Should I switch to a non-stimulant ADHD med?

[Emarly17]

Sounds weird but when I take my 70 mg Vyvance I have tics almost? I have a few physical things I do off my meds when I am anxious or in situations that I feel stuck in, they calm me down (I don’t know what to call them). I’ll rub my finger nails across each other over and over, or I’ll pull at my ear lobes, but they are basically comfort/coping mechanisms.

When I take Vyvanse it helps me focus so much and helps me stop procrastinating, it’s very helpful. But I’ve noticed that I’m constantly having those little tics, it’s almost uncomfortable to stop, and it’s all of the time therefore uncomfortable. I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because the mg is too high, but all of the other mg’s are too low and don’t help my mind slow down at all. Maybe I need an ADHD med that isn’t a stimulant but will that slow me down physically? The way my ADHD feels is that my brain is usually moving a million miles an hour. I think so much that my doctor first thought I had a personality disorder because I described it as multiple thoughts layering on top of each other because they’re going so fast all of the time. But since I’m thinking so much I can never talk comfortably and I tend to keep to myself because I am constantly thinking about everything and also the many insecurities I have (this is off my ADHD meds btw lol).

Anyway, my concern is that a med that isn’t a stimulant will slow me down physically instead of mentally (somehow the stimulant mentally slows me down). I don’t know what to do. (If I wrote way too much I am so sorry this is my first time posting on here!)

[quietlylost]

Sounds like a great question to ask your provider. You have a good sense of what your concerns are, so I'd just make sure to bring them in with you. Maybe note when the symptoms happen and when they go away. Like, do the tics stop once the Vyvanse is out of your system? Do they go away if you miss a dose?

There's a chance it may be another medication or condition too. Working with your provider closely is the best way to find out. Sometimes they may choose to treat symptoms with an additional medication rather than switching, but it definitely doesn't hurt to ask. And, if you do switch or try something different and it doesn't work, you can always switch back since you know the Vyvanse helps you in other ways.

Whatever happens, good luck!

[Wildbrain]

When I take 30mg I already feel like it’s a lot for my body. My heart beats very strong. I can’t imagine what it would be like with 70mg... but I would not be surprised if I developed ticks...

Have you talked with your doc about this? Asking around here, googling and talking to your doc are the best advice I can give.

My personal impression of Vyvance after 4 months is that 30 mg is already a lot. And I don’t like the side effects and addictive nature. I’m finding with daily exercise and fresh air I already do a lot better than without. And I don’t have to worry about what the drug is doing with my body. I understand everyone is different so your best bet is to keep asking around.