Is Vyvanse Addictive? Signs Of Vyvanse Addiction

Is Vyvanse Addictive? Signs, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Effects of Abuse & Addiction Treatment


What Is Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine)?

Vyvanse is a prescription drug primarily used for ADHD treatment. The generic name of Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine. It is a central nervous system stimulant. Vyvanse is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S. because it can cause physical and psychological dependence, according to the United States federal government. Using this drug for prolonged periods can change your brain chemistry and make Vyvanse detox more challenging. [1]

Some people may improve their ADHD symptoms after a few days of taking Vyvanse. But it can take up to several weeks to experience the full effects of the medication.

Vyvanse Addiction Signs

Is Vyvanse Addictive? People may notice particular outer Vyvanse addiction signs in their loved ones. Some signs are physical symptoms, while others are related to behavior and lifestyle. Signs of Vyvanse addiction can include:

  • Abnormally high levels of energy
  • Excessive sense of self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Aggressive, hostile, angry, or anxious outbursts
  • Changes in mood or personality
  • Extreme highs followed by sudden lows
  • Sudden health or financial difficulties
is vyvanse addictive
People may notice sure outward Vyvanse addiction signs in their loved ones. Some signs are physical symptoms, while others are related to behavior and lifestyle.

Vyvanse for PTSD is rarely tried. However, stimulants like Vyvanse can sometimes induce a mixed/manic episode for people with bipolar disorder. Before prescribing Vyvanse, your doctor may screen you for risk factors like a history of depressive symptoms or a family history of bipolar disorder, depression, or suicide. [2]

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Vyvanse Addiction Signs

  • Taking Vyvanse without a prescription or taking higher doses than prescribed
  • Compulsive drug-seeking and drug usage
  • Continuing to use Vyvanse even when there are adverse side effects or consequences
  • Trying to cut down or stop Vyvanse unsuccessfully
  • Being increasingly secretive or changing routines
  • Putting oneself in dangerous situations to obtain more Vyvanse or to use it
  • Withdrawing from loved ones and responsibilities like school or work
  • The need to take more of the drug to achieve the desired effects

Can you get high on Vyvanse? When someone uses Vyvanse in any way other than prescribed or instructed by a medical professional, it is considered drug abuse. Can you inject Vyvanse? Vyvanse abuse can include crushing tablets or emptying capsules for snorting Vyvanse or injecting the drug. Abuse doesn’t necessarily result in addiction, but addiction is more likely to occur in people who misuse a prescription drug like Vyvanse.

Vyvanse Addiction Symptoms

Is Vyvanse addictive? Symptoms of Vyvanse abuse are similar to those of other stimulants and can include:

  • Increased blood pressure and heart rate
  • Insomnia
  • Loss of appetite
  • Physical exhaustion

In severe cases, including Vyvanse overdose, profound mental status changes, including agitation and hallucinations, can occur. Seizures are also possible. Once someone comes down from a Vyvanse high, they can experience a crash. Symptoms of a Vyvanse crash may include:

  • Agitation
  • Depression
  • Sleepiness
  • Increased appetite
  • Muscle aches

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Risk Factors Associated With Vyvanse

Is Vyvanse addictive? Vyvanse is a powerful medication, and while it is therapeutic for many, it also possesses a real potential for abuse, dependence, and addiction. People place themselves at high risk for addiction development when they abuse Vyvanse.

People who become addicted to Vyvanse demonstrate a loss of control over how much or how often they take it. They also typically crave the drug and continue to use it despite negative consequences of using, which may include:

  • Employment problems
  • Legal difficulties
  • Family conflict

As with any drug, using higher and higher doses of Vyvanse increases the risk of an overdose. The reasons for this have to do with tolerance that develops after regular use, which leads a person to take larger doses to feel the high they felt when first using. Those high doses alone can create an increased risk for overdose.

Then, if repeated use continues, a person may develop significant physiological dependence, characterized (among other signs) by withdrawal symptoms when they stop using. When unpleasant withdrawal symptoms surface—depression and extreme fatigue, for instance—the person retakes the drug to “feel normal” and places themselves at a greater risk for adverse effects, mainly if they take an extra-large dose in the hope of eliminating their symptoms that are making them feel so miserable.

is vyvanse addictive
As with any drug, using higher and higher doses of Vyvanse increases the risk of an overdose.

The danger of overdose is also greater after a time of abstinence because their body’s tolerance for Vyvanse begins to return to its pre-use levels. So when the person resumes using the drug at the same amount they did when their tolerance was high, the body can no longer handle it like it used to, and overdose often results.

Can you get high on Vyvanse? Many people also engage in polysubstance abuse, abusing other drugs and Vyvanse. Any time a person does this, their risk of overdose rises substantially due to the combined effects of the drugs. A popular combination includes Vyvanse and Molly. Though there is little information on the specific combination of Vyvanse and other drugs, people often use other drugs with stimulants to enhance their high. Any polysubstance abuse increases the risk of experiencing adverse side effects.

Emergency-room visits for stimulant overdoses, such as overdoses caused by Adderall addiction, Vyvanse, Strattera, and Concerta, also involved another drug in about 63% of the cases. In 45% of these multi-drug–use cases, the drugs were also other prescription drugs. The most common prescription drugs taken along with stimulants include anti-anxiety medications and narcotic painkillers. Overall, 19% of people reported using alcohol along with stimulants. In 21% of the visits, street drugs were involved, with marijuana as the most common street drug used. [3]

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Vyvanse Abuse

All stimulant medications have the potential to be abused, but the risk of abuse and addiction varies between each medication version. Is Vyvanse addictive? While Vyvanse was developed with unique chemical properties with the hope of minimizing abuse liability, it still poses a severe risk to those who misuse it. Vyvanse is a Schedule II controlled substance, indicating severe psychological or physical dependence risk.

Is Vyvanse addictive? Addiction is a condition marked by observable behavioral changes in the user. It is the compulsive use of a substance without regard to the dangers that use could bring.

Can Vyvanse Be Abused?

Can you get high on Vyvanse? Yes. Though Vyvanse can offer a person a euphoric feeling, increased focus, and greater energy, it is essential to recall that Vyvanse is a Schedule II drug. It has a high probability of addiction when used improperly, and it can cause nerve impairment if one is exposed to improper or excessive dosages for long periods of time.

Does Vyvanse Get You High?

Many opt to snort Vyvanse, supposing it will give them a more prominent “high.” According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, snorting prescription stimulants will deliver a much faster “high,” as the effects of the drug hit the bloodstream faster than if the pills are swallowed as prescribed. Studies reveal that snorting this drug can cause excessive harm to the body. [4]

Snorting Vyvanse

Stimulants interact with various neurotransmitters in the brain, but one in particular, dopamine, is related to the “high” produced when abused. When a stimulant medication is used as prescribed, it triggers a release of dopamine at steady levels.

When Vyvanse is consumed orally, it must be processed by serum enzymes after being absorbed into the blood from the GI tract for the effects to be active. This process can take some time, and people looking for immediate onset of effects may attempt to bypass this process by opening the capsule and snorting Vyvanse powder.

Comparisons of Vyvanse use by oral and intranasal consumption show that the effects are equal. The onset and duration of effects were similar, as were the levels of dextroamphetamine available in the body whether the substance was snorted or taken orally. In reality, snorting Vyvanse does not speed up or intensify effects. This is likely due to the chemical formation of Vyvanse, which requires the substance to be processed from lisdexamfetamine to dextroamphetamine to be active. Snorting Vyvanse only causes additional physical harm.

withdrawal symptoms of prescription drugs
Snorting Vyvanse can result in dangerous health effects, including nasal damage, dependence, and overdose.

Smoking Vyvanse

Those smoking Vyvanse do so by opening the capsules, pouring the insides into a paper, rolling it, lighting it, and smoking it.  But, since Vyvanse is a prodrug and only activated when digested, smoking it will not cause any kind of “high” or euphoric feeling. The same goes for snorting the drug as well.

Despite not producing a high, trying to smoke Vyvanse is a form of drug abuse and may suggest a more significant problem with substance use. While taking Vyvanse orally can lead to a high, abusing Vyvanse and not taking it as directed can also lead to dangerous effects.

Effects Of Vyvanse Abuse

Some of the common side effects of Vyvanse can be exacerbated by abuse, both in the short and long term. These include:

  • Mental status changes
  • Life-threatening cardiovascular side effects like stroke and heart attack
  • Weight loss
  • Sleep problems

Cardiovascular and psychiatric complications from stimulant abuse are some of the main reasons stimulants like Vyvanse became controlled substances. If you take Vyvanse and experience cardiovascular symptoms, you should consult with your doctor. These symptoms include:

  • Chest pain
  • Fainting
  • Palpitations

People who abuse Vyvanse can also become psychologically addicted or physically dependent upon the drug.

Long-Term Effects Of Vyvanse Abuse

Vyvanse abuse can have long-term physical and psychiatric consequences. These include:

  • Cardiovascular Problems: Increased blood pressure and heart rate are common Vyvanse side effects that may be exacerbated by abuse and can contribute to cardiovascular damage. Additionally, cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke, and cases of sudden death, are possible consequences of Vyvanse abuse.
  • Worsening Psychiatric Issues: Even when taken as prescribed, Vyvanse can worsen psychiatric problems like bipolar disorder, psychosis, and mania. Abuse may compound these issues.

Withdrawing From Vyvanse

Vyvanse withdrawal symptoms are not fatal, but side effects like cravings and depression can make quitting difficult or increase your risk of suicide. Medical detox or an inpatient rehab treatment program is safer and more likely to produce lasting developments.

Vyvanse Withdrawal Timeline

Timelines can vary from a few weeks to several months. The length of use and dose impact the duration of the process, as do physical and mental health issues. Detox can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Symptoms Of Vyvanse Withdrawal

Within a few hours of taking Vyvanse, you can start to experience withdrawal symptoms such as:

  • Increased need for sleep
  • Difficulty feeling pleasure
  • Anxiety
  • Cravings
  • Increased appetite
  • Depression

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Vyvanse Addiction Treatment

Addiction can be incredibly hard to live through, not just for the person directly affected but also for friends and family members who might watch a loved one deal with it. There are different options to manage this condition and increase the chances of a return to everyday life.

Addiction Treatment Centers

Addiction treatment centers are a popular measure to help people overcome seeking and using drugs. In some instances, treatment centers may be gender- (such as female only) or age-specific (adults only) to provide these groups with the level of care they need.

Medication

Certain drugs help manage the withdrawal symptoms of Vyvanse addiction. These include medications that can stabilize neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin. These drugs can help to provide relief from withdrawal effects and may help to prevent a relapse.  

is vyvanse addictive
Addiction can be incredibly hard to live through, not just for the person directly affected but also for friends and family members who might watch a loved one deal with it.

Behavioral Therapies

Therapy is another sought-after treatment option for managing substance use disorders. Through methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for addiction, patients can learn more positive attitudes and behavior patterns concerning drug use. This treatment method may also teach healthier ways to cope with daily life and challenges that may encourage drug use as an escape.

Reclaim Your Life From Vyvanse Addiction

Searched for “Are Vyvanse Addictive?” and “Vyvanse Crash Tips?”

Is Vyvanse addictive? Yes. Some Vyvanse addiction signs are physical symptoms, while others are related to behavior and lifestyle. We Level Up rehab treatment & detox center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from addiction with professional and safe Vyvanse detox. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition by giving you relevant information. Our specialists know what you are going through. Each call is private and confidential.

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