Has anyone else been through the struggle of trying to find the right balance on a stimulant ADHD medication after their RNY gastric bypass? I had tried many different meds when I was younger to find that Vyvanse was ultimately the med that would work for me long term, and I have been on it for many years. Post surgery, I'm noticing it feels like Vyvanse has only a true effectiveness of maybe a solid hour or two. If that?? Focus, concentration attentiveness, energy, you name it... It's all gone down the drain. Has anyone else had issues finding the balance with their ADHD meds post surgery, and where/how did you find success?

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How far post-op are you?

As you lose weight, the chemicals and hormones stored in the fat of your body are released. As a result, many individuals feel a release of emotions during the weight loss phase. This effect should balance out when you reach the maintenance phase. One thing you can do is make sure you are meeting or exceeding your daily fluid requirements. It takes fluids to flush these hormones through your kidney or sweat glands.

How far post-op are you?

I am just shy of 9 months post op. However, I've already met my weight loss goal - actually, I've exceeded it, and I'm to the point where I'm being told I need to put weight back on. Which is one of the reasons why I am really trying to get my ADHD med balanced out. Prior to surgery when I was on my max dosage, my focus and energy was on point. I was going to college full time and working part time as a barista (except for when I would get bored in classes...) and any time I wasn't doing those things I was keeping myself busy some other way. Now, I can't even keep my mind focused enough to play a game of cards, or make a grocery list without taking all day to do so. The distractability(?) is unreal...

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The absorption of ADHD meds after RNY is not totally well understood. There’s actually a clinical trial currently measuring vyvanse absorption to try to answer the question. Talk to your psychiatrist about changing to the transdermal patch!

The absorption of ADHD meds after RNY is not totally well understood. There’s actually a clinical trial currently measuring vyvanse absorption to try to answer the question. Talk to your psychiatrist about changing to the transdermal patch!

How well does the transdermal patch do? Right now my pcm does my med management and he is only a PA, until I get in with a new psychiatrist. He just switched me to straterra, but I'm not so sure how well an adhd med with no stimulants will work with being on vyvanse for so long...?

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The patch supposedly works well - I’d recommend giving it a shot.

Vyvanse didn't work for me. I was on focalin xr before bypass. Supposedly could break capsule up but it was too high of a dose. Now back on 10mg tablets 2x a day. Biggest problem is remembering to take the afternoon one. Had to setup an alarm. Seems to be working for me though. I'm 6 months post

Im right there with you: I was taking 30 mg of adderall 2x a day (instant release) and was working great before surgery. Now it’s like I don’t take it at all or it works for 2-3 hours. The dr increased to 3x a day to make it last longer; but I don’t feel as it’s very effective.

I’m on vyvance 60mg, in the morning and added all 20mg in the evening. Neither seem to be doing anything now.... that’s pretty much the only struggle I’m having with al this.

I’m only 8 days out. I just started taking my adderoll again today and only took 1/4 of my regular dose. I take two 20mg instant release tablets a day.

Ive also taken focolin, vyvanse, concerta, and ritilin over the years.