Vyvanse V Adderall | ADHD Information

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Sorry new to this forum, I am 43 and my doctor put me on concerta for a couple years and it made me tired and really didn't do anything for me. I went to doctors and he changed meds to vyvanse 50. I can actually focus at work and feel so much more organized still get alittle tired later in the afternoon but feel this is a much better med. The only problem is it costs me month after insurance. Is adderall the same thing just more dosage per day? Any information would be helpful. Well I'm no expert and my only experience is using Adderall, both XR and regular.  My understanding is that Vyvanse is a different configuation of the same active ingredient that's in Adderall, only it requires your stomach (digestive acids, I assume) to convert Vyvanse into the available form that works on your brain function.  If Vyvanse is working for you but for the expense of it, if it were me I would definately try Adderall XR if it is less expensive than Vyvanse.  Personally, I find a substantial difference between the effectiveness of Adderall XR and generic Adderall (regular release)--I much prefer the effect of the XR, not just the longer duration, but also the overall effect.

I posted this question on another board but no one has answered.  I am looking for someone who has switched from Adderall to Vyvanse or has been taking vyvanse for several months. 

My ex switched from XR to vyvanse.  I am wondering this could explain his complete lack of emotion but my understanding is that Vyvanse is NOT an anti-depresssant.  I have heard people talk about taking anti-depressants, for example a friend almost cheated on her husband and let her marriage fail because she just didn't care while she was on an anti-depressant.  Could Vyvanse have the same side effect?  He definetly had emotions while on adderall (I believe he was taking 40mg).  Please help!

At least for myself, and granted, everyone has different experiences,
there was a HUGE difference. I had initial success with Vyvanse, but just
switched back to Adderall XR. Vyvanse was good about calming me
initially, but as I continued taking it it lost effectiveness very quickly, left
me feeling totally depressed, sick to my stomach nearly everymorning
and I felt like I had no motivation to do anything. Even getting out olf
bed became a struggle. I had less side effects with the XR, but it did
affect my appetite at first (this went away though) Vyvanse left me feeling
like a zombie, I never felt as many of the side effects while I was on XR.
Whichever way you go, I hope everything works out for you.I actually want to say that Adderall cost the same as vyvanse, if not more. I have been prescribed both, and found they cost around the same. I have insurance and the adderall is around 30 bucks for the xr's and the vyvase I believe was the same. They are made by the same people and in face, vyvase is suppose to be the "new adderall" so if it works, do it. You may want to ask your dr to double the amount of pills he writes for you because no matter how many he gives you, 30 or 60, it is still the same price. I perfer Adderall Xr over Vyvance. Plain adderall was 50 for me Xr is 150. However, I will pay the difference to escape the side effects that vyvance gave me. Good Luckmacadamianut.... was your "plain adderall" the real McCoy, or generic?  the price you quote sounds like the generic... I ask 'cause the name brand plain adderall cost qoted to me is outa sight--more expensive than even the XR! 

hey brunettnstl,

I come from a family of very emotionally intelligent women, so I think I understand your question. When I started taking Adderall XR, my family kept saying how great it was that now i 'actually thought about things', I guess what they meant is a was more... introspective? I was very in tune with my emotions and trying to understand them, in my family it is also alot about understanding other people, which sort of ends up being a quest to label and critcze the men in my family. I was always sort of resent full of there "compliment" because I don't think being so in touch with your emotions is all that great. But today is my second day trying the Vyvanse and I am starting to remember how I used to feel. I am not so caught up thinking philsophically, or getting all hung up on emotions. Unfortunately, having ADD makes you 'impulsive' about you're emotions. If you're ex is like me, he might have outbursts and just go off when something upsets him.

Personally, I'm kinda liking not having all the overwhelming emotion that I had on the Adderrall, and I am feeling much more like my normal self (before any medication). I don't know if you knew you're ex before he started taking the Adderrall, but maybe the Vyvanse is actually making him feel more 'normal'. Maybe my family (who is all on anti-depressants) could relate to me better when I was on Adderall, but I wish they could just except me for the 'less emotional' person that I am, instead of raining on my ADD parade.--- just a thought

mari and songbird.... regarding med cost (co-pay), check out if your insurance company offers the deal where you are able to get a 90 day supply for one month's co-pay.  I didn't think it possible because of the stimulant/controlled substance restrictions, but I checked by calling my insuror and it is possible and that's how I do it now...whoopie! save bucks every three months on the XR and on the regular adderall co-pays!

mari123

Here is some information about vyvanse.

"It is a prodrug, which means that it must be orally ingested to activate its main ingredient, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (the same active ingredient in Adderall). Once it passes through the liver, a protein chain is taken off the medication and it becomes an active amphetamine. Therefore, the abuse potential for Vyvanse is much lower than most ADD/ADHD drugs.

Vyvanse is similar to Adderall; its active ingredient is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. It provides consistent ADD/ADHD symptom control for up to 12 hours. Vyvanse is a capsule that can be swallowed whole or broken up and mixed with water, ice cream, applesauce, or yogurt (for kids who can’t swallow)."

My son has been taking it since August of last year. It is long lasting and I haven't noticed any rebound effects. He eats better and sleep better than he did when he was on Adderall XR.

As for cost, my insurance just raised my co-pay from .00 to .00 a month. My pediatrician has told me that they are not allowed to prescribe it (Tri Care), too expensive. I get it from his psychiatrist.

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