Vyvanse - first day for DS, looking for experience with it

[ktgrok]

He's starting at a low dose (30 mg) and we will build up as needed, if needed. He took the first dose about an hour ago, with breakfast. (Protein bar and some dry cereal). What should we expect as far as how long it takes to kick in? How long until you see a difference in behavior/ability to focus? At what point would you say a dose increase is needed? We are to check in with the doctor monthly, by phone, and if we need to change dosage will do that. Or if everything is fine will see him again in 3 months, but he said don't hesitate to come in sooner. That 3 months was the longest to go, and only if everything is working great. 

[Verity]

My oldest son (Aspie 17) has been taking Vyvanse for the past 4 years. He initially started with too high of a dose (40mg) and had a bad reaction, after seeing a psychiatrist she reduced his dosage to 20mg and he stayed on that for about 3 years. He was recently moved up to 30mg because he was having more trouble with attention and focus. The vyvanse started working very quickly. Watch for depression, mania (too high of a dosage), also possible hives or rash..that would be a sure sign that you should stop the meds immediately.

Hope it works for you! 

[ktgrok]

So, mini update. First, he seems more pleasant. Like, even my husband commented on it. Less short tempered. Which is weird, but yay! Also, he told me last night that instead of less of an appetite, he's hungry for the first time he can ever remember. (He's always been thin). My best guess is that he was hungry before, but too distracted to notice? And now he can pay attention to his body's signals because he isn't overwhelmed by everything else? Either way, he's eating more, which is good. Or, maybe the eating more is why he is more pleasant? 

 

As for schoolwork, Friday was the first day and he got some work done, but not a ton. But he was more pleasant at least. Doctor said 3-4 days for maximum effect. So we will see what monday brings. Yesterday was his birthday, so didn't make him do any work, and today I'll just have him do some reading. Hopefully that goes well. 

 

Thanks for all the support here and via PM. 

[Ottakee]

Glad you are seeing positives.

[Lady Florida.]

So, mini update. First, he seems more pleasant. Like, even my husband commented on it. Less short tempered. Which is weird, but yay! Also, he told me last night that instead of less of an appetite, he's hungry for the first time he can ever remember. (He's always been thin). My best guess is that he was hungry before, but too distracted to notice? And now he can pay attention to his body's signals because he isn't overwhelmed by everything else? Either way, he's eating more, which is good. Or, maybe the eating more is why he is more pleasant? 

 

As for schoolwork, Friday was the first day and he got some work done, but not a ton. But he was more pleasant at least. Doctor said 3-4 days for maximum effect. So we will see what monday brings. Yesterday was his birthday, so didn't make him do any work, and today I'll just have him do some reading. Hopefully that goes well. 

 

Thanks for all the support here and via PM. 

 

I'm glad you are seeing positives, and hope your ds has noticed them too. Vyvanse didn't work for ds but it works for others. As to the bolded that's true. Many kids with ADHD will have daytime bathroom accidents later than their peers for that very reason. Being distracted, or hyperfocusing on something causes them to ignore their body's signals, including hunger. 

 

It's not going to work miracles. He needs to know that he still has to make the decisions to do the right thing (including get his school work done), but the medicine helps him focus enough to actually make decisions. 

[Tap]

Glad it is going well so far.

 

 

DD17 and Ds21 both use Vyvanse for ADHD.  They find it really helps them to stay focused and to remember easier.  

 

Little things that aren't school related like, when dd17 was cleaning her room.  She was going downstairs and she will be able to stop, look around her room and remember to carry down the dirty glass, take her garbage can with her, drop a towel off in the basket on the way and return an item to my room....all in one trip.  Normally those 4 tasks would require 4 different trips, due to planning and forgetting that they could all be done in one trek,  She can now sit and study for longer than an hour at a time and get productive work done.  

 

DS21 does well with it too.  It helps him stay focused, but also able to sit at a desk for longer.  He is one of those people who are always in motion, pacing around a room, or bouncing his leg.  

 

They both lose their appetite on it, but at night when that effect wears off, they say they are instantly starving. They both say they can take it in the morning and throughout the day they know they are hungry, but they just don't have the urge or desire to eat.  They say there is a disconnect between the feeling of knowing your body is asking for food (hunger) and your brains desire to eat.  The both try to force themselves to eat at least something throughout the day.  DD17 will make sure to eat at least a banana or a couple of chicken strips for lunch (public high school) because food that is only mildly appealing off of meds (cafeteria food) doesn't look appealing at all when on Vyvanse.  They both say food loses some pleasure while on it, so they eat more for nutrition sake than desire. 

 

For them, they have to take it before 8am if they want to go to bed by 12am.  DS21 absolutely has to have 10-20 minutes of physical activity or it can affect his entire night of sleep. DD17 is active due to walking around school and cheer practice, if not, she has the same problem. She finds that melatonin still helps her sleep if she needs it. 

 

For dd17, it is working the best after about 2 hours. Her first classes are her hardest classes so I wake her an hour early and give it to her with a glass of chocolate milk. She drinks a bit of the milk and takes her med, going back to sleep. This method really helps her get up and going in the morning.  When she gets up an hour later, the meds are already starting to work and she is up and going.  By the time she is at school an hour later, they are at their 2-3hr peak and she can jump right into Chemistry without a struggle.   By taking it earlier, she also has less issues with sleep at night. 

 

 

 

DD9 takes it for ADD. She is destructive and aggressive so her ADD looks different than just distraction.  She doesn't lose herr appetite with it at all. The biggest difference we see with her, is that she can formulate thoughts and articulate them better on the meds.  She can keep a story in order and see connections to events that she couldn't before.  

 

 

All 3 of my kids take 60mg.  It is just a coincidence that they all ended up at the same dose. I see patients on all different doses.