Vyvanse + supplements guide
Edited to clarify a bunch of stuff and add more of my story: this list is like a glossary, not a recipe. If adhd meds cause your body to ache, or your brain to fog, or they seem not to work, don’t give up - this list might be of interest to you.
You know how we are, we want to know all the things. And if we are going to do the thing, we want the best advantages we can have. So, here’s what I’ve compiled so far regarding supplements on stimulants, my Reddit peoplehood.
The reason I went down this rabbit hole was because I tried many stimulants and they ALL gave me zombie like feelings, I felt “lost” in my head after taking them, “dumbed down”, and experienced heightened pain. I was better off without. After a year break, I decided to try again with the pro drug Vyvanse, starting low and slow, and looking into anecdotal help since the Psych would just shrug his shoulders and call it “trauma”. My Ortho, however, validated me and told me many of his pain patients cannot tolerate stimulants - the best he could offer was “only take stimulants when you need them” which we all know is wack. It was my rheumatologist that introduced me to “Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (Citrate/Malate) 1000 mg/Day (worked up to six pills a day for a long while! I thought he was mad) and for the first time, I was pain free. So here we are. I think there’s something to all this. I do have a biology degree, but that doesn’t mean I know any more than some of you so be smart!
Here is the thread that turned me on to supplements for stimulant use. (I’ve added to it):
https://www.reddit.com/r/VyvanseADHD/s/RpNUcc3Tqb
Disclaimer: I KNOW NOTHING. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. BE SAFE WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL BRAIN OF YOURS. LOOK OUT FOR DANGEROUS INTERACTIONS.
…and a love disclaimer: EXERCISE. ONLY ADD/CHANGE ONE THING AT A TIME SO YOU KNOW WHATS WORKING. KEEP AN OPEN MIND. DONT GIVE UP.
A quick thought about drinking coffee all day: maybe consider taking a break from caffeine until you fully know how to use it with your medication. Turn that habit into a tool. But later.
Okay here we go!
The following first supplement might help with pain. In the morning with your Vyvanse dose on an empty stomach (thirty minutes before a protein shake):
-500mg work up to 1000mg DL/L-Phenylalanine (DLPA): this might have a pain relief effect with stimulant.
DLPA Analgesic properties: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10998643/
This link mentions other DLPA studies: https://www.pureencapsulationspro.com/dl-phenylalanine.html
————————————————— This one is for the “zombies” and the agitated moods, and is suggested in the morning with your Vy and all throughout the day: (I’m considering just drinking green tea all day! lol)
-100-300mg L-Theanine (LT) take this up to a further 2x per day. mid afternoon before the crash and just before bed.
L-theanine is found in green tea and most studies are done with a mixture of LT and caffeine, a combo said to lightly mimic stimulants.
Without caffeine, it is said to relieve stress. So in this instance, its purpose is to take the edge off a bumpy stimulant ride (onset, come down, crash)
Interesting anecdotal article about using LT and caffeine pills with Vyvanse:
-The optimal ratio of caffeine and L-theanine (e.g. 200 mg of caffeine to 400 mg L-theanine) an “alternative treatment” (roll eyes) to ADHD - take with grain of salt
More links to studies on L theanine stating it gives a calming effect to counter the effects of caffeine and supports pleasant healthy mood (roll eyes - whatever that is):
https://www.pureencapsulationspro.com/l-theanine.html
————————————————- This is for mood and efficacy:
quality protein shake, same hour as your meds
Water now and all day. More!
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Around the 4 hour mark, if you feel zombie like, are crashing, or foggy, research these for that time of day:
-300-500mg N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine (NALT): this will help with the crash but start low, and go sparingly with this stuff:
N-acetyl-L-tyrosine (NALT) is a derivative of L-tyrosine, an amino acid that builds neurotransmitters crucial for brain health. It may boost cognition and alertness in stressful situations. There's insufficient evidence for other purported benefits such as mood improvement, weight loss, and substance withdrawal. This study found that it helps with working memory, switchtasking, other ADHD type issues:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6084775/
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-CDP-Choline, between 250 to 500mg is a good starting point
CDP-choline activates the biosynthesis of structural phospholipids in the neuronal membranes, increases cerebral metabolism and acts on the levels of various neurotransmitters. Thus, it has been experimentally proven that CDP-choline increases noradrenaline and dopamine levels in the CNS. Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8709678/
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Between 6-8 hrs at the end of your day consider more L-theanine (LT) 300mg if mood is very low with coffee or caffeine (maybe green tea!)
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20mins or so before bedtime: I do this because it solved my morning pain issue.
IF YOU HAVE PAIN - THIS IS WHAT HELPS SOME (yes all three):
-Magnesium glycinate(500-750mg) - Magnesium taurate (500-750mg) -magnesium threonate (1000-1500mg)
The benefits of magnesium are well studied AND life changing. Just google it and see what it does (helps with aches and pains, brain fog, fibromyalgia symptoms, replenishes the body) - with a history of fibromyalgia, Mg was a game changer.
—————————————————- Also to consider at night:
-500mg L-Tryptophan this might help you not feel depressed and trashy the next day.
https://laylagordon.uk/the-link-between-amino-acids-neurotransmitters-adhd/
Above article touches on the serotonin L-tryptophan might help make. But more, this article talks about what vitamins your body needs to make dopamine - the thing we are really after! (The amino acid tyrosine is first turned into L-dopa, which is then made into dopamine.
————————————————— Multivitamin stuff:
Your body also needs several vitamins and minerals to create dopamine, including:
-Iron, -niacin (B3) -folate -vitamin B6 -omega 3
If there is a deficiency in one or more of these nutrients, you may have trouble making enough dopamine to meet your body’s needs. Source: https://laylagordon.uk/the-link-between-amino-acids-neurotransmitters-adhd/ (she lists further sources)
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WITH PAIN YOU NEED TO HYDRATE MORE THAN OTHERS
WATER: is soooo important. First thing in the morning and throughout the day non-stop. Get you a cup with a straw. Name it. Lug it around. I beg you!
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COFFEE: is okay and can be useful for its caffeine but not if you're not getting water.
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AVOID ENERGY DRINKS and things of that nature like the plague on Vyvanse (OP wrote this and I’m not sure why but he’s right in my experience).
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NAC is mentioned for emotional regulation (500mg) but not sure where to add it in to my personal regimen. I don’t know much about this one but see it mentioned a lot.
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L-Tyrosine is everywhere in literature for ADHD and PMS, don’t know yet how to add it in. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3300376/
I’m not sure about this one either - some say to take it only on off days? It might not jive with your meds? Do more research if interested in this one. What I could find:
When to take: in the morning – ballardpsych.com
Dose: 500 to 2000mg per day – verywellmind.com
How long to work: first 2 weeks – psychcentral.com
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Taking breaks from stimulants:
this is anecdotal advice and polarizing in the community but very popular, 24hrs once a week is said to be good, the proponents say this break is to let the body resupply on dopamine. People who argue against this say “why would I take a break from wearing glasses one day a week if I need them to see?” To which I would reply, “okay but what if those glasses sucked the nutrients from your body while you wore them?” :) maybe there is a balance to be found there.
————————————————- Orange juice, acidic drinks, and vitamin C supplements:
Some people suggest taking antacid to make the stomach more basic and therefore a better environment for the stimulant.
Some people suggest avoiding orange juice due to the vitamin C and acidic enviornment it causes in the tummy. I dunno…The leaflet says kids can take Vy with OJ!
I personally do avoid acidic beverage when taking my meds, like coffee and juice and soda, but I don’t avoid these things later in the day really. Again, I shrug and offer this for further research if you’re interested.
Much love and good luck!