Adderall Side Effects

30mg Vyvanse

Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a stimulant designed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with reduced potential for abuse, side effects, and addiction compared to similar drugs like Adderall and Ritalin. It is available in 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 mg capsules. Vyvanse is a prodrug that is only activated once metabolized. The prodrug properties of Vyvanse is what gives its lower addiction, side effect, and abuse risks. It also gives Vyvanse a longer duration time than other drugs in its class.

Vyvanse is also sometimes prescribed for depression, schizophrenia, chronic sleepiness, and eating disorders.

If you are taking Vyvanse and are seeing Vyvanse side effects, take into consideration your current treatment duration. Most people lose Vyvanse side effects within a few months of taking the drug. This is because, once your body gets used to the drug and once your doctor gets you on the right dosage, the side effects will go away.

However, if you are experiencing severe side effects or severe dysfunction because of Vyvanse side effects, consult your doctor. This might be a sign that you are on the wrong dosage or pill.

Everyone reacts differently to drugs because of sex, metabolism, age, weight, and genetics. Take this into consideration when you are evaluating Vyvanse side effects.

Common Vyvanse Side Effects

Vyvanse can cause dry mouth. Drink lots of water.

Vyvanse has the common amphetamine side effects that you would see in Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and other drugs of this class. However, since Vyvanse is a prodrug, the effects on a person can be different from that of other drugs in its class. Also, Vyvanse was made so that there would be less “peaks” when taking the pill compared to other drugs: this makes Vyvanse less habit forming as well as decreases recreational use.

• General Discomfort: Some individuals experience unease when on Vyvanse. This might or might not go away if they switch to a different drug.
• Erection Difficulties: Vyvanse, like other stimulants, increase blood circulation in all areas of the body except for the gentiles. Erections are easier to obtain once the effects of Vyvanse wears off. Taking something like Viagra to solve this problem does not help.
• Dizziness: Vyvanse can cause dizziness because of increased eye movements. Without you knowing it, your eyes are always darting back and forth to collect new visual stimulus, Vyvanse increases these eye twitches.
• Mild Restlessness: Some Vyvanse users experience restlessness while taking the pill: not being able to stand or sit still, always needing something to do.
• Nausea: Like all stimulants, Vyvanse increases the rate of digestion. When one’s digestive system is working overtime, one can feel it as nausea. A common remedy to this is to eat before taking Vyvanse. This will give your digestive system something to work on.
• Dry Mouth: Drink plenty of water while on Vyvanse or any other stimulant. Vyvanse increases the rate that your body processes water, therefore you will urinate more as well as need to drink more. There are reports of people who have gotten kidney stones after not drinking enough water on stimulants over a long term period.
• Tight Jaw/Teeth Grinding: Like other stimulants, Vyvanse can cause tight jaw or teeth grinding. This might be a sign that your body is still getting used to your dosage. If this Vyvanse side effect is taking a tole on your life, consult your doctor. He or she might change the dosage or prescription.
• Anxiety: If you have an anxiety disorder, tell your doctor this before taking Vyvanse, Vyvanse can worsen your symptoms. Vyvanse causes anxiety in individuals without an anxiety disorder as well.
• Diarrhea: Stimulants can cause diarrhea  because it increases the digestive speed of your digestive system. If your digestive system works too fast, the lower intestines might not have enough time to absorb all the water and this can result in diarrhea.
• Vomiting: Some individuals feel so much nausea from Vyvanse side effects that they vomit.
• Headaches: Since stimulants increase blood flow, it also increases blood flow and capillarity size in the brain. One of the leading theories to migraines and headaches is that the blood vessels in the brain expand, causing pressure on the brain cells.
• Insomnia: This is a very common side effect of Vyvanse and other stimulants. An easy fix for this is to just take Vyvanse early in the day and not near bed time. As your body gets used to Vyvanse, this symptom might go away. Others have noted that taking things like Melatonin or Valerian Root helps them sleep better.
• Weight Loss: Stimulants like Vyvanse decreases appetite as well as increases metabolism. This is a one-two punch that can result in weight loss. Vyvanse is also sometimes used to treat binge eating because of these properties.
• Euphoria: A common side effect of stimulants is euphoria. However, since Vyvanse is a prodrug, the euphoria would be less intense than Adderall, Ritalin, or other drugs in its class. This helps to make Vyvanse less of a recreational drug.
• Sweating: Vyvanse can increase sweating since it raises internal body temperatures.
• Irritability: Irritability is common in stimulants and is not a severe symptom unless it gets out of proportion.
• Taste Changes: Stimulants have been known to change a person’s pallet. Some people no longer like foods that they used to while on Vyvanse. Vyvanse can also give you a bad taste in your mouth while you are under its effects.
• Chest Pains: Some individuals feel chest paints while on stimulants.
• Cold Hands and/or Feet: Some individuals have cold hands/feet while on Vyvanse. This is most noted in the winter.
• Rapid Heartbeat: This is caused by Vyvanse increasing CNS and PNS activity, which also increases heart rate.

Severe Vyvanse Side Effects

Vyvanse can be dangerious.

The following are severe Vyvanse side effects that, if you have them, requires medical attention.

• Severe Aggression: Patients sometimes feel sudden mood swings, fits of rage, and flashes of anger while on Vyvanse.
• Muscle Weakness: Some patients feel tired in their core and limbs while on Vyvanse.
• Short Breath: Since Vyvanse increases PNS activity, some individuals experience increase breathing rate as well as heart rate. The result is an inability to take slow, deep breaths.
• Fever: Since stimulants increase internal body temperature, some individuals feel fevers from Vyvanse.
• Severe Headaches: Users who experience severe headaches that causes them to be unable to function should seek medical attention.
• Fainting: Stop taking Vyvanse if you are fainting. This is a sign that your pulse is too high.
• Severe Chest Pains: Stop taking Vyvanse if you are experiencing severe chest pains. This might be a sign of a heart condition.
• Blurred Vision: Vyvanse can cause dilated pupils, which results in blurred vision.
• Abnormal Heart Beat: Vyvanse can cause an abnormal heart beat in some patients.
• Seizures: Stop taking Vyvanse if you are getting seizures. Seizures occur when there are too many stimulus in the brain and not enough inhibition.
• Tics: Vyvanse can worsen Turret’s syndrome.
•  Hallucinations: Do not take Vyvanse if you are seeing, hearing, feeling hallucinations. Vyvanse can worsen psychosis.
• Muscle Tremors: These occur when your PNS sends input to your muscles to keep up the muscle tone.
• Sexual Changes: Some patients experience an over active libido, a lowered libido, or even erectile difficulties on Vyvanse. Talk to your doctor about this as it is a severe change in lifestyle.
• Fast Heartbeat: Vyvanse can cause an overly fast heartbeat as well as high blood pressure.
• Moodiness: Vyvanse can cause sudden changes in mood.

Share Your Story

Are you experiencing any of the above symptoms? Are you having symptoms that are not listed above? Share your Vyvanse side effect story with us in the comment section below.