Signs Your Vyvanse Dose Is Too Low – Why, and What to Do

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Posted by Prescription Hope - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Mon Apr 17 2023)

For those on Vyvanse, it’s helpful to understand when there are signs your Vyvanse dose is too low.

So in this article, we’re going through all the indications and signs your Vyvanse dose is too low for you, what to look out for, and more importantly what action to take when it is too low!

Let’s start with a quick answer, then we’ll get into more detail.

Difficulty in focusing, only getting relief from symptoms for a brief period, having difficulties with impulse control, and getting easily distracted or feeling hyperactive or “on the go.” In general, If your dose of Vyvanse is too low, the medications simply may not address your symptoms.

Signs your Vyvanse dose is too low

If your Vyvanse dose is too low, you might feel that any symptoms haven’t improved or even changed.

You will likely feel the same way you did before taking your dose. Sometimes you might even feel like the symptoms only got better for a brief period, and then they reoccur.

You are also more likely to experience difficulties focusing or paying attention, have problems with impulsive control, get easily distracted, and feel hyperactive.

On the other hand, if your dose is lower than what is ideal for your body, then you might also experience other common symptoms of ADHD, such as:

• A shorter attention span for non-preferred tasks
• Hyperactivity which may be physical, verbal, or emotional
• Impulsivity which may manifest as recklessness
• Fidgeting
• Restlessness
• Disorganization
• Difficulty in prioritizing tasks
• Trouble completing tasks
• Time blindness
• Poor time management
• Frequent mood swings
• Emotional dysregulation
• Forgetfulness
• Poor working memory
• Trouble with multitasking
• Executive dysfunction
• Inability to control anger and frustration
• Frequent procrastination
• Easy distractibility
• Difficulties in awaiting turns

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t “feel” any symptom to believe that the medication is working. Instead, if the dose is correct for you and not too low, then you should be able to go about your day without issue.

How much Vyvanse dose is too low

Finding the right level for you is something your doctor will normally aim to do. This is often a case of altering dosage levels until the right dose is met.

Usually, the starting dose of Vyvanse for adults is 30 mg once daily – usually taken in the morning.

Depending on how your body reacts to the dose, your doctor may increase the dose by 10mg-20mg weekly.

They might look to increase the dose until you reach a margin that manages your symptoms effectively.

The dose range for ADHD is between 30 mg-70 mg, and the maximum dose for this medication in 24 hours is 70mg.

Even for children (6 and older), the starting dose is 30mg, increasing slowly by 10mg or 20mg every week, depending on how the dose responds.

The doctor will continue this process until your child is taking a dose in the range of 30mg-70mg, once daily.

The exact dose for adults and children will largely depend on the severity of the condition. Alongside other medications administered, and side effects experienced from Vyvanse.

Medication titration to identify your ideal dose

As mentioned previously, your doctor will start your dose small and then go through a titration process to settle upon your ideal dose.

Titration is when your doctor gradually increases the dose to see how your body reacts to the medication.

This is done till you reach a target dose, where you will get the most therapeutic effects …and with the fewest side effects.

How your body reacts to Vyvanse and other ADHD medications depends on factors like metabolism, medication history, and severity of symptoms. There is a minor influence only from criteria like your height or weight.

During this process, your doctor will actively track benefits and side effects to see if the dose is too low and to guide the next dosing decision.

Normally your doctor will check if your symptoms are not sufficiently reduced.

They might check if you have too many side effects. Those which you can’t keep track of any benefits. If you’re responding with numerous or heavy symptoms or controlled too much that you no longer feel yourself.

If the doctor feels your dose is too low and is not giving the expected results after two to six weeks of titrating, they will choose to switch medications and go through the process again.

Vyvanse and similar medications

Sometimes Vyvanse and other popular ADHD medications may not work well for certain people.

If your doctor has worked to find an ideal dose for you, but you still feel signs your Vyvanse dose is too low. Perhaps experiencing uncontrolled symptoms …or you experience too many side effects, then the specific ADHD medication will be classified as “not ideal.”

This can appear so if the specific formulation of the medications doesn’t sit well with you.

However, there are over 30 ADHD medications available. So if an ideal dose of Vyvanse is not met, then you still have plenty of other options.

The most important aim is to find what works best for your unique body and requirements.

See also our articles on Adderall vs Vyvanse, and Concerta vs Vyvanse.

Some drug interactions can make Vyvanse less effective

People who take several psychiatric medications alongside Vyvanse to control symptoms like depression and anxiety may be exposed to interactions that reduce the long-lasting effect and strength of Vyvanse.

In these types of cases, you may feel the dose is too low.

Likewise, any other medications that increase acidity in one’s blood can make Vyvanse less effective and intense, with a lesser impact on controlling the symptoms.

This might also give the impression you have a low dose. Aspirin, Penicillin, and furosemide are some examples of these medications.

It’s important to note here that the interaction of Vyvanse and any other psychiatric medication is generally considered dangerous. So be sure to consult your doctor and adhere to medical advice.

Medications like sodium bicarbonate (found in Zegerid), Benadryl, and Metoprolol reduce acidity in the blood, intensifying the effect more than at healthy levels. This may result in dangerous side effects.

This is why it’s important to ask your doctor or pharmacist when taking any medications alongside Vyvanse and other ADHD medications.

How to intensify Vyvanse naturally

Aside from signs your Vyvanse dose is too low, firstly, taking extra doses of Vyvanse for enhanced effects without a doctor’s advice is dangerous and can lead to serious side effects. This can potentially worsen ADHD symptoms.

Some natural ways to enhance the effects of Vyvanse without taking extra doses include consuming enough protein, maintaining a steady exercise or fitness schedule, and avoiding taking Vitamin C products, acidic juices, and caffeine.

Sometimes taking magnesium or ginkgo pills may intensify Vyvanse and make it last longer than the average duration. However, this should only be done after proper consultation with your doctor.

For more information on this, check out our article How to intensify Vyvanse.

Signs your Vyvanse dose is too low – Summing Up

We hope this has provided you with a good overview of signs your Vyvanse is too low, the reasons this might be the case, and some ways in which you can deal with it.

If you’re paying too much for your medication, then why not look at enrolling with Prescription Hope? This enables you to potentially obtain your medications for as little as $60.00 per medication per month through Prescription Hope’s medication access service.