Adderall Vs Vyvanse: A Contentious Case for ADHD Treatment
When it comes to ADHD and certain sleep disorders, Adderall and Vyvanse are the most common medications prescribed. These fall in the category of stimulants. Stimulants are medications that charge up the brain cells and help in focusing. However, while these medications have worked wonders and brought about a sea change in the way mental health issues are treated, it is increasingly being recognized that these could also have side effects.
A stomach disorder or significant weight loss (while a worrying factor) is a lesser concern. The bigger concern sweeping across America today is the risk of dependency, and the rise of comorbid conditions like depression/anxiety, and addiction – all of which can be attributed to the overuse or misuse of Adderall and Vyvanse. As with any prescription drug, the psychological symptoms are harder to navigate compared to the physical symptoms.
To many of us in America today, who have loved ones with ADHD, there are plenty of answered questions related to the two common prescription medications – Adderall and Vyvanse. For example, many of us would like to know if Vyvanse and Adderall are the same. While much about these medications is still unknown, we will try to provide answers to all the questions as honestly as possible.
The difference between Adderall and Vyvanse
While ADHD’s impact on youngsters is well documented, its impact on adult lives is not that well known. With ADHD, a young adult leads a fragmented and often poor-quality life. They find it harder to adjust as they are hyperactive, sometimes aggressive, and generally lack the direction and focus necessary for success in college and work life. For people with ADHD, medications like Adderall and Vyvanse are extremely beneficial as not only do these provide a calming effect but also help teens and adults get a grip on the situation – whether it is favorable or not – by controlling the thoughts and the anxiety. However, long-term use can be counter-productive and lead to addiction issues.
Here’s a look at the two common stimulants and their benefits and side effects.
The Pros and Cons of Vyvanse
Vyvanse is primarily composed of a chemical known as lisdexamfetamine. It is used for the treatment of ADHD and eating disorders. Some of the possible side effects of drug use are irregular heartbeat, delirium, anxiety, and heart failure.
A question often asked is – does Vyvanse come up in a drug test? The answer is yes. It does come up in a drug test. However, if anyone is considering Vyvanse to gain a competitive edge before a critical exam, we’d advise them to refrain. The crash once the medication wears off can be exhausting. Painful. Also, frequent use to cope with stressful circumstances could result in dependency and addiction.
The Pros and Cons of Adderall
Like Vyvanse, Adderall is also used to enable a sense of calm. Adderall is a Central Nervous System Stimulant that helps a person concentrate by controlling racing thoughts. It is used to address issues related to hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and anxiety. It also finds use as a medicine for the treatment of sleep disorders like narcolepsy. There is another version of the stimulant that is primarily dextroamphetamine. It goes by the name s489. Comparing s489 30 mg vs Adderall is similar to comparing Adderall and Vyvnase. So here’s comparing the two.
Of the two, Adderall is more addictive as it contains two harmful amphetamine constituents – dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, which trigger an immediate reaction. Lisdexamfetamine in Vyvanse on the other hand takes time before it decomposes into dextroamphetamine. Hence the impact is slow. But that does not make it a better alternative to Adderall. The risks of addiction are high for both Adderall and
Statistics: Stimulant Misuse Remains a Concern
The latest report indicated that as of 2023, the percentage of 12th grade students that had tried Adderall within the past year was around 1.7 percent.” However, critics have denied that stimulant use was responsible for substance use in later life. However, from what we have observed, teens and young adults who are addicted to Adderall and Vyvanse gravitate towards more potent substance abuse – opioids and heroin in later life.
Causes and Risk Factors: What is Driving Kids off the Edge?
The chief cause of Adderall and Vyvanse’s abuse lies in the desire to excel without considering the means. Long-term use of the two medications also heightens the risks, therefore alternatives must be explored for controlling ADHD along with medications. Some of the common means for managing ADHD are lifestyle changes, medication, journaling, and therapy. We would also like to caution that both Adderall and Vyvanse are associated with common side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, IBS, etc. Further, even if it is used only as prescribed, one must be on guard as the probabilities or risks of dependency and addiction are quite high.
Signs and Symptoms of Abuse: Timely Detection Necessary!
Whether it is Adderall or Vyvanse, abuse is hard to detect because, in most instances, the youngsters using it are generally highly motivated and competitive individuals who simply want to be more attentive or focused.
However, once these drugs wind up in the system, they stop being the star performers and end up losing friends. Because they are ashamed of being dependent on a drug, they become secretive. Some run into financial troubles, others drop out or have difficulty coping with school or work schedules unless they have stimulants running in their veins.
So as a parent, here are signs you must watch out for. That is in case there is a child with ADHD. If your child has become disoriented of late or acts more impulsively and the prescriptions are insufficient then your kid or their sibling could be misusing the medication. The immediate sign that the teen or adult is misusing medication is weight loss. Other signs of misuse include IBS, constipation, headaches, seizures, lower back or side pain, etc.
Effect of Adderall and Vyvanse Abuse: Physical, Psychological, and Social Impact
Both Adderall and Vyvanse have a long-term impact on mental and physical health. These impact the heart, gut, and endocrine systems and result in severe cognitive impairment in case of prolonged use. These are also responsible for causing behavioral changes that impact the social and emotional well-being of the individual.
For example, one could become more anxiety-stricken, paranoid, and lose the ability to have a good time in case they have been using the drug longer than required. This could result in individuals losing the goodwill and support of family and friends.
Dating and sustaining relationships become tricky as nobody knows what to expect next from the individual. There could be legal and financial implications as well if the – if one takes to stealing or gambling or heroin abuse – all highly probable once the addiction goes out of hand.
Comorbid Conditions:
Whether it is Adderall or Vyvanse, both these drugs are responsible for addiction and dependency. These could also result in mental health such as paranoid behavior, mania, delirium, psychosis, etc. It is also seen that people who misuse Adderall end up abusing heroin later.
Adderall or Vyvanse Cash: Learning to Deal with it
It is never okay to withdraw from Adderall or Vyvanse cold turkey. As a withdrawal symptom is common in case one stops taking it. Even if one takes the medicine as per the doctor’s prescription, a withdrawal with symptoms such as sweating, irritability, anxiety, and heart tremors is likely. You could also fall into a depression.
Depending on the duration of use, the withdrawal symptoms would finally take time to pass out. Recovering from Adderall or Vyvanse addiction could be painful but it would be worth the effort. When one is free from the cycle of addiction, life will be so much better.
Challenges Ahead: Lifestyle Management and Therapy Necessary
We are aware of the challenges that individuals with ADHD and addiction face and have a comprehensive program for enabling recovery and living confidently. For more, you can connect with us today. We can help you find the best place suited for your recovery. Do not wait any more, reach out to thereahabsupport.com.
