Switching from Vyvanse (an amphetamine) to modafinil?

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Promethean
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12 Mar 2013, 8:26 pm

Anyone have experience switching to modafinil from an amphetamine? What are the differences like?

I'm a graduate student and have been taking Vyvanse for about a year, with an occasional Dexedrine booster for evening classes etc., and Adderall before that. I haven't been positively diagnosed with comorbid ADHD, but I do have symptoms that the meds have been helping with (although they may originally have been chronic sleep deprivation -- neither my doctor nor I was aware that sleep deprivation could cause ADHD-like symptoms when I started on Adderall).

However, I'm thinking I may need to switch to modafinil, for three reasons. First, I've occasionally run into issues when I stay out of home later than planned, leading to one fender-bender on my bike (I often end up carrying some pills with me just to be on the safe side). I've read that modafinil doesn't have the same sharp rebound as the amphetamines. Second, some of the rebound effects may be making it harder to fall asleep -- I'll be lying in bed, think of something I'd like to look up online, and won't be able to fall asleep until I've pulled out my tablet computer and looked it up. Lastly, I'm thinking the Vyvanse may be contributing to some stress and anxiety issues I'm in counselling for.

Also, can anyone recommend particular research articles I should bring to my doctor to persuade her? (Modafinil is off-label for ADHD in Canada, which is where I live, and the doctor wouldn't prescribe it the first time I asked, which was how I ended up on Adderall.)



cathylynn
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12 Mar 2013, 9:28 pm

modanifil is not even recommended off-label for ADHD in the US, though it is being studied. why not try Strattera, a much safer drug.



Schizpergers
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13 Mar 2013, 12:09 am

Ive been on modifinil for a year and a half now and was on adderall before that. I like it a lot better. For me I feel more awake, but I can also sleep when I want. The adderall would give me horrible crashes and I would need to keep upping my dose because I kept getting immune and it had some side effects. Modifinil works much better although there are lots of side effects associated with it (although I didnt get any). It tastes horrible though.


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Meistersinger
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13 Mar 2013, 1:06 am

Promethean wrote:
Anyone have experience switching to modafinil from an amphetamine? What are the differences like?

I'm a graduate student and have been taking Vyvanse for about a year, with an occasional Dexedrine booster for evening classes etc., and Adderall before that. I haven't been positively diagnosed with comorbid ADHD, but I do have symptoms that the meds have been helping with (although they may originally have been chronic sleep deprivation -- neither my doctor nor I was aware that sleep deprivation could cause ADHD-like symptoms when I started on Adderall).

However, I'm thinking I may need to switch to modafinil, for three reasons. First, I've occasionally run into issues when I stay out of home later than planned, leading to one fender-bender on my bike (I often end up carrying some pills with me just to be on the safe side). I've read that modafinil doesn't have the same sharp rebound as the amphetamines. Second, some of the rebound effects may be making it harder to fall asleep -- I'll be lying in bed, think of something I'd like to look up online, and won't be able to fall asleep until I've pulled out my tablet computer and looked it up. Lastly, I'm thinking the Vyvanse may be contributing to some stress and anxiety issues I'm in counselling for.

Also, can anyone recommend particular research articles I should bring to my doctor to persuade her? (Modafinil is off-label for ADHD in Canada, which is where I live, and the doctor wouldn't prescribe it the first time I asked, which was how I ended up on Adderall.)


Why are you even taking psychotropics?

Why not act naturally?



Promethean
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17 Mar 2013, 1:49 am

Meistersinger wrote:
Why are you even taking psychotropics?

Why not act naturally?


The short answer: I've tried that, and it doesn't work.

In undergrad, while I was without medications, I'd be spending too much of my time pacing the floor because I couldn't concentrate on my homework long enough to get anything read or written.