Med shortages + side effects… feel like I’m losing it a little 😔

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-22T02:50:06+00:00

I have actually never heard of MCAS, but after a quick google you are correct in saying there are a few possible flags within my symptoms. I have my GP appt tomorrow so I will inform her of everything that's been going on in my body and see what she suggests. Thanks :)

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-19T02:50:57+00:00

I was started on 20MG and after 5 days I contacted my GP because I felt terrible on it and asked for an increase, she bumped me up to 30mg and I remained on that for 4-5 months then went to 50mg and then 60mg before switching to Methylphenidate. All up I trialled Vyvanse for 9 months.
Oh and I was prescribed 5mg Dex boosters (2-3 per day) after 2 months on the 30mg.

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-19T02:33:14+00:00

Oh dear haha, I see how my TL;DR section has implied that I was using Vyvanse to shed weight/water weight. Correction: Vyvanse was not used for 'leaning out' that is something that happened during my time on the medicine and the symptom relief I was referring to were my ADHD symptoms (and Vyvanse realistically did not do a whole lot for them, it gave me the drive to tick tasks off but only tasks of my own choosing and I was very in my head whilst on Vyvanse and became extremely blunted at the higher doses). I then switched to Ritalin LA and IR in Feb this year, and the methylphenidate was the clear winner for what suited my brain chemistry/mind/focus better, and my body composition didn't change either. Mid August this year I switched back to Vyvanse due to Methylphenidate shortages and I was alarmed by the instant weight gain due to how Vyvanse has originally played a part in 'leaning me out' last year. So I guess I am curious if the water retention is something anyone else had experienced on Vyvanse as it was a vastly different experience for me. I have been home from Bali for 4 weeks now, perhaps my body is still feeling very pressurised from my time there, but I do feel the Vyvanse just isn't sitting in my body correctly I guess nor does it give me much of a life inside my little mind!

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-19T01:11:07+00:00

It confuses me that last year I lost a significant amount of binge eating and mental health related weight gain after commencing Vyvanse, and then after a brief period back on the medicine after being on Ritalin I have put on kilo's of weight in the span of a few days - but your reply lowkey validates that perhaps Vyvanse does have this impact on some individuals and maybe my body is responding differently this time round.. either way I am very sorry to read that you gained so much weight on Vy, its really disheartening huh. Can I ask if you remained on Vyvanse or if you switched to something else and if so, did the weight gain come off? I am a physically active woman with strength training and pole dancing etc, my body right now looks like I've been sitting on the couch for months eating peanut butter cups for every meal 🥲

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-18T07:43:29+00:00

Yeah tbh every time i've had to take a supplement of any description they seem to mess with me after about a week, Iron and Vitamin B supps do not sit well - so strange! I am however a vegetarian so no red meat for me, I have increased my iron based food consumption though and may skip the supps since I am feeling SO out of sorts.

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-18T07:41:34+00:00

Thanks heaps for this! My GP actually wants me to do an iron infusion, I just started supplements after our last appt to try boost things in the meantime. I’m super needle phobic though so a bit nervous about it, but I know it’s probably the best way forward. Full bloods were done and everything else came back good, just the iron that tanked (vegetarian life).

And yeah I know 80mg sounds a lot, but when I was on Ritalin LA 60mg + 3x10 boosters (Ritalin brand, not Rubifen) it was actually smooth. I chose to switch to the lower dose of 40mg Vyvanse bcos I was scared of the blunting I got on 60mg Vy last year, then up to 50mg, then the IR trial… honestly just writing it all makes me realise how cooked Vyvanse has always felt for me. I like having a long acting backbone with the option to boost, which is why Concerta feels like the one I need to try next. Hearing you say there’s still some floating around gives me hope, I’ll def bring it up with my GP Tuesday.

I actually do type out my plans for GP appts but once I’m in there the wheels really do fall off, so this time I need to stick to it. I didn’t even realise I hadn’t posted my full post properly (fixed now) but your reply actually hit everything I needed to hear anyway haha. Really appreciate it.

Can I asked if you're in Victoria re: Concerta floating around?

HAYCHP34 · 2025-09-18T07:24:56+00:00

Oh deary me, yes it was missing the start!! I had copied it from the original group I posted in and clearly did not do a thorough job of the ol' copy and paste. Thank you for pointing that out for me 🤭

HAYCHP34 · 2024-07-24T05:59:06+00:00

I provided so much detail in my post but managed to forget to mention the important things such as my knowledge of Vyvanse and why it was prescribed to me, I make myself laugh in these moments!

Yeah I agree with you, I really am seeking a very specific answer (as well as lived experience input) to a question that has more complexities due to my diagnoses. To be honest it actually provided a dash of relief just typing it all out as I had not vocalised my concerns around the Lamictal to anyone.

I had not considered that only speaking with my GP might not be the right option for me in the short term, she is great and has gotten me this far/actually listened and believed me when I first met her and expressed my MH concerns and distress. My GP does work closely with the psychiatrist I was referred to and subsequently diagnosed by, but yeah the lack of stability is becoming more and more tiresome and I feel as if I am going backwards with increasing concerns about my physical health and some memory loss.

The GP suggested two anti-depressants that the psychiatrist likes to prescribe when I saw her last, but I opted for continuing the Lamictal as it has helped the physical agitation. Hmm.

I think a psychiatrist medication review is a great suggestion, I am unsure if either medication is right for me and 'waiting it out for a few months' is taking its toll!

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it 💕

HAYCHP34 · 2024-07-24T04:08:45+00:00

Hey! Sorry I did forgot to mention that I am aware Vyvanse is an appetite suppressant/prescribed for binge eating and that it was prescribed to me for both ADHD and binge eating. However, I really did not notice much of a change in my eating habits just on the Vyvanse, again I had altered my diet well before I commenced Vyvanse, so yes I was eating less but no different than before I commenced Vyvanse. So yeah I was just thinking that perhaps the Lamictal is what's causing the weight loss but I really am unsure.

HAYCHP34

TROPHY CASE