<p>My son has been on medication for ADHD since elementary school with breaks here and there. He is beginning medical school in a month and after a year off of medication while not in school, he wants to go back on something. After being on Dexedrine for a long time, he switched in college to Strattera as he did not want to be on a stimulant anymore. Never loved Strattera but stayed on it while working on his Masters. Once his Masters was completed and he was working full time, he decided to not take any medication at all. While he was ok without medication, he was a bit bouncy and would flit from one thing to another. Now that it is time to study for hours at a time, he knows he needs to be back on medication. </p>
<p>Vyvanse was suggested by his doctor while my son was there today for his physical. They discussed my son’s concerns about being back on a stimulant, and it was decided that if he was just taking it for two years, he would be fine. I don’t know all the details of their conversation, but my son wants to give Vyvanse a try. He tried Adderall XR a few years ago and didn’t love it, but I don’t remember why. I suggested he go ahead and start the Vyvanse this week so he will know how it affects him before classes start. He likes the idea of a longer acting medications, which was a plus with this one.</p>
<p>I am interested to hear how others feel about the Vyvanse. Have you or your child tried it and what did you think?</p>
<p>My son tried it last year. I don’t know why but he preferred the Adderall XR. To be truthful my son hates them all. He goes through phases where he refuses to take anything. The med my son hated most was Strattera. My son’s favorite line is I am 18 and you can’t make me take it!</p>
<p>Don’t know if your son has prescription insurance but we found that Blue Cross did not want to pay for Vyvanse. They also would not pay for the Ritalin patch. Also with both the patch and Vyvanse I had a hard time finding a pharmacy with it in stock. It always had to ordered. Often taking over a week to get. So he needs to know he might not get it the day he wants it.</p>
<p>my daughter started med in 8th gr–strattera didn’t seem to work, adderal xr pretty good, but wore off and she did not want to take short acting in afternoon, I supported her choice. Switched to Vyvanse in her junior year, and did very well academically, able to focus, study, lasted longer. not jittery and didn’t have the afternoon mood and fatigue issue, but she said she felt a little blocked emotionally. She just turned 17 and not taking it over summer—she is happy and relaxed, sees medication as a helpful tool, but tough to know if she will stay on in college. She will find her way with what works for her…she now respects that med evens the playing field and helps her accomplish what shes capable of, proud of her acceptance of add and her belief that she is smart, capable and goal oriented. that is a blessing. will stay on top of info re vyvanse. had my daughter do an echocardiogram prior to starting adderall xr due to reports. challenging</p>
<p>"Adderall will become generic and cheap.That is why doctors are pushing it. "</p>
<p>Not the doctors…the drug reps…some are just their minions…local drug rep/shadow is always pushing it’s “smooth” effect. Among doctors, I think it’s felt this limits abuse potential. One does not “feel it”, but apparently still benefit, as measured by clinical rating scales. As of last week, no head to head studies ( comparing it to say, adderall) and I think the published studies were still limited to children, but I’m not sure since I stopped listening…I agree about waiting awhile, especially when the person who is taking it is not the one giving consent ( i.e. dependant minors.)</p>
<p>My son went from Daytrana to Vyvanse (after he stopped taking Daytrana because he didn’t like the way it made him feel). Doesn’t like Vyvanse either.
I had hoped that the med thing would give him the ability to create some routines and habits that could help him not need the meds. That is not the way it’s working out. He takes the Vyvanse on test days, not routinely. The doctor seems OK with that. It’s his body, his mind. I can’t force him to take the meds.</p>
<p>Both my boys have had heart issues (murmur detected only AFTER the stimulants, irregular heartbeat on EKG) with the meds, so I’m definitely not pushing this issue too hard. Both my boys are “gifted” and scattered. All did fine in high school without meds. My oldest fell apart in college, but with a reduced course load and extra support, is now doing well. </p>
<p>The med issue is complicated. I know that my Doc was big on the fact that Vyvanse can’t be abused (snorted). Frankly, knowing my son, that’s not a big selling point for me. I’d just love to find something that helps him focus without his feeling that life is no fun. So far, we haven’t had a lot of luck with that, and he is getting resistant to trying any more meds.</p>