Vyvanse is a prescription medication used to treat adults with moderate to severe binge eating disorder, as well as adult patients who also have another co-existing condition along with their eating disorder, like depression or another substance abuse problem.
Vyvanse is not an addictive drug and you cannot get addicted to it.
While there are no physical withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing this stimulant, some users can experience cravings after stopping the drug.
This can make it difficult to discontinue use of the drug without assistance from a healthcare provider who understands your individual situation.
Vyvanse addiction is not common and you don’t need to worry about becoming dependent on this medication if you take it as prescribed by your doctor.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes vyvanse addictive and why that’s not something you should be worried about if you take this medication for medical reasons.
Table of Contents
What Makes Vyvanse Addictive?
Vyvanse is a stimulant, and so it has some potential for addiction. However, it is only addictive when it is misused and taken at high doses.
Vyvanse is not addictive when used as prescribed. This is because the way it works is by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain.
The neurotransmitters in the brain affect things like motivation, attention, sleep, and energy levels. Vyvanse primarily increases the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Dopamine is the “feel good” neurotransmitter, and norepinephrine regulates blood flow.
For someone who is misusing Vyvanse, it is causing the brain to release higher than normal amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine. This is what leads to the addictive side effects.
How Can Vyvanse Be Addictive When It’s Not?
Most people who misuse Vyvanse are doing so to achieve a high. This means they are taking more than the prescribed dosage. Taking more than prescribed automatically leads to the addiction potential of Vyvanse even though it isn’t an addictive drug.
There are also some people who mix Vyvanse with other substances, like alcohol or other prescription medications. Doing this also causes Vyvanse to exert its addictive properties.
Vyvanse is not addictive when it is used as prescribed. It is only addictive when people take more than prescribed or mix it with substances that cause it to become addictive.
What Happens When You Take Vyvanse Continuously?
People who take Vyvanse continuously do so for two reasons. They either take too much of the drug and become dependent on it, or they need to take a significant amount of the drug to manage their mental disorder.
Vyvanse is meant to be taken every day to manage your disorder. If you end up taking too much of the drug, you could become dependent on it.
Dependence is when you have built up a tolerance to the drug and you have to take more of it to get the same effect.
What Are The Physical Side Effects Of Vyvanruse?
The main physical side effects of Vyvanse are headaches, dry mouth, and dizziness.
However, these side effects are short-term and go away on their own. More serious side effects include heart palpitations, changes in blood pressure, and changes in body temperature.
Vyvanse also causes significant changes in blood sugar levels. This can lead to fluctuations in energy levels, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes.
Vyvanse can also cause excessive urination, and this is due to the drug’s ability to increase blood flow.
Why Is Vyvanse So Hard To Discontinue?
Vyvanse is hard to discontinue for two reasons. The first reason is that when you discontinue Vyvanse, you are going to experience significant withdrawal symptoms.
The second reason is that cravings are common when discontinuing Vyvanse.
The withdrawal symptoms of Vyvanse include fatigue, irritability, and cravings. These symptoms are what makes it so difficult to stop taking Vyvanse. It can also be dangerous to stop taking Vyvanse too quickly because it can cause serious side effects.
Vyvanse withdrawal lasts around 7 days and cravings can last up to 12 weeks. Cravings are common after discontinuing the drug because your brain is no longer receiving the same amount of dopamine.
Final Words
Vyvanse is a prescription stimulant drug used to treat patients with moderate to severe binge eating disorder or as an adjunct treatment for depression in adults. Vyvanse is also used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children above 6 years of age.
Vyvanse is not toxic to the liver, nor does it cause heart problems.
Vyvanse is not addictive when it is taken as prescribed. It is only addictive when it is taken in high doses or mixed with other substances.
Vyvanse is hard to discontinue because you will experience significant withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
