Mmbwdpnz: Help for a friend

[Mmbwdpnz]

Hey so this isn't for me, but I have a friend 5"2 135lb female. who has ADD and has been on Adderall xr 30mg everyday for 9 years since she was 14-years-old now 23. Her new doctor recently decided it is in her best interest to come off the medication so they switched her to 30mg Vyvanse. I do not think this is an equivalent dose for her and she goes into severe withdrawals if she misses her medication by even a couple hours at this point. what can be done for her? she needs a good tapering guide and dosage equivalence. I hope I do not get in trouble for asking for her.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  It's nice that you are concerned for your friend.  Actually, these are roughly equivalent doses, according to my husband who is a retired pharmacist.  It is important for your friend to take the medication each and every day, at the same time of the day, to avoid destabilizing the brain.  Her withdrawals may be caused by there being a slight difference in the 2 drugs, combined with taking them at different times each day.  Has she skipped or missed any doses? This can cause big problems too.  

 

19 hours ago, Mmbwdpnz said:

Her new doctor recently decided it is in her best interest to come off the medication so they switched her to 30mg Vyvanse.

Is the doctor's intention to then taper her off the Vyvanse?  Does she intend to taper off of it?  

 

My suggestion would be for her to not start a taper just yet, as her system is still getting used to making the switch from Adderall to Vyvanse.  I would wait for several months, then taper.  And, I suggest that she creates her own account here, and works with us directly.  The vast majority of doctors will taper their patients off way too fast, and many people go into significant withdrawal issues at that point.  We can help her taper very gradually, and minimize her withdrawal.  We can help her and walk her through a slow and careful taper.  The way we suggest, is to taper off by reducing the drug by 10% of the current dose, no more than every 4 weeks.  Here are some links to help you and her understand the reasoning behind this: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

Edited December 27, 2022 by getofflex

[Mmbwdpnz]

Hello, 

          My friend did come off the stimulants. She is healed. We found a stimulant support forum for her. Thank-you so much for helping out during her time of need.