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Is Taking An Overdose Of Vyvanse Fatal?

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Posted on Tue, 28 Jul 2015
Question: My 31 yr old son died in the hospital of his heart popping. He used steriods and had recently took 21 vyvanse 60 mg. do you know if he OD ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Priyank Mody (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
May be drug OD / or some interaction with other over the counter drugs

Detailed Answer:
Hello mam, sorry for your loss. Though after thought is not going to bring him back but we can reach to a closure.
Now 21 vynase has an active metabolite which is like amphetamine. Thus drug may cause some serious side effects related to the heart like increasing your blood pressure, increasing your heart beats to dangerously high level s. Mostly in his cause it would have caused severe spasm of the heart arteries resulting in transiently cutting the blood supply Causing heart am. Now the dose you mentioned may theoretically cause the above problems but not seen. Than XXXXXXX dose ppl use is 70mg a day
So one possible explanation I'd drug overdose. 2nd this drug is known to have various interactions with many over the counter meds as simple for cough / coryza, which the user might be unaware , so simultaneously when they are taken the activity of 60 mg vynase would be far more potent then it is intended resulting in the catastrophic effect.
Hoping I could answer your doubts.
Regards Dr XXXXXXX mody
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Priyank Mody (1 hour later)
i do not understand this.... Would you please clarify?

"""Mostly in his cause it would have caused severe spasm of the heart arteries resulting in transiently cutting the blood supply Causing heart am. Now the dose you mentioned may theoretically cause the above problems but not seen."""

What does "am" mean?
What does above problems not seen mean?
He also had been taking illegal steriods for around 7 years and he weighed 230 #
He was a power bench press lifter who worked out regularly
But he also took Effexor anti depressants but there seemed to be normal amount missing from the bottle
Although he was depressed . He had acid reflux that made him cough up blood and DoD had been prescribing med for that and he prescribed the vyvanse too and the Effexor XXXXXXX had called me on Christmas and told me he wanted to kill himself. I tried to talk him out of it.... In early May I told him out of frustration " why don't you just die" he was so angry to us mean and cussing me out all the time, he had 3 kids he was in custody of 2.
And then May 26 he got his vyvanse prescription and took 21 60 mg. in one dose or four but he told me he couldn't breath deep and his muscles were week for 3 days before he died. We were so mad at him my husband ignored his texts for help. He left the kids locked in the house at night and drove to our house but we weren't home. Doc said he had a massive heart attack on Saturday but at the time doc told me his heart was fine.i did hear from the nurses talking that he had pericarditis . Next night he could stop vomiting and he jumped out of hospital bed and ripped everything out his roommate told me. Hospital says he died in ICU . Did he die from jumping out of bed? Hospital security called me and told me that I am NOT allowed to contact that patient- even tho he volunteered the info
Just need help to understand.... We decided not to press charges his body was cremated , just would like mor answers
They didn't do an autopsy which they said they were. Waiting for the toxicology report.
Coroner has told me he had a massive heart attack on sat., his heart pericardium popped on Monday after midnight
doctor
Answered by Dr. Priyank Mody (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
From all, I can try going through the course of events

Detailed Answer:
I apologise for the typo error, do forgive me for the same. I was explaining how the terminal event leading to his death happened. Heart attack are due to decreased blood supply to the heart. Generally it's during to blockages in elderly population. Here vynase at the above Dosage of 21 tab, would cause severe constriction of the heart vessels resulting in no blood supply to heart causing a heart attack like picture.

Acute toxicity of the vyvanse causing pericarditis is not what I have heard off. Though I think the electrocardiogram abnormality because of it may mimic pericarditis, which the sisters may be thinking about

Now the overdose will result in many other problems like restlessness, muscle twitches, rapid breathing and hallucinations, the result of which he was so aggressive and claimed out of bed. To be XXXXXXX severe vomiting and other problems may be caused by the same. Since he was in icu and under treatment, they must have tried their best to neutralise the effects and remove as much drug as possible. Also Co existing depression he might have taken some other meds which as parents you would be unaware which may have Contributed to the same.

I first thought it was 1tab of vynase 60mg, so at that dose all the heart problems are rare, so there was a miscommunication on my side.

Now jumping out as I said might be due to extreme restlessness and hallucinations due to overdose. That event Persay would not have caused the death. Generally at this time all staff and doctor s have to normalise the patient, assess the vitals so they don't allow relative to prevent emotions from hurting management of patient. So as protocol for betterment of pt, they don't allow

Toxicology report will make situation more clear.

Trust me mam, you couldn't do much, neither the doctor. All tried their best. And in all interest it's better that you get closer with the event. Hoping I could bring some consolation.
Regards Dr. Priyank Mody
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Priyank Mody (10 hours later)
Thank u so much for helping me to understand.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Priyank Mody (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
I am happy that I could help. Regards

Detailed Answer:
I am grateful that I could help with with whatever medical knowledge God has blessed me with. He was treated best by the doctor s who would have taken care of him, but sometimes you lose against his will. Take care mam, any help in future do let me know. Thank you for using HCM
Regards Dr Priyank Mody
Lilavati Hospital, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Priyank Mody

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 918 Questions

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Is Taking An Overdose Of Vyvanse Fatal?

Brief Answer: May be drug OD / or some interaction with other over the counter drugs Detailed Answer: Hello mam, sorry for your loss. Though after thought is not going to bring him back but we can reach to a closure. Now 21 vynase has an active metabolite which is like amphetamine. Thus drug may cause some serious side effects related to the heart like increasing your blood pressure, increasing your heart beats to dangerously high level s. Mostly in his cause it would have caused severe spasm of the heart arteries resulting in transiently cutting the blood supply Causing heart am. Now the dose you mentioned may theoretically cause the above problems but not seen. Than XXXXXXX dose ppl use is 70mg a day So one possible explanation I'd drug overdose. 2nd this drug is known to have various interactions with many over the counter meds as simple for cough / coryza, which the user might be unaware , so simultaneously when they are taken the activity of 60 mg vynase would be far more potent then it is intended resulting in the catastrophic effect. Hoping I could answer your doubts. Regards Dr XXXXXXX mody