Help VYVANSE and irritability

Anonymous
Ds with adhd started vyvanse today.
He hasn't esten a thing, has a headache and nausea.

However, the thing I am concerned about is he is very irritable.
Does this go away?
He is scared to go to school tomorrow for fear he will punch someone out.
I think this is NOT the medication for him.

Does the irritabilty go away?
Anonymous
My son is on Vyvanse and he never had any irritability. He did lose his appetite. I make sure he eats a big breakfast before giving him the pill in the morning. Maybe he is irritable because his blood sugar is low. What did he eat today?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My son is on Vyvanse and he never had any irritability. He did lose his appetite. I make sure he eats a big breakfast before giving him the pill in the morning. Maybe he is irritable because his blood sugar is low. What did he eat today?


This definitely.

Also, how experienced is the person prescribing the drugs? He might need a smaller dose.
Anonymous
How old is he and what dosage is he on?
Anonymous
I have a child on Vyvannse and we have never been able to escape that irritablity problem. What has helped is making sure that something is available to eat as it is tailing off.
Anonymous
he hasn't eaten a thing

smallest dose 20 mg
Anonymous
I take vyvanse. What helps me is to make sure I eat a large breakfast and then force small snacks. Irritability usually happens due to hunger and nausea.
Anonymous
My tiny son started off on 10 mg. I cut the 20 mg capsule in half.
Anonymous
My son takes Vyvanse. When he started and then again when he had a dosage increase, he did have side effects. They included a headache (really bad one), irritability and anorexia. Everything but the anorexia went away within a week but that week was really tough for him. As far as the anorexia goes, you can work with it by timing medication for after breakfast and then making food available whenever he wants it. I know there were nights that I was making cheeseburgers at 10 pm but that's when he was finally able to eat.
Anonymous
I'm not sure we can handle a week of his irritability.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure we can handle a week of his irritability.


PP here. I know it's hard. What got me through was remembering how hard it was for him too. I just did my best to keep my son isolated from the rest of us during the adjustment period - extra screen time, no need to come to the table for meals, etc. From what I saw and from what I hear from my son, it really is a tough adjustment for their bodies.
Anonymous
The appetite thing is tough. My high schooler is a big guy (think quarterback) and he was simply out of fuel most of the time because of not wanting to eat. It's since regulated but definitely a real struggle in the early weeks and months.
Anonymous
Make sure he eats a big breakfast and then let him eat as much as he wants after the meds wear off. I had to have my DH come to the pediatrician with us in order for him to accept it was okay for my son to eat right before bed.
Anonymous
We are a newbie to stimulants. Our doctor did not mention anything about the headache or tummy ache, just the loss of appetitie. Anyway, since symptoms improve after a week, then I guess we should not take a break from the medication over weekends and holidays? Then we would have to deal with the significant side effects again until DC body gets use to it? I mean I understand I should stop during the summer, but I thought I would give DC body a rest on weekends, Doctor says I do not have to. But I will not if the symptoms of headache and tummy ache restart Monday morning.
Anonymous
I don't stop it on the weekend. My son is a mess if he doesn't take it so he takes it on the weekends too.
post reply Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities
Message Quick Reply
Go to: