Vyvanse Qs

i've been reading about vyvanse and from what i see, its a pro-drug that is metabolized making it difficult to abuse

is this medicine safe from overdosing? or can you still overdose?
impossible to abuse due to the way its metabolized?

what are you guys opinion on this drug

from what i've read maybe my pdoc would consider this medication for me?
or will my past drug/alcohol abuse bar me from this medicine as well? (although im compliant with my medications and dont abuse my Rx's)

im giving strattera a fair shot.... but i dont think its going to do the trick...
i was already tired before starting it... thats why i think a stimulant would be so well for me due to my constant fatigue, i could use a kick in the arse in the mornings

thanks for reading my rambles

Well no you can't OD by toxicity. OD by stimulant is the worst way to go unless you're like me and get sedated in methylphenidate.

There is an abuse potential by taking a lot at once. You just can't snort it though.

I asked for Vyvanse today because it lasts longer but I'm in the mental hospital and he said to wait a bit to control the apparent pschosis I'm having before we talk about stimulants. I'm just going to go ahead and ask for Adderall XR due to the 25% l-amphetamine.

i dont wanna over dose, was just curious if that was possible ... this is an interesting drug, my pdoc doesnt want to give me stimulants...he put me on strattera

i dont expect much out of it but i am hoping that if i give this medicine a fair shot he will let me give a stimulant a shot, i would much rather have the Adderall as i know that works

Yes, you can still overdose if you take more than prescribed orally. You're correct, it's a prodrug and is activated by the digestive process. It theoretically has less abuse potential because if it's broken or crushed it can't become activated. A lot of docs I know who are concerned about abuse, but have patients who require stimulants use this. Have you tried wellbutrin or any of the TCAs? They're effective (not for everyone) and some of them are fairly stimulating.

It looks like it's a schedule II substance, so you might have a more difficult time with someone willing to prescribe it/fill it. I also think it's a bit odd for a doctor to prescribe stimulants with a diagnosis of bipolar I, but whatever works I guess.

I was thinking of trying this one; as my doctor suggested it, but I was disappointed to see it's a schedule II. I wouldn't have guessed. Schedule II drugs are such a pain to deal with. Maybe give the Strattera a chance.

I don't know about the overdosing, but I read it's metabolized by the gastrointestinal tract instead of kidneys/liver like most drugs seem to be.

Do you think your fatigue might be related to the medications you take?

i've always delt with fatigue, i just used to sleep less... now i sleep more and still tired (14+ hours)
it started before i was medicated

i've tried wellbutrin, not sure about the TCAs, trazodone is tca right?
i didnt get anything from wellbutrin besides smoking less cigs

my bipolar is undercontrol and im stable for several months now (yay) so im trying to get ADHD undercontrol now

thanks for the information, vyvanse is interesting drug im going to talk to my case manager about it at my next appointment

Desipramine, Imipramine, Doxepine, Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, clomipramine, amoxapine and protriptyline are the TCAs. Trazodone inhibits serotonin reuptake, antagonizes serotonin 5HT2A/C and alpha-adrenergic receptors. Similar to an SSRI, but a little different. Vyvanse is an really interesting drug Have you tried Strattera? Provigil? I hope you get things under control soon.

wow, thats a list of TCAs

when i told my doctor "i think im having trouble with adhd"
he said well first line of treatment are stimulants but there is alot of controversy in treating adults, he kept saying controversy and then mentioned that i try Strattera

im on 40mg now on my titration up to 80mg, i dont feel anything from it yet... im still spacing out, unorganized, zoning out in the middle of a sentence, etc etc

i've heard of provigil but after my pdoc mentioned strattera i figured he was locked on his decision and wanted me to try strattera first... im just worried if i dont respond to the strattera he might not DX me with adhd...
im hoping that if the strattera fails i'll be able to talk him into a stimulant, if he's uneasy about the standard stimulants then im hoping he will let me try vyvanse..

something that i've noticed while paying attention to these symptoms, i have more trouble in the mornings, i think i read somewhere that when you feel the symptoms the most will vary the prescription chosen?
i need something to help me get kickstarted in the mornings and carry me through the day...

i appreciate your responses thank you

I should have seen you were already on Strattera. Sorry. I also have a hard time getting moving in the am, I'm really slow to get going. I also recently switched to vyvanse from Adderall XR. When I switched from Adderall, I definitely noticed it takes a lot longer to kick in, like probably 2-3 hrs for me. I've kind of adjusted around this and take it now like the second I wake up and wake up earlier in order to give it time to kick in before I need to be productive. I still think it's a great drug and I'm really pleased with it, just wanted to mention that so you don't expect an immediate result.
If the Strattera hasn't done ANYTHING by now, it's pretty unlikely it will. I'd ask about the vyvanse. It's indicated to treat a condition you have, you aren't doing anything wrong. The worst he can say is "no", right?

thanks
my thoughts exactly, i honestly cant tell what i feel from it, besides my appetite has diminished

ill give the strattera another week and if it still isnt doing anything then its definitely time to switch, like you said all he can say is yes or no

im going to make an appointment for next week probably and i'll go in to talk about these things with case manager

im just worried that he wont want to prescribe it because the way he acted when i mentioned adhd symptoms
my bipolar is under control so isn't it time to do something about my "air headedness"?

Personally, I think you're being completely reasonable. You aren't drug seeking. You're giving non stimulants a valid try. It sounds like you just want to feel better and get your conditions optimally treated so you can function to the best of your abilities. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Don't worry about what your doc thinks. People always forget this, but remember he works for you. Not that he should do whatever you say or anything like that, but he is obligated to treat you to the best of his abilities. And that includes everything going on within his specialty.

I just recently presented my psychiatrist the idea that I think I have ADHD and he thinks it may be the case, but ruled out all stimulants right off the bat because of the bipolar. I've seen a lot of people with bipolar and adhd on this forum that are on a stimulant, so I wonder why my psychiatrist is so wary of them. I'm already on wellbutrin and that's not helping my symptoms unless you count the fact that I was able to find something I lost today (my glasses). I lose things all the time, but I've been without my glasses for like a month. It seems like if something was short acting enough and still allowed me to sleep I would be in the clear. Is Vyvanse fairly short acting? Which stimulants are?

my pdoc may be avoiding stimulants due to bipolar also, but i feel like my bipolar is under control and need a stimulant to kick me into gear!
i lose everything so i have 1 place i put everything... my computer desk, its a mess

i think vyvanse is like a long acting slow release adderall
with sleeping you will just have to see how it effects you... personally im at the point where im tired of sleeping

im on 60mg of strattera now, the only thing i feel is like... its slowed my thoughts down, havent really noticed any effects on cognitive abilities and its making me more tired than usual..

i wonder if i could stay on strattera and add a stimulant for morning time?