Switching from Vyvanse to Concerta is something you might be wondering about. So here we’re looking at all aspects of switching from Vyvanse to Concerta.
First of all, let’s get a quick answer to the question, then we’ll get into more of the more details…
In certain circumstances, you may respond to Concerta better than Vyvanse. But, just like Vyvanse, even Concerta has interactions and side effects. So switching from one ADHD medication to another should be done after consulting your doctor about your symptoms. Both these medications have pros and cons.
That’s the quick answer, but let’s get into more details…
Switching from Vyvanse to Concerta
It’s important to remember that neither medication works as a magic bullet in controlling ADHD symptoms.
However, your body may respond to one better than the other. Meaning sometimes switching from Vyvanse to Concerta can reduce uncomfortable side effects and show more positive and sustainable therapeutic benefits than with Vyvanse.
Whichever benefit you hope to get from Concerta, a switch to ADHD medications should only be done following a doctor’s consent.
Only your doctor can analyze if the switch is healthy and best for you, depending on your unique profile.
This includes considering factors such as medical history, medications you’re using currently, and any other allergies you may have.
Even finding the right dosage for your switch can only be made by a doctor. They will normally consider your condition and the severity of symptoms and go through a titration (Adjustment) period before determining a dose is ideal for you.
However, you cannot do this by yourself.
In fact, just switching from Vyvanse To Concerta – or any other ADHD medication by replicating the dose patterns of your previous medication can put you at an increased risk for serious side effects.
For more in-depth information on both of these medications, see our article on Concerta vs Vyvanse.
What to expect from the switch
One of the main differences you will observe by switching from Vyvanse to Concerta is how they differ in nature when they enter your body.
Usually, Concerta will become active as soon as it enters your system, so you are more likely to feel its effects sooner than with Vyvanse.
This is because Concerta is an extended-release drug designed to deliver the medication over several hours, so the effects on how it controls your symptoms will be consistent over the day.
If you were using Vyvanse, you would have observed that the effects may weaken after a few hours.
This is because Vyvanse is a long-acting drug, meaning it does not release the drug gradually over time.
Instead, it focuses on increasing effects in phases. These effects can last up to 14 hours.
Half of these effects are released into your bloodstream just after taking them (usually in the morning), and the rest are distributed throughout the day.
How long the effects last will typically depend on how quickly your body processes the medication. This is why you may feel like the effects weaken after several hours.
This doesn’t necessarily make Concerta any better. The extended-release nature of Concerta can make it more challenging when abused or overdosed.
The medication comes in tablet form, and biting or crushing the medication will not release the effects over time but instead deliver a high dose all at once, leading to potential abuse.
Possible side effects
Switching from Vyvanse to Concerta still has potential side effects, as with any ADHD medication.
If Concerta is better for you than Vyvanse, then chances are that you may feel fewer side effects.
But the catch is that both Vyvanse and Concerta share several common side effects, most of which are mild and well-tolerated at normal healthy therapeutic doses.
Common potential side effects include:
- loss of appetite
- Dry mouth
- Sleep problems
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Stomach Ache
- Excessive sweating
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Weight loss
- Irritability.
Besides this, stimulants included in both Vyvanse and Concerta have been associated with psychosis.
This is a scenario where people taking stimulants in higher doses than recommended by a doctor will develop a set of psychotic symptoms that may be temporarily induced. This could include hallucinations and delusions.
In most cases, these symptoms will gradually disappear once your body flushes the medication.
However, people at high risk for psychotic disorders like schizophrenia could be more vulnerable to long-lasting psychosis.
These side effects, even though rare and severe, are disturbing and can take a complete toll on your mental and physical health, productivity, and well-being.
This is why it is strongly advised that switching from Vyvanse to Concerta – or just about any other ADHD medication should always be actioned under the advice and supervision of your doctor.
Dosage and administration changes
Unlike Vyvanse, for which the general dosage starts at 30mg for both adults and children and is not influenced by weight, the Concerta dosage differs from person to person and is influenced mainly by the patient’s weight.
Other common factors like age and your medical history are also taken into consideration – as is the case with any other ADHD medication.
Concerta comes as a tablet and is usually taken once a day orally in the morning.
When determining the ideal dose, just like for Vyvanse, your doctor will likely go through a titration period.
They will first begin with a low dose and look to adjust the dose weekly to see how well the patient’s ADHD symptoms are controlled.
If a specific dose range gives you effective therapeutic benefits with fewer side effects and controlled symptoms, then it is believed to be ideal for your system.
The effects can last for up to 12 hours per day. Here’s how to intensify Vyvanse.
These medications come in 18mg, 27mg, 36mg, and 54mg doses. For someone with ADHD, the doses are set anywhere from 18mg to 36mg – and the maximum daily dose can go up to 72mg.
It’s important to note here that you cannot switch from Vyvanse to Concerta for treating binge eating disorders.
Only Vyavnse is approved by the FDA to treat BED, and that is only for adults. So if you are taking Vyvanse for BED and want to switch, then Concerta is possibly not the best choice. Talk to your doctor more about this.
When a doctor will approve a switch from Vyvanse to Concerta
There are certain circumstances that will be a factor for your doctor to look at switching from Vyvanse to Concerta.
- If you have an existing health condition or are currently taking any medications that will interact with Vyvanse, then your doctor may recommend a switch.
- It may be the titration period doesn’t conclude in finding an ideal dose for your needs. Meaning managing your ADHD symptoms to make your life productive without being detrimental. If so, then your doctor may consider switching to a different ADHD medication, making Concerta a possible option.
- Or, if you have been noticing signs of allergy to Vyvanse, then your doctor may consider a switch to Concerta.
Switching from Vyvanse to Concerta – Next steps
We hope this has provided some valuable information on switching from Vyvanse to Concerta.
If you’re struggling to afford your medication then you may be eligible to pay just $60.00 for each medication per month through Prescription Hope’s medication access service. Click here to enroll, it’s a simple process and we may be a ble to help.
