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What Causes Difficulty In Falling Asleep While On Vyvanse?
Question: Hi Doctor!
I have a question in regards to Vyvanse and sleep. I am currently on 30mg of Vyvance and about a month ago upped my dose from 20mg. Regardless, I have had trouble winding down at the end of the day to fall asleep. I have always taken the Vyvanse around 7:30am and generally try winding down around 7-8pm and then go to bed around 9pm.
To give you a bit of my previous background, as I child I was diagnosed with ADHD and took Ritalin as a child. About 3 years ago I started dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder but I have it successfully under control with the use of Lexapro (15mg). When I was dealing with my GAD I would take a small amount of Xanax to help combat my sleep issues which has always worked perfectly for me.
Initially I started taking Ritalin again which was very successfully in helping me to quite smoking (2 years quit now). A couple of months ago, my P-doc and I decided to try Vyvanse and started at the 20mg. I can say that I do like it as it helps to pick me up however, I have difficulties sleeping on it. Individually, I have never been a pot-head nor have I generally smoked pot but being in XXXXXXX I was hoping to find an alternative to taking Xanax on a regular basis so I thought I would give marijuana a shot and did a bit of research on it. I have been able to combat the Vyvanse by smoking pot however, I've noticed that it messes with my Lexapro so I have decided to forgo the smoking as an aid... It really just isn't me anyway...
So really, my question(s) is, would it ok to take the Xanax that late in the day after taking the Vyvanse or is there a safer alternative? A past P-Doc of mine once said that it was crazy to take an upper and a downer. As a put my faith in him in the past since he was very helpful with me dealing with the GAD and P.D., I have always shy'd away from doing this and only every so often would take Xanax at the end of the day if I was having a lot of anxiety, while I was on Ritalin.
I feel like while I've been on the Vyvanse, it has been a whole different story since I feel like the medication is more powerful than the Ritalin.
I greatly appreciate your feedback to my question.
Thank you,
XXXX
I have a question in regards to Vyvanse and sleep. I am currently on 30mg of Vyvance and about a month ago upped my dose from 20mg. Regardless, I have had trouble winding down at the end of the day to fall asleep. I have always taken the Vyvanse around 7:30am and generally try winding down around 7-8pm and then go to bed around 9pm.
To give you a bit of my previous background, as I child I was diagnosed with ADHD and took Ritalin as a child. About 3 years ago I started dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder but I have it successfully under control with the use of Lexapro (15mg). When I was dealing with my GAD I would take a small amount of Xanax to help combat my sleep issues which has always worked perfectly for me.
Initially I started taking Ritalin again which was very successfully in helping me to quite smoking (2 years quit now). A couple of months ago, my P-doc and I decided to try Vyvanse and started at the 20mg. I can say that I do like it as it helps to pick me up however, I have difficulties sleeping on it. Individually, I have never been a pot-head nor have I generally smoked pot but being in XXXXXXX I was hoping to find an alternative to taking Xanax on a regular basis so I thought I would give marijuana a shot and did a bit of research on it. I have been able to combat the Vyvanse by smoking pot however, I've noticed that it messes with my Lexapro so I have decided to forgo the smoking as an aid... It really just isn't me anyway...
So really, my question(s) is, would it ok to take the Xanax that late in the day after taking the Vyvanse or is there a safer alternative? A past P-Doc of mine once said that it was crazy to take an upper and a downer. As a put my faith in him in the past since he was very helpful with me dealing with the GAD and P.D., I have always shy'd away from doing this and only every so often would take Xanax at the end of the day if I was having a lot of anxiety, while I was on Ritalin.
I feel like while I've been on the Vyvanse, it has been a whole different story since I feel like the medication is more powerful than the Ritalin.
I greatly appreciate your feedback to my question.
Thank you,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
xanax is safe, ambien is an alternative.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details. I understand your concerns.
You are taking vyvanse and having difficulty in falling asleep.
You have been on ritalin in past, lexapro for GAD and Xanax.
Vyvanse is longer acting than ritalin. These stimulants can disturb sleep.
Your doctor has increased the dose one month back to 30 mg. This might have further aggravated the sleeping problems.
You can take the xanax in night for sleeping.
There are no life threatening drug interactions and xanax is safe (except the habit forming potential if taken for long term).
As also, xanax is a shorter acting benzo, it should not interfere with stimulating effects of vyvanse next day.
Try with the minimum possible dose of xanax.
Ambien is another alternative (prescription drug).
But, please do keep your doctor informed about this.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
xanax is safe, ambien is an alternative.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details. I understand your concerns.
You are taking vyvanse and having difficulty in falling asleep.
You have been on ritalin in past, lexapro for GAD and Xanax.
Vyvanse is longer acting than ritalin. These stimulants can disturb sleep.
Your doctor has increased the dose one month back to 30 mg. This might have further aggravated the sleeping problems.
You can take the xanax in night for sleeping.
There are no life threatening drug interactions and xanax is safe (except the habit forming potential if taken for long term).
As also, xanax is a shorter acting benzo, it should not interfere with stimulating effects of vyvanse next day.
Try with the minimum possible dose of xanax.
Ambien is another alternative (prescription drug).
But, please do keep your doctor informed about this.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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