I have been reading through the forum and overall everyone's response to Vyvanse has been positive. To start off, I am not here to worry anyone about their own health, or to blame the medication for my issues. I am just hoping that someone might have a similar experience or some knowledge to offer.

I have been on Vyvanse since late July and over the past 2 months my health has gone downhill drastically. First of all, I am 24 years old and female. When I began Vyvanse I weighed just over 200 lbs and was around 5'5". My ring size was a 9 and my shoe size a 9.5. These all sound like silly things to include, but hear me out. It is now January and I weigh just over 140 lbs. My ring size is a 7 and shoes 8-8.5. I tried eating as much as I could on the medication, but I had constant difficulty keeping food down. I started taking vitamins and drinking a lot of natural fruit juice (i.e. no added sugars), but still everything dropped. Also, I am now 5'3.5"!

I have never had perfect circulation, but I am now in the latter stage of Reynaud's Syndrome which causes my hands and feet to turn purple/blue. I used to only smoke a few cigarettes per day, but immediately after beginning the Vyvanse I was up to a pack. My digestive system has severe problems, ranging from 2 week constipation (not even stool softeners or colon cleansers worked!) to constantly running to the bathroom. I have had numerous kidney infections/UTIs, and the area of my abdomen where my intestines are is constantly tender. Also, one day it was like the medication wasn't working. I attribute it to my intestine issues, as I know it is a prodrug, but I really have no idea.

I have been to doctors and have had countless tests run, all negative. (They have tested everything, including Lupus) Last week they took me off my 70 mg of Vyvanse and put me on heart meds and pain killers for the circulation issues and pain associated. I have done nothing but cry and been an absolute basketcase. They took me off the Vyvanse because it is so new and the full side effects are not known, but I have not found one person who has had anything similar from it!! The doctor prescribed me Trazodone today because since I began the Vyvanse I have had intense insomnia and only sleep a few hours per night. I have not yet taken it, as I am hoping to find a better solution.

I don't blame the medication and am fighting to be back on SOME FORM of ADD meds, as I feel like everything has crumbled. Because all these things with my health are so random, I was wondering if anyone experienced any of the issues I have. I am desperate for answers and want to be healthy again! I have always been active, do not eat junk food, fast food of any kind, and am extremely concerned about my health.

Also, I don't think they are going to put me back on the Vyvanse, so does anyone have any suggestions? I don't feel like the 70 mg was enough because I am up at 5:30 to be to work by 7:00, and I work late quite often. I can't afford to keep crashing at like 6ish. I would appreciate any suggestions or advice anyone has to offer - thank you!

I've been on it since September (70mg), and I know I've lost weight...I'd say around 50lbs(U don't hear me complaining about that)...never thought about my shoe size or height.
I can relate to the stomach stuff, and crying, and smoking and insomnia. There were times I didn't sleep for 3-4 days...(doctor put me on Depakote with the vyvanse...he thinks it's going to even things out)
As far as everything else...I'm not sure what to tell you. I hope they find something that makes you feel better.

Oh - and the crashing...for me I normally just grab a caffinated diet pepsi or something(cause i normally drink caffine free) and it'll get me through another 4 hours sometimes more.

Vyvnase was the worst for me when it came to crashing.
That is why I changed to Concerta. Focalin is pretty good to.

Vyvnase and Concerta are two different drugs. Vyvnase gave me a euphoric highish feeling. Concerta calms me and down and allows me to think.
Although Vyvnase and Concerta are different families of drugs.
If you are looking for something close to Vyvnase then you would want to try Adderall or something similar. Vyvnase is the strongest amphetamine salt out there right now that I am aware of.

Sorry to hear about your issues...

So strange. I'm on 70mg Vyvanse. I am very pleased with the improvements in focus and ability to tune out distractions. What's weird though is I've been putting on weight. Not a lot, but when I originally started with Ritalin I dropped about 10 pounds in a month. Since I've been on Vyvanse (four months) I'm above where I started prior to Ritalin.. and struggle to not put on any more poundage.....

My doc says it's because I'm able to sit still long enough to eat. Funny, but my focus when I'm eating really is on the food so guess I have to take the good with the bad.

Anyway, I'm cutting junk food out so that seems to be helping. Who knows.. maybe because I'm so much less anxious now I don't have that nervous energy burning a ton of calories! I'm a Vyvanse fan, and feel fortunate to have doctors who are so supportive.

Good luck with your situation RedJunipers. Hope you find the solution soon. Stay positive and persistent!! FYI... Trazadone's a pretty good sleep med.

one of the big side effects of dexedrine (vyvanse) is cold extremities due to vaso-constriction (alpha-2 stimulation).

I take lisinopril (ACE inhibitor) for high blood pressure which is a vaso-dialator. When I first started taking it my whole body unwound.

Vyvanse also lasts a very long time which makes it hard to eat. Taking an IR version may be better. The non stimulant add drug straterra might be worth looking at too. I took welbutrin and it helped some for add + is used to stop smoking.

I take low dose Aspirin for heart/circulation health. Avoid caffeine its a big time vaso-constricter.

low impact exercise like walking is good.

BobC

Damn. sorry to hear about your health problems. With your GI tract issues coming into play Vyvanse or any other oral ADD med might not be good right now.

Have you been tested for Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease?

As for another ADD med option, look into Daytrana. Since it's a patch the entire process bypasses your digestive process so it might be easier to handle.

http://www.askdrjones.com/2006/11/06/how-to-use-the-daytrana-patch/

Good Luck and hang in there!

J