My son is taking 50 mg of Vyvanse. It works like a dream for him when he is in school.
Lately, though, I have noticed when he is home and on the full dose, he seems to not need such a high dose and is taking out workbooks and obsessing on them and seems to be more Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) than usual UNLESS we are somewhere in public or at a party and he needs to gain control (such as in crowds, etc), then he seems to need the medications to get through the day. Know what I mean??
I am wondering if his issues with school have more to do with anxiety than hyperactivity? He definitely does have anxiety that mimics ADHD and his ability to focus on a task at school stinks.
He has a very hard time controlling his impulsivity at school and at home; but at home, he can control himself better (and his ADHD symptoms -- literally fighting with his brother, tantrums, indoor voice, standing to eat all meals, and incessant whistling) unless his brother is taunting him, etc.
Besides loss of appetite, he does have a "tick" which is incessant whistling. I am not sure if he would've done that anyway or if this is a side effect of his ADHD medication. I am also concerned because his growth in height has definitely slowed down and I am afraid that this is because of the medications, possibly the high dose he is on (which he definitely needs to be successful in school) or the medication itself. The loss of appetite we deal with by feeding him early before the medications and feeding him an extra meal at nighttime before bed. The growth I am not sure what to do except take him off on the weekends and holidays.
He has been on the medication Vyvanse for two and a half years, since 3 months into Kindergarten and he is now in 2nd grade making excellent grades and having excellent behavior.