More Severe Symptoms of Vyvanse Withdrawals
- Complications can arise such as psychosis, extreme agitation, or other severe psychiatric symptoms requiring hospitalization for management
- Infants born to mothers taking stimulants can experience feeding difficulties, extreme drowsiness, irritability, and other symptoms similar to those in older populations.
When to Consider Coming Off Vyvanse
It has become common practice (25-70%) for doctors to suggest taking occasional “drug holidays” meaning to abstain from stimulant ADHD drugs for a period of time. This may be recommended to get disrupted sleep patterns back on track or to revive the appetite if it has become abnormally suppressed. Or, to see if side effects will go away, or if symptoms will further deteriorate.11
In children, ADHD drugs suppress normal growth and development, and taking medication “breaks” is routinely advised to mitigate such damage.
For an adult who has been diagnosed with a binge eating disorder or ADHD, the most common reasons for considering stopping Vyvanse include tolerance (the drug’s effects have waned) and the emergence of adverse effects that have developed. As much as a person may want to quit, however, suddenly stopping a drug like Vyvanse may create a new set of problems, such as the Vyvanse withdrawals described above. These occur after dependence has developed.
Additionally, if the root cause(s) for one’s original symptoms were never addressed, it is likely that these will re-emerge — a perfect storm that needs careful management to steer through successfully.
What Happens if You Stop Taking Vyvanse Suddenly?
Vyvanse withdrawals as described above will likely develop within a day or two. For many, these may be mild enough to tolerate, especially if the dose has remained low, and the length of time taking the drug was relatively short.
But because many doctors prescribe Vyvanse for months and years, at maximum dosages, sudden withdrawal can be disastrous. A person who has taken Vyvanse for a long time may already be experiencing cardiovascular issues, tissues breaking down or ulcerating, Raynaud’s disease (discoloration and reduced circulation in the fingers and lower limbs), injured neuronal function, mania, headaches, anxiety, or other impairments.1,14
Especially important, anyone with already impaired health should seek medical assistance for a gentle Vyvanse withdrawal program to avoid compounding such health problems. The good news is that once properly managed Vyvanse withdrawal has been completed, symptoms such as Raynaud’s phenomenon were found to completely disappear in a number of published studies.12
Other Treatments for ADHD, Eating Disorders
Can other treatments help with symptoms of ADHD besides taking amphetamines? Thankfully, yes there are many such drug-free approaches.
Many published studies found physical exercise and psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioral counseling and mindfulness-based practices had enormous success in treating adults diagnosed with ADHD. That is why these treatments are so essential to blend into a Vyvanse withdrawal program.13,14
Orthomolecular principles applied to correct nutrition and supplementation have also been shown effective, according to Nutrients Journal published studies. Of note, improving gut (microbiome) health, supplementing with omega-3 oils, and correcting vitamin and mineral deficiencies have all proven highly beneficial in reducing ADHD symptoms in adults. Avoiding sugars and processed foods from the diet has also proven effective.15
Binge eating disorders are complex in nature, and often have many contributing factors that may be rooted in culture, psychological traumas and stress, allergies, microbiome disorders, and many others specific to an individual. Since Vyvanse kills the appetite, this may be a reason why the drug was FDA-approved for treatment. There are many other options for non-pharmacological treatment for BED. Once safe Vyvanse withdrawal has been achieved, there is much room for other approaches to address root causes, instead of using drugs as a shortcut type of treatment.
Vyvanse Withdrawal Inpatient at Alternative to Meds Center
Alternative to Meds Center uses a very wide-ranging holistic approach to determining root causes and selecting logical, science-based treatments. Lab testing can provide both you and your caregivers vital information about the areas of health that are needing correction such as important nutritional deficiencies, and the presence of neurotoxins that may have been overlooked, yet hijacked one’s health over a lifetime. Neurotoxin removal, orthomolecular diet planning, mindfulness-based therapies, and a wealth of adjunctive treatments provide the means to successful recovery and comfortable Vyvanse withdrawal in a peaceful and welcoming residential facility. Comfort therapies including therapeutic massage, IV treatments, Equine therapy, Art therapy, trainer-led physical exercise, neurotoxin cleansing, and more, are delivered by licensed, caring therapists who are passionate about assisting our clients with the highest level of expertise and attentive care.
For More Information
It may be easier than you think to enroll in a far-reaching, holistic Vyvanse withdrawal program at Alternative to Meds. We are fully licensed and most major insurance coverage is available for inpatient services. Please take time to review the information available on the site to learn more about our holistic, medically monitored treatment programs. Vyvanse withdrawal done well could pave the way for you to create a new and more vibrant era in your life. Call us for more information on the benefits that await you at Alternative to Meds Center.
Dopamine, the “reward chemical” or the “pleasure chemical,” also performs an extended range of other functions. And, a clear understanding of what those functions are can help to inform us why there can be such a range of Vyvanse withdrawals when the drug is stopped.
Extreme fatigue
