online, but, actually, if you've got the money to do it, I'd recommend it.

@channeltwo I would recommend them and my doctor was good, easy to talk to, didn't make me feel stupid etc. However they're so busy right now and have a long waiting list for medication. Personally I wish I had more help processing my diagnosis and have found this wait for titration very difficult, although they do offer an email support service which has been useful and I think I could have made more use of that.

If I'd known the waiting list was so long I'd have gone elsewhere, so I'd say to look at other services if you can, but if you don't mind I think it's a good service.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria patience and ADHD don't go hand in hand

I've just taken my first dose.

It took me a few days to get the prescription and I have drunk and eaten like a King all weekend in preparation for having no appetite and becoming a thin, organised person.

Am I a thin, organised person yet? Do I look different? It's been a whole hour already.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria hope it's all going well?!

I'm still waiting for titration, I've been on the list since 1st April and should have been seen by now. I'm chasing things up but seem to keep getting bumped, it's amazingly frustrating

Ok, this is WEIRD. I do feel a bit, erm, stimulated. I am aware of having a bit more clarity of thought - some thoughts for a work problem have just fallen into place.

I'd suggest not having a big coffee in the morning, forgetting to eat breakfast and bumping into your pal and having a sneaky costa coffee on the first day of taking a stimulant...

I feel a bit buzzy, to be honest, but that might be because I am impressionable. I defiantly am a bit twitchy - see the two coffees, honestly, don't do that.

I feel slightly sick and totally full, like after a binge full. I've eaten an apple and it's lunchtime.

I think it's having an effect, I've just cleaned the kitchen.

Dunno, we'll see if this lasts. So far, I've not written a book or sorted out my cupboards or managed to empty my in-tray, but, it has only been a morning of the medication so I'm being a bit impatient. I don't feel sick or have a headache.

I tell you what, though, I'll be gutted if this doesn't make a difference to me. I really want it to work and I really want to be more organised. I could do a lot of good stuff if I could do more than 80% of any given task...

My son takes this for ADHD, though he's a teenager not a grown woman! We were told that it's now the first-line treatment for adult ADHD. It is definitely needed for focus at school. he takes it in combination with a non-stimulant called Intuniv, which helps to ameliorate some of the side effects such as increased anxiety/appetite loss.
It appears to be more effective for him than Concerta, his previous medication.

im on it (elvanse - i think its the same thing)
I originally started on methyphenidate but didnt like how it made me felt and had tension headaches and felt a bit speedy, which is not what i want.
Then I went on elvanse, and I prefer it as it feels kind of gentler.

It hasnt changed my life as much as id hoped, but it definitely helps. I have had to titrate quite slowly though to avoid side effects, so despite being on it over 6 months im still only at 30mg.
Its helped with focus and task initiation. Its helped me sort things out that I havent been able to do. It helps me think straight and maintain a conversation. It allows me to watch a film.
My main problem with it, is the fact that it works really well IF I already feel ok. if i have slept ok etc.
If I havent slept well or im a bit ill then it can make me feel worse and all over the place, and yet sometimes, it makes it harder for me to sleep. Not always though. I have to make sure i take it quite early in the morning to avoid this, and if im not feeling that well, ill take a lower dose to avoid the jitters.

It hasnt made me thin, but it has meant that i dont feel the urge to snack all the time like I used to, but im fine to eat my normal meals.

I expected more from it unfortunately. I think I expected it to fix me, but maybe thats a bit of a tall order. Im definitely a bit more organised and a bit less depressed though

I always get that speedy feeling and do loads of cleaning when i increase the dose, and that lasts a couple of days. It doesnt stay like that. Make the most of it though, but it should feel gentler over next few days

I have a 15 year old who is being assessed for ADHD, the cahms team said that medication can help but it often causes anxiety and suicidal thoughts so it might be best not to put him on it. Has anyone any experience of that? Its very worrying to hear because he is already self harming (cutting) as it is.

I've been on it for a while. When I first started taking it I could see better, but unfortunately that didn't last. It did turn off the running monologue in my head. It feels like it isn't doing anything at all, until I forget to take it.

@SnipSnipMrBurgess

I have a 15 year old who is being assessed for ADHD, the cahms team said that medication can help but it often causes anxiety and suicidal thoughts so it might be best not to put him on it. Has anyone any experience of that? Its very worrying to hear because he is already self harming (cutting) as it is.

Try a non stimulant like Intuniv, which doesn't cause those side effects. You have to become an expert in this field yourself though, as professionals are sadly often lacking in most up to date research.

It definitely can increase anxiety, but at the same time, it makes me feel more able to tackle the things im anxious about.
Sometimes it is prescribed with a beta blocker to negate some of the anxiety, while still retaining the mental benefit of the drug

Following with interest - I'm on the waiting list for titration with Psychiatry-UK as well. Diagnosed beginning of April so hoping it won't be too much longer.

I agree that it's poor that there's no follow up once you've been diagnosed with them and I certainly could have used a bit of help dealing with my feelings over the past few months, in particular trying to make peace with my lost potential and what my life might have been like if I'd known when I was younger. I feel very sad for my younger self.

Place marking. Diagnosed a month ago waiting for meds. Definitely agree with sadness and pity for my younger self and how hard I have worked just to get where I am - and the money spent on therapy omg!!

I took my first dose at 7am, it's after 9pm and I still feel a bit buzzy. Got a sort of tingly mouth and have had some very mild nausea. Ate my dinner, but only because it was made for me - and afterwards I felt uncomfortably stuffed...

...a totally new experience for me.

Am encouraged, I think.

Thanks for all the replies and hugs to everyone waiting for meds after being diagnosed, it's such a difficult time.

@Branleuse that's really interesting. I'm trying to keep my expectations low but at the same time I can't help but hope I'm going to become a really productive person. I'm mostly worried about anxiety and mood swings as side effects, I don't want either to get worse.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria how are things a few days in?

I'm so pee'd off with Psychiatry UK now. When I had my diagnosis they said the wait time was 11 - 12 weeks, now that's passed I'm being told it's actually 16 - 18 weeks and it's really thrown me. I feel totally lost and I have no idea where to turn for help as I didn't go through my GP. I really wish they provided more help for this.

It's been interesting, Jenny

I am definitely more focussed. I've got some work stuff done that I've been procrastinating on for a year while. Just did it, it all fell into place and was simple, while it's felt really overwhelming before now. That might be psychological, dunno.

The wearing off bit has been brutal. I felt really drunk, horrible headache, can't think straight, very irritable, horrible. It only lasted a couple of hours and is wearing off now.

But, my BP is high. So I'm not sure if they'll let me continue, I am hoping I can and just take a higher dose of my BP meds, I'm on the lowest dose.

I've lost weight, not much, but my binge eating has evaporated.

Mixed picture. Definitely feel a bit better, but it's not a revelation. I think I am more clear headed and productive, but that might be suggestibility? I'm a bit sceptical that it can work this quickly! Eating is much better, which is amazing. Side effects improving and manageable. BP bit of a worry for long term.

I'm sorry you're still waiting. 18 weeks doesn't seem reasonable.

Does it have to be a nurse that does the titration? My psychiatrist is doing mine - which means I'm paying more, but I haven't had to wait. She didn't offer me a nurse to do it, I assume because of the delays?

Meds cost me 97 quid for the 28 days, plus 130 quid for the appointment. But, it's worth it to know if they work, I think.

It's expensive, but, waiting is wasteful because I'm not productive at work!

I'm still waiting. I'm so disappointed by how long it is taking especially when I was advised not to go on ADs and see how my adhd medication worked first. Without wanting to seem too melodramatic, I really feel like my life has fallen apart since covid hit and I've lost all direction, it's very difficult. I'd say I don't know how I've coped but with hindsight actually it's very obvious that I haven't. I've continued to mask and hide my feelings and no one other than my partner knows about this diagnosis and even he doesn't know the full extent of my depression and self loathing.

I did think about emailing them again and asking if I could see the psychiatrist who diagnosed me but I keep chickening out. One of my most problematic ADHD traits is RSD and I really can't handle them fobbing me off again, it's easier just to have low expectations.

I just hope that when I am actually able to try the medication it actually works.

Gosh, sorry if this is all too much. I was going to delete but kind of feel like I want to let it all out. Hugs xx

@jennyyellowhat

I'm still waiting. I'm so disappointed by how long it is taking especially when I was advised not to go on ADs and see how my adhd medication worked first. Without wanting to seem too melodramatic, I really feel like my life has fallen apart since covid hit and I've lost all direction, it's very difficult. I'd say I don't know how I've coped but with hindsight actually it's very obvious that I haven't. I've continued to mask and hide my feelings and no one other than my partner knows about this diagnosis and even he doesn't know the full extent of my depression and self loathing.

I did think about emailing them again and asking if I could see the psychiatrist who diagnosed me but I keep chickening out. One of my most problematic ADHD traits is RSD and I really can't handle them fobbing me off again, it's easier just to have low expectations.

I just hope that when I am actually able to try the medication it actually works.

Gosh, sorry if this is all too much. I was going to delete but kind of feel like I want to let it all out. Hugs xx

Email your psychiatrist and say exactly what you have written here

@SheldontheWonderSchlong

Following with interest - I'm on the waiting list for titration with Psychiatry-UK as well. Diagnosed beginning of April so hoping it won't be too much longer.

I agree that it's poor that there's no follow up once you've been diagnosed with them and I certainly could have used a bit of help dealing with my feelings over the past few months, in particular trying to make peace with my lost potential and what my life might have been like if I'd known when I was younger. I feel very sad for my younger self.

I was on the list with PUK since March and got on titration back end of June.

I'm on Ritalin but I'm as dizzy as ever! May have to try Vyvsnse