Vyvanse

 

My son was prescribed Vyvanse when he was 4 years old.  Vyvanse was the first of the ADHD drugs that we tried.  We stuck with it for four months before I told the pediatrician it was definitely not going to work.  At first, he was just more emotional than normal…which was a lot.  He got overstimulated easier.  And it heightened his sensory defensiveness to the point that fight or flight kicked in and caused dangerous situations (running toward the street in a panic).

Purpose

Vyvanse is a stimulant medication.  In essence, it stimulates the brain and nervous system for the purpose of improving hyperactivity and impulse control in people with ADHD.

Pros:

• It did improve his hyperactivity
• He was less impulsive
• Price

Cons:

• Energy level reduced too dramatically.  He was like a zombie constantly in a zone.
• Can cause insomnia.  He already had sleep problems.  They got worse with this med.
• Blood pressure and heart rate have to be checked often due to possible serious side effects on the heart.
• Vyvanse is addictive and withdrawals can occur upon stopping the medication.
• Long-term use can slow the growth of a child.

 

Price

$25 after insurance.  This was a good price in comparison to other ADHD meds.  Prices start at $197.85 without insurance.

 

Overall Rating

2 on a scale of 1-5.

 

 

 

If you have any questions or would like to share your personal experience, please be sure to leave a comment below by clicking on the response link next to my name.  I welcome all feedback and will respond to each comment.