Binge Eating and Amphetamine Purge

I need serious help with this awful pattern. I am prescribed to Vyvanse, an ADD stimulant to help me focus in school. But after each of my binges, I abuse it by taking 3 times the dose to shed the extra weight. Since I take it after binging, I usually end up not sleeping, and going to school the next day feeling terrible. When I'm tired from this , I'll just take a Vyvanse for some energy. I am very sleep deprived now and addicted to the medication.

It's a never ending cycle and I'm just worried about what effect its having on my body and mind. Please I don't know where to turn to.

hi there.

you really really need to address this with your doctor, hun.  what you're doing to your body and with the medications (not to mention the sleep-deprivation) is absolutely horrible, detrimental, and will have lasting affects.  if you truly are addicted to the medication you're prescribed - you definitely need to address this with your doctor - and as soon as possible. 

do you have family members (mom/dad) you can to turn for help? this sounds like a situation you really need to address immediately.. i know it sounds super scary - but you're going to end up doing irreversible damage to yourself :(

please please tell your doctor and parents about what is going on - or at least your doctor. this is your life we're talking about - don't do this to yourself :(

double post

I am also medicated for ADD, but not with Vyvanse.

Firstly you should know that purging with Vyvanse will not work. Vyvanse can act as an appetite suppressant but does not actually cause weight loss if you continue eating.

In addition, some people on ADD medication develop binging problems for precisely this reason. If you undereat during the day due to appetite loss, when the medication wears off you become incredibly hungry and binge. So overdosing on Vyvanse is only going to make your problem worse, by setting you up for another undereating-crash-binge cycle.

In addition, there are serious consequences of prescription amphetamine drug abuse:

Physiological effects

• Short-term physiological effects include decreased appetite, increased stamina and physical energy, increased sexual drive/response, involuntary bodily movements, hyperhidrosis, hyperactivity, jitteriness, nausea, itchy, blotchy or greasy skin, Tachycardia, irregular heart rate, hypertension, and headaches. Fatigue can often follow the dose's period of effectiveness.

• Long-term abuse or overdose effects can include tremor, restlessness, changed sleep patterns, anxiety and increase in pre-existing anxiety, poor skin condition, hyperreflexia, tachypnea, gastrointestinal narrowing, and weakened immune system. Fatigue and depression can follow the excitement stage. Heart problems, stroke, and liver, kidney and lung damage can result from prolonged use.

Psychological effects

• Short-term psychological effects can include alertness, euphoria, increased concentration, rapid talking, increased confidence, increased social responsiveness, nystagmus (eye wiggles), hallucinations, and loss of REM sleep the night after use.

• Long-term psychological effects can include insomnia, mental states resembling schizophrenia, aggressiveness (not associated with schizophrenia), addiction or dependence with accompanying withdrawal symptoms, irritability, confusion, and panic. Chronic and/or extensively-continuous use can lead to amphetamine psychosis, which causes delusions and paranoia, but this is uncommon when taken as prescribed. Amphetamine is highly-psychologically addictive, and, with chronic use, tolerance develops very quickly.

The point about tolerance should be noted too - the more you take this drug, the more you will need to get the same effect. It's not a good cycle to be in.

I think your first action should be to get outside help for this. Start seeing a counsellor and tell your parents you are having problems with the drug. Make an appointment with your doctor to make sure your body - and especially heart - are ok.

Even with ADD, you don't need to take Vyvanse. Aside from non-medical interventions you also have the option of non-amphetamine based medications which are less addictive and you won't be able to abuse in the same way. I would suggest talking to your doctor about a non-amphetamine medication.

In addition, I think you should focus on your eating habits as much as the drug use. Try making a meal plan, or visit a nutritionist to have them make one for you. Focus on eating regular meals and snacks so that you are never too hungry. Your meals and snacks should contain enough calories to fuel your body, and over the day, a mix of protein/carb/fats/treats so that your body is craving nothing. Learning about structured eating is a good step you can take.

Amphetamine Drug Information

Vyvanse Side Effects

Prescription Drug Addiction Resources

First and foremost, cut back on the medication to your regular dose or less. If it's anything like mine was, going from abusing it to quitting cold-turkey is going to make you depressed and lethargic for a while. The purging via Vyvnase, however, will make it impossible to sleep, inevitably lead to binging yet again, might give you tics, and will probably make you temporarily insane. Doctors often advise patients taking ADD meds to take "vacations" from them for reasons like this.

Second, start working out, and hard. It's ridiculously easier to focus afterward, maybe because it produces the same chemical that most ADD medications do. I'm no neuroscientist, but I know it works. Doing it in the late afternoon/early evening should help you sleep, too.

Third, take your (regular or less amount of) Vyvnase, and have three pre-planned meals and two snacks at set times. Eat them even if you don't feel like it to keep your blood sugar stable. That's one of the reasons people sometimes even gain weight on these meds-- they don't know they're hungry, so when they can finally feel it they wind up eating 4000 calories at 2 am.

Third, ask your doctor for help, because in spite of all my experience and knowledge, I'm still an anonymous user over the internet who doesn't know crap in the end.

Vyvanse is supposed to be a non addictive alternative to adderol...

Let me tell you, my boyfriend abused ADD medications for about 8 months a couple of years ago and he still has many many medical problems assocciated with it. It totally sapped his immune system and he gets sick constantly. His doctor said it will probably be 5-10 years before he is fully recovered, and since he is still taking vyvance (appropriately) every day, it will take even longer.

Don't do it, it's not worth it!!!!

edit--

I wanted to add that my boyfriend has found working out to be just as effective as medication in easing his ADD symptoms. When he can stick to a workout routine every day he has a much easier time focusing and getting things done. Please consider this.