What should I do moving forward?

[Guppy19461]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello, For the first two years I did great in college. I got all A’s in gen Eds. I took trig, principles 1, gen chem 2, and stats in a semester while doing research and working two serving jobs. In those classes I got all As except gen chem 2 was a b. I took o chem over the summer and got an A in that too.

The issue began in the fall of my jr semester. I was taking physics, o chem 2, working two jobs, principles 2, and biomed ethics, while doing research as well this time in a new lab. I wanted to do better so I increased my vyvanse dosage. I got an A in two of those classes, a C in physics, and a B in o chem 2. I slept through an alarm and got fired from my job for it. (Which is fair I wasn’t being consistent I get it). I tried to tell myself it was fine I need to focus on school anyway.

Then spring semester it got worse, so I dropped out that semester in everything except epidemiology (because that class is easy) to get my life back on track. Got an A on that, but I withdrew from biochem, molecular, and anatomy because I wasn’t showing up enough. I retook physics in the summer and got an A.

So then, I decided to try out a new college hoping the change of atmosphere would help. I upped my vyvanse dose. It’s a nice change. But I didn’t study enough again this semester, it was the strangest thing because my mind was foggy and I always felt the need to sleep. I found my Vyvanse dosage being 60 mg was way too high for me. It badly affected my focus, I was extremely shaky, left me needing to sleep all the time etc. I lowered my dosage to 30 mg and my head feels so clear and I can get work done now.

But, it’s already late in the semester when I figured this out so now I think my best option would be to go on medical leave this semester and come back strong with my new dosage. What do you guys think?

 

[polymerization]

It sounds as though you are discovering that stimulant medication cannot fully replace underlying motivation. Your situation is understandable, particularly if you were encouraged to believe that earlier academic difficulties were primarily the result of being unmedicated. Under that framework, someone facing a very high standard of performance might feel pressure to increase the dose in pursuit of that goal.

This is not medical advice, but adjusting the dose on your own is generally unwise. The usual maximum daily dose of Vyvanse is 70 mg, so moving directly from the lowest therapeutic dose to near the upper limit introduces significant risks, especially when potential interactions are unknown. Medications in this class can raise the likelihood of cardiovascular events and can lower the seizure threshold. Misuse carries real consequences, and it is important to approach it cautiously.

My impression is that the central issue may not be dose-finding. It may be more helpful to contact counseling or psychological services to explore factors such as burnout or functional depression. Continuing to push forward while you are struggling this much is unlikely to be productive, and structured support might give you a more sustainable path forward.

 

[chilly_md]

If you are struggling in classes this semester and have C's and D's, medical leave would make sense to keep yourself from digging a hole.

Please consult with your doctor regarding any questions about your medication and changes you'd like to make.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree that you need to seek advice from your (prescribing) physician who will likely provide any necessary documentation for a medical LOA.