Vyvanse vs. Dexidrine Spansules and tics | ADHD Information

hi aj,    I've no experience with Dexidrine Spansules,  but I've used Vyvanse and I've had motor tics ever since I started on ADHD meds some years ago.  My tics involve large muscles and come around when I lay down to sleep, so they're only obvious to my wife and the cat (if either are still awake) when I come to bed!

As for your question of trying another med, I'd suggest you add Adderall XR to the list of ones to try (if your insurance will cover the exhorbitant cost of it these days).  In my experience, each and every one of these meds has a different effect--slight and in some cases rather radical--regarding both the intended benefits and the unintended side effects.   You are right to try to keep experimenting to find what works best--for both of you.

I'm glad to hear that your doctor is being cautious and wants to avoid exacerbating the tics, especially the vocal tics and the little motor tics like eye-blinking...from what I hear and have read, they can stick around  even after stopping all stimulant medication.
My son has been taking the methylphenidate family of meds for a few years now. Most recently, Ritalin LA as Concerta caused more rebound in the evenings. During the school year, he took two Ritalin LA 20 mg per/day. We have noticed that the Ritalin just wasn't working as well anymore. We tried 30 mg and maybe see a bit of a difference, but not much.

We recently tried Vyvanse 30 mg and saw a huge difference in his focus and activity level. It seemed to be working so well and lasted all day. We were very hopefull. He had been having some tics on the Ritalin LA (eye blinking) that would come and go and more tics would show up when his anxiety level was high. The eye blinking went away on the Vyvanse and for a few weeks he was tic free, but then the vocal tics started and just got worse where they were constant (throat clearing, coughing, spitting noises without really spitting). When we went back to the doctor, she said to stop the Vyvanse and go back to Ritalin LA. I was disappointed because he seemed so much better on Vyvanse. I asked about decreasing to 20 mg of Vyvanse and she said that most likely wouldn't end the tics.

So we went back to Ritalin LA. I definitely felt myself yelling at him more as his acitivity level went back up. The tics have slowed down, but some days they come back more, maybe not as bad as when on Vyvanse, but still there. I'm now wondering if the vocal tics while on Vyvanse were just a coincidense and not related to the med.

We also notice that his activity level goes up more around other kids that amp him up so I don't know if anxiety is a factor here as well. He takes 30 mg of Remeron and 750mg of Trileptal as well, but I'm thinking that he needs something more for anxiety.

In any case, what are people's experiences with Vyvanse and Dexidrine Spansules? Should I ask the doctor again about 20 mg of Vyvanse or maybe try a new med altogether? I hate that the summer is so short because it leaves little time for experimentation before school starts and then I really like to not mess with his meds.