withdrawal symptoms?

[Spacehead]

I went off low dose Vyvanse two weeks ago. 20 mg in the morning and 10 in the afternoon. I tapered off per my doctors instructions. I was mostly ok for a few days, but then started having cravings, super tired and irritable. Does this sound like withdrawal symptoms? I’ve been having them for about a week and a half.

[Gettingittogether]

I don't know if withdrawal is the right word. but as Researcher said, stimulants can suppress appetite and help us focus.

Feeling more appetite and struggling to focus isn't withdrawal in my view--but you may mean something different.

It's just that you're not having the help of the medication--if that makes sense. Now, maybe this is what you mean. Some of these meds do give people energy and if you go off of them, you realize you're more tired than you thought, that your sleep is worse than you thought and so on. I am not being critical here, but going off the med is showing you where you are with non-med lifestyle stuff.

Give yourself time to transition. I would say focus on good sleep and if you at all can, exercise. Exercise for some people is like an ADHD med. But start slow if you haven't been doing it. You may need more sleep or some naps until your body gets balanced without the med.

[STEM_Dad]

When I was prescribed Adderall XR, I experienced irritability almost every day when it wore off in the evening. The irritability was mild, but similar to when I'd used to be short on sleep so I was drinking twice as much coffee as usual, and then the caffeine would wear off.

The question is, was the irritability my normal state at that time, or a result of stimulant withdrawal? I was dealing with stress at the time (it was the middle of the pandemic, and I was changing jobs). It's hard to say... maybe one, the other, or both.

It slightly suppressed my appetite, so that I didn't snack and I could get by with eating a little less. So, when I went off of it, by eating habits returned to my normal pre-adderall amounts. I think that I was irritable foot a few days.

I didn't notice a change in energy levels, but I was on a low dose of Adderall XR (only 10mg).

-----

When I stopped taking Adderall, I started right away on a non-stimulant, atomoxetine (generic Strattera). I ate as much as I had before Adderall, but craved sweets noticeably less on both meds than I did before I started taking ADHD meds.

I think that starting the new meds right away helped reduce any negative effects I experienced from going off a stimulant.

[NYGiants]

I took Vyvanse 50 mg and did not think it was very effective. Trying out new drug called Adzenys

[Spacehead]

will do. Thanks!

[TacoLover]

Personally I think it sounds like withdrawal symptoms. I went cold turkey from 70mg vyvanse + 10mg adderall booster in the afternoon to nothing….(without the Doctors advice or approval). First 2-3 months I was exhausted, weak and irritable for the 6-7 hours a day I was awake. Worst I ever felt.

For the cravings if you’re wanting sweets then I’d say it’s no doubt withdraw symptoms. Your body had an artificial dopamine boost every day until you stopped your meds. So your body is craving sugary foods that illicit a dopamine response to make up for the dopamine deficit. This will correct itself with time.