Experiences with afternoon booster

[AniSk]

Looking for people’s experiences using an afternoon booster for vyvanse (or other med). I take 50mg vyvanse, usually around 7am. Works pretty well from late morning to around 2-3pm then slowly seems to wear off. I’m ok at work if I’m alone in my office but if I have a late client or evaluation (I’m a therapist for early childhood disabilities) it definitely becomes harder to multitask and follow up with paperwork. By the time I get home and have to deal with dinner, kids, cleaning the kitchen, getting myself and kids settled for bed, etc., I’m pretty much running on empty. Sometimes coffee helps but only if I drink enough to mess up my sleep. I talked to my psy dr about an afternoon booster and he agreed to give me Rx for 10mg of ir adderall. He was a bit hesitant about this though and told me to only use it a few nights a week, if I need to for work. I mentioned that it’s hard to come home and clean up after dinner/ wash the dishes but he said something like- “don’t take it just to get the dishes done” … anyway I did try first 5 and the 7.5mg and the 7.5 is really helpful. Allows me To finish up work and then have an easier time sticking to a routine once I get home. I’m wondering if it really is that bad to take the second dose every day, or at least every weekday. I’m wondering if the Adderall might actually work better for me then the Vyvanse or if it’s just more noticeable right now because it’s such a contrast between how I usually feel in the evenings. Anyway, just looking for some perspective from people who might have had similar experience. Thanks!

[Hominid711]

I'm on 70mg Elvanse which keeps me going for 12-14h

[tinyturnip in reply to Hominid711]

Elvanse and Vyvanse are the same drug, so I'm not sure how this info may be helpful. Everyone will react differently to medications.

[Slmndrs]

I take 18mg extended release ritalin (generic Concerta) in the morning and 5mg immediate release ritalin in the afternoon. Adding the afternoon dose helped me a lot.

My doctor was concerned it would interfere with my sleep - sleep is an ongoing issue of mine as well. But I've found it the opposite. It helps me get done what I need to to not feel anxious avoid impulsive eating and other 'decisions' that end up with me going to bed later, and makes it easier for me to start getting ready for bed when I intend to.

I am interested in trying Vyvanse when it goes generic, but I do think it's possible that Vyvanse *is* a good drug for you *and* an additional booster is also helpful - which might also apply if you took adderall in the mornings.

I wonder if your doctor should try living in a home where evening chores are consistently not done and see how they like it.

(I did try adderall for a bit and I didn't find it any better or worse for me than the ritalin. I know for some people the particular drug makes a big difference, but there is no way to know for you except to try it).

[AniSk in reply to Slmndrs]

“I wonder if your doctor should try living in a home where evening chores are consistently not done and see how they like it.”

Yeah, seriously- the adhd absolutely effects my whole family when I can’t stay focused enough to stick to an evening routine.

I actually think a low dose Add when I wake, then Vyv, late morning, then Add late afternoon would probably work for me but not sure if dr will agree. Vyvanse is the first stimulant I’ve tried- I work for a hospital so if I get the Rx from their hospital, my insurance will cover and the cost is reasonable.

Do you take the afternoon dose every day? Mu dr. really discouraged me from doing this- I’ve heard mixed opinions on this, some say you can avoid building a tolerance if you take days off- others say that if the dose works for you then you can stay on it regularly. 🤷‍♀️

[Slmndrs in reply to AniSk]

I try to take the afternoon dose everyday. Sometimes I forget (which I’m sure is ADHD related).

When I was having more trouble sleeping, my doctor suggested trying breaks from the stimulants, but for me it didn’t really make a difference.

I should say that I also take bupropion, initially for depression. I suspect it was part of the reason I was able to function adequately for so long, and my ADHD took a long time to diagnose. Again, it varies. I have read that some people eye ADHD do get meaningful benefit from bupropion and some get none at all. I think I saw recently that women may be more likely to benefit.

I suspect that hormonal changes played a part in really needing med changes, and impact my response to both bupropion and stimulants. It feels like a constant rebalancing act.

If you are stuck with this doctor, one idea would be to keep a log for a few weeks about how the untreated ADHD in the evening affects your life as a whole. They sound like the kind of person who doesn’t take house/caregiving work very seriously (ugh). So if you can give “evidence” about how not being able to do house stuff in the evening affects your work life (causes you to run late in the morning? Miss out on replying to emails?) and your children (less healthy meals, less supportive family time, less help with homework, etc) that may help him rationalize to himself letting you actually get the treatment that you need.

Good luck!!

[AniSk in reply to Slmndrs]

Thank you- great idea about keeping a log! If I can manage to do so under medicated lol

[Hominid711]

I read somewhere you can take Elvanse/Vyvanse in the morning and add a short acting stimulant in the afternoon.

[Hominid711]

@turnip: just thinking if she can take a larger dose in the morning - obviously unless she gets intolerable side effects - there may still be more of it around in the afternoon looking at how pharmacokinetics works. And unlikely her prescriber will resist. But equally good to try longacting V. in the morning, shortacting afternoon. Or the other way round.

[AniSk in reply to Hominid711]

I did try 60mg but found the higher dose didn’t work that much better and made me more anxious- wheras the adderall around 3pm actually relaxes me and helps with focus later in the evening.

[Hominid711]

@AniSk: Just read your original post again. I'm not sure why your doctor seemed reluctant to prescribe the afternoon booster. I don't think there is any evidence of greater abuse. Is he/she an ADHD specialist?

[AniSk in reply to Hominid711]

Not specifically- I went to him in the past for depression and anxiety and he was definitely helpful in that respect. I’ve been trying to do my own research to figure out what the problems would be with a daily booster dose, but it seems that there’s not much out there in terms of actual studies. And I’ve heard mixed opinions on using a regular daily dose of stimulants vs. taking less on weekends or evenings when demands are lower (it seems to reduce side effects including effects in sleep and appetite and also to avoid tolerance)

[Poppy234]

My daughter switched from 50mg Elvanse to 2x30mg a day one taken in the morning and one around lunchtime. She finds it much better and will not take one tablet now. She will even open and split in half her old 50s if she runs out. There is research on Additude if I remember correctly which recommends split doses. She would highly recommend it.

[Chefgmony2]

I was diagnosed with ADHD back in August and I was so glad I got professionally diagnosed by a specialist. I was going through so much, the confussion, mood swings , panic attacks and short term memory loss. my doctor gave me Adderall XR and buspirone and my life has gotten much better. I don't want to try anything else. Talk to your doctor and give these meds a try. It couldn't hurt and always go with God. Txt me anytime I'm here for you!

[AniSk]

I’m glad you found something that works for you! I think the adderall IR booster is pretty effective for me along with the vyvanse in am. I may ask about trying the adderall XR in place of the vyvanse at some point though. I don’t know if this is just the contrast to how I was feeling without any booster, but I think that I feel more relaxed, less distracted by my own thoughts after I take the adderall

[Blakewintergreen]

I had the exact same issue, I was given a 15mg Adderall salt tablet but with the shortage, I can't find or get the Adderall anywhere now. I'm thinking about asking for Ritalin to see how that will work for my afternoon crash.