Vyvanse = Adderall

[CaptainADHD]

More specifically, vyvanse is a component of what is in adderall.

People seem to be wondering a great deal about vyvanse, Shire's new ADHD med. I'd like to clear a few things up. I've been on adderall 18 months and vyvanse six months (currently back on adderall):

Adderall is 75% d-amphetamine. So is Vyvanse.

The other 25% of adderall is a few other mixes of amphetamines, which vyvanse does not contain.

The big thing with vyvanse is the release mechanism. Vyvanse is vyvanse when you put it in your mouth. Vyvanse is adderall after it gets digested. That means vyvanse won't work if you snort it or keep it under your tongue (two methods of abusing adderall).

The patent on Adderall XR is going to be running out in a year or two, which is why vyvanse just came out. Shire currently dominates the ADHD market - which is going to change if they can't get everyone on their new product line.

My THEOREY about vyvanse is that the extra step your body has to go through to absorb it means d-amphetamine blood concentrations are going to be EXTREMELY variable based on your diet and body chemistry. One day you might be getting 2% of what's in the pill, and get 25% the next (average is 4%, the rest comes out in urine).

For me personally, 70 mg Vyvanse was approximately equal to 40-50 mg Adderall XR. That might just be me though. Some people could find it weaker or stronger based on diet. Shire implies that 30 mg adderall = 70 mg vyvanse (those are the two maximum recommended doses specific for each in the prescribing information).

[JR1973]

Shire actually has numerous studies on how Vyvanse is very consistent vs Adderall XR. The last study I read showed that Vyvanse peaks between 3-5 hours and Adderall XR peaks around 6 (with scores measured anywhere from 3-12 hours).

The extra step (digestion) in the small intestine is what makes Vyvanse consistent. This bypasses gastric pH issues and since the body can only digest lysine at a certain rate this controls the level of dexedrine released into the blood. This also allows Vyvanse to do more with less. Being that Vyvanse is about 30% dexedrine this means that a 70mg Vyvanse capsule contains 21mg of dexedrine. Bypassing the gastric pH issues and controlling the absorption rate into the body is how it can do more with less. If someone takes 30mg of Adderall or 30mg of Dexedrine much of it will be effected by gastric pH (more acidity equals less being absorbed).

J

[Ruby85]

Shire actually has numerous studies on how Vyvanse is very consistent vs Adderall XR.

Are there any reliable studies that were NOT done by Shire? I wouldn't trust a Shire study of a Shire product. Seems like it could be biased.

[E4rolls]

Vyvanse is marketed to be longer lasting and superior to Adderall XR so I guess they will probably say anything to get our doctors onboard.

I don't like the idea of opening a capsule and messing with the contents so I can make it last longer throughout the day.
I just want to take one pill and have it cover me for a full 12 hours and I don't mean just having a trace amount of it's metabolites still in my system.
Vyvanse should be able to give me a sustained level of coverage for the full 12 hours but it does'nt seem to.

[Ruby85]

Vyvanse should be able to give me a sustained level of coverage for the full 12 hours but it does'nt seem to.

It doesn't do that for anyone. You know how these claims are; they always make medications seem so much better than they really are.

[willinabox]

anyone else have any opinions

[Amtram]

Hated Vyvanse. Hated it from dose number one. Made me significantly more hyper and anxious than Adderall. Upped my heart rate way more than Adderall. Put my focus into absolute, blinders on, pinpoint direction - but I didn't get to choose what to focus on, and I couldn't ignore what the Vyvanse had directed me to pay attention to. What they took out of Adderall to make Vyvanse "safer" is apparently the exact thing I needed to make Adderall such a fine medication for me. YMMV, but it won't get my personal endorsement.

[DisorganizdMind]

Vyvanse sucks. My own personal opinion. Take it or leave it. It didn't do jack for me except empty my wallet.

[Kimmy1]

Originally Posted by Ruby85

Are there any reliable studies that were NOT done by Shire? I wouldn't trust a Shire study of a Shire product. Seems like it could be biased.

Of course it's going to be biased! Anyone remember all the hype about Oxycontin? (Who could forget?)
Oxycontin was just a reformulation of an old ingredient so it could be patented. There was plenty of wining and dinning of the docs,lots of money was made. But in that particular case it blew up in the drug companies face when all was said and done.

[KronarTheBlack]

There is a high push by Shire to get doctors to start prescribing Vyvanse over adderall. I just got a free 28 day sample of Vyvnase off my ADHD specialist. Patented drugs = 10 times the profit of non patented drugs. Vyvnase is most likely just equal in effect to Adderal XR they just want to make more money off their new drug.

They are very clever the ADHD pharma companies. They know how to make money by raping the consumers.

[MotherADHD]

Thanks all, this is a great and information discussion. My son is on Vyvanse, not me, so I am limited on personal feedback. So far it seems to be working OK, the jury is still out as the effects seem to be changing over the 3 weeks he has been on the same dose, 30 mg. He did get tired for a couple days, now he seems ok. His behavior seems to be improving recently but I cannot tell if it is the drugs or other factors.

[80-Dee]

I haven't been able to find Adderall IR anywhere (I have the prescription for the IR to combine with my XR to help me at the end of the day).

I'm assuming the shortage has something to do with pushing people toward Vyvanse. So naturally, I'm curious about it. I'm actually curious about the digestion part because I have digestive issues and they seem to affect whether Adderall works - each day is different. This is all pretty new for me and I have had mostly positive changes due to Adderall. Taking 2 XR doses doesn't work for me so the XR + IR idea was something I was counting on.

Anyway, if anyone could explain more about digestion and these meds that would be great. I would be willing to share the specifics of what happens on my end but not sure if it is necessary or wanted

[Benji500]

I'm not really up to date on the adderall shortage as I have never been prescribed that medication. I was diagnosed with ADD 15 years ago (now of course "ADHD") and was prescribed dexedrine 10mg twice a day. I had great results on that medication and dosage for years. I quit taking that medication about 3 years ago and did alright off of it (easy job). After taking a new and more stable job I started seeing a new doctor that put me on Vyvanse. I about sh*t when I picked up the prescription and it was 170 bucks (insurance wont kick in for 4 more months). I've taken it for about a week now and find the results to be nearly the same as dexedrine. Why the big push for Vyvanse? The only difference I've read is that it lasts longer and is harder to abuse. I've never abused a medication and never had a problem taking 2 pills a day instead of just one. I have the philosophy...if it ain't broke don't fix it. I also find it disconcerning that this "push" is about a new patent and higher profits with a weak excuse for a few people abusing meds. Rather insulting I think.