Vyvanse - BE CAREFULL!!!

Vyvanse! 

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder seems to be a diagnosis that is becoming somewhat similar to the diagnosis of the common cold.  If you have a number of symptoms, then you have ADD!  Doctors are more apt to prescribe a medication rather than get to the real cause of your problem. 

About 2 years ago, I went to the neurologist to find out why I was having so much difficulty concentrating, staying on task, and remaining motivated.  I’m a single mother so I thought that maybe I was overwhelmed with work, school, and the kids with their activities. 

After about 2 minutes with the doctor, he told me that he was going to prescribe me a new ADD medication labeled “Vyvanse”.  He told me this before he even told me that I may have ADD in the first place.  So, because I desperately needed something to help me get through the day, and studying in the evening I thought I’d give it a shot. 

I was prescribed 30mg, which is to be taken once a day.  I started the dose on a Monday, and would continue taking it during the week with weekends off.

Vyvanse works really well after the first couple of days. I noticed a change in my ability to concentrate, get things done, and feel motivated.   But, at the same time I became less social and wanted to just sit and get my work done.  There is a period of about 1 to 3 hours after taking it where you feel euphoria.  I felt more talkative, energetic, happy to be around others….then that fades away and you just want to sit quietly and work alone.  It even got to the point where I felt like I couldn’t relay messages to people. My speech became strained for some reason; getting a thought expressed verbally becomes especially challenging.

I had so much trouble sleeping at night, so I had to switch to taking it every other day rather than daily. The first week was full of sleepless nights.  By the weekend, I was completely exhausted!  I gave the medication a break for a few days…..then BAM!  I felt extreme exhaustion, irritability, sensitivity, depression, stomach upset, hot flashes…and the list can go on and on! 

I felt as though I was having withdrawal symptoms – BUT WAIT!  I WAS having withdrawal symptoms! 

That following Monday, I took Vyvanse early in the morning, hoping for a better night’s rest. Everything went fine until around 5pm.  I started to feel apathetic, tired, irritable, and sick to my stomach.  I was snapping at my kids for asking the simplest questions.  I couldn’t stand listening to my daughter talk, which she does every evening to update me about her day.  I’m usually very excited and interested in listening to her talk about her day! 

I wanted to know what the heck was going on with me.  I felt very disappointed with the negative side effects of this medication because it really does help me concentrate better.  I decided to do a little internet research to find out exactly what was causing this extreme transition between feeling good, and feeling plain ole’ terrible!

I am going to try my best to explain this in simple language. Well, what I learned about Vyvanse is that it causes the dopamine levels in your brain to spike/increase.  But, instead of the dopamine passing between receptors, it’s being recycled so it keeps building up over time.  Those poor receptors aren’t able to do their job so they give up and wither away.  When you stop taking the medication, you not only have less dopamine in your system, but you also have less receptor to uptake the dopamine!

According to the knowledge spread across the internet, dopamine is essential to brain function in terms of concentration, motivation, excitement, and even movement.  Too much or too little dopamine in the system can cause very noticeable differences in the way we behave. 

My symptoms of low dopamine following just 1 day of stopping the medication cause symptoms that were very similar to menopause! 

What’s worse, the cause of most of our ADD symptoms derives from not having enough dopamine in our system, and so the purpose of prescribing and taking ADD medications in the first place.  There are other, safer means of leveling the amount of dopamine that is in the system.  They may not have the immediate affect that medications have, but they are by far safer and longer lasting.  I don’t know about you, but I like having a balanced mood!  I don’t enjoy going from feeling extremely happy and ready to take on the world, to feeling like the world is a terrible place!

Here is some information from the Integrative Psychiatry website which discusses ways to help maintain normal dopamine level with alternative uses. 

Dopamine : Natural ways to Increase Dopamine Levels

Dopamine is an excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter, depending on the dopamine receptor it binds to. It is derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Dopamine is the precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are all catecholamines. The function of dopamine is diverse but plays a large role in the pleasure/reward pathway (addiction and thrills), memory, and motor control. Dopamine, like norepinephrine and epinephrine, is stored in vesicles in the axon terminal.

Symptoms of Dopamine Deficiency

Low dopamine levels can cause depression, loss of motor control, loss of satisfaction, addictions, cravings, compulsions, low sex drive, poor attention and focus. When dopamine levels are elevated symptoms may manifest in the form of anxiety, paranoia, or hyperactivity.

• Do you often feel depressed, flat, bored, and apathetic?
• Are you low on physical or mental energy? Do you feel tired a lot; have to push yourself to exercise?
• Is your drive, enthusiasm, and motivation on the low side?
• Do you have difficulty focusing or concentrating?
• Are you easily chilled? Do you have cold hands or feet?
• Do you tend to put on weight too easily?
• Do you feel the need to get more alert and motivated by consuming a lot of coffee or other "uppers" like sugar, diet soda, ephedra, or cocaine?

If you answered yes to any of the above you could have low dopmine levels.

What causes low dopamine levels?

Dopamine levels are depleted by stress, certain antidepressants, drug use, poor nutrition, and poor sleep. Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar all seem to decrease dopamine activity in the brain.

Foods that increase Dopamine

Food sources of dopamine increasing tyrosine include almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.

Dopamine is easily oxidized. Foods that are rich in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables may help protect dopamine-using neurons from free radical damage. Many healthcare professionals recommend supplementing with vitamins C, vitamin E, and other antioxidants.

Foods such as sugar, saturated fats, cholesterol, and refined foods interfere with proper brain function and can cause low dopamine. Consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol should also be reduced because they can clog the arteries to the brain, heart, and other organs.

Caffeine must also be avoided by persons with depression. Caffeine is a stimulant which initially speeds up neurotransmission, raises the amount of serotonin, and temporarily elevates mood.

Increase dopamine production through the use of dopamine precursors.

Dopamine precursors are specific amino acids that our brains utilize to manufacture dopamine. Neurotransmitters are frequently not supplied in great enough levels by our modern diet or in the way our brain best utilizes them. As stress further depletes supplies it is difficult, if not impossible, for the brain to restore necessary amounts to proper levels. Dopamine supplements are required to increase dopamine and other neurotransmitter supplies. Dopamine supplements increase dopamine naturally with little to no side effects.

Knowing and understanding your medications and how they work can be an essential tool in identifying your symptoms and know what to do to fix them.  We live in a medicated world people!  Empower yourselves with knowledge so that you don’t suffer, and the people around you don’t suffer!  Vyvanse is a very helpful medication, but it can also become a deadly one if the side effects are not monitored. 

Stay safe everyone!  PEACE!

UPDATE: 02-01-2014

In my personal opinion, and as a person who was prescribed this medication; I do not feel it is a safe medication for overall well being.  It is a short-term medication which has the ability to assist you in meeting your short-term goals in focus and concentration, but I believe it degrades your natural ability to focus over time.  Currently, I am unable to read as quickly as I was able to before this medication, and I also have short term memory problems.  I thought I needed this medication before I started it, but now I know that I should have taken more natural approaches - example:  DISCIPLINE and HARD WORK.  This med has changed my chemistry for the worst, and I will never recommend this medication unless you have no other means. 

UPDATE: 09/24/2014

I have been doing some research on my recently diagnosed condition (fibromyalgia) and came across some information about ADRENAL FATIGUE.  
After doing some basic research concerning adrenal fatigue, I have learned that the use of Vyvanse and other amphetamine type meds WILL increase your risk of adrenal fatigue.  It takes 6 to 12 months to recover from this.