Ritalin vs Vyvanse Comparison: Which Is Better For ADHD?

Stimulants have been an effective option for ADHD patients from the very beginning. They help increase focus, concentration, and keep their mind relaxed. Since the working mechanisms of all the stimulants are similar, this makes it difficult to differentiate between them and choose one drug that would be effective for your treatment. This blog will focus on Ritalin vs Vyvanse, two very beneficial stimulants for ADHD, and give you all the details on how these drugs differ, their way of treating the patient, and certain risks involved with each of them.

Differentiating Ritalin and Vyvanse: Doses, Potency, Onset, & Half-Life

Overview Of Ritalin and Vyvanse

The stimulant Ritalin is the brand name for Methylphenidate and is used for treating ADHD. It functions in the body similarly to other stimulants by increasing the level of neurotransmitters. If you are given Ritalin for your treatment, then make sure to use it wisely because this drug is highly vulnerable to increasing dependency and making an individual addicted. This is the reason why the drug is placed under the category of a Schedule II drug. There are various side effects associated with this drug, so you must be very careful while dealing with it.

Vyvanse is the brand name for Lisdexamfetamine, and is used for ADHD and for moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adults. It is an inactive prodrug and is converted into dextroamphetamine, which helps in increasing the levels of neurotransmitters. This drug must not be used to lose weight. Vyvanse belongs to the category of Schedule II drugs; hence, it must be used with caution.

What Is The Difference Between Ritalin and Vyvanse?

Both these drugs are used for the treatment of ADHD, so are Ritalin and Vyvanse the same thing? No, they are not the same and have various other factors that make them apart from each other. Vyvanse and Ritalin can differ in their ingredients, side effects, dosages, as well as potential for addiction. Let’s discuss them in more detail.

Ritalin vs Vyvanse Dosage

The doses of these drugs are highly subjective, and you must follow them strictly. Do not adjust the dose on your own without consulting your doctor first. Let’s look into the prescribed dose for each drug.

Ritalin Doses

• Dose for ADHD: The dose for children is 5 mg taken twice a day before breakfast and before lunch, and for adults, the dose is 20 to 30 mg per day.
• Dose for Narcolepsy: The dose for narcolepsy for both children and adults is similar to the dose for ADHD.

Vavanse Doses

• Dose for ADHD: The starting dose for adults and children above 6 years of age is 30 mg.
• Dose for BED: This is only given to adults, and the starting dose is 30 mg once daily.

Now, let’s look into other factors in tabular form.

Factor	Ritalin	Vyvanse
Active ingredient	Methylphenidate hydrochloride	Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
Available formulations	Tablets, capsules, liquids, and patches	Capsule, Chewable tablet
Strength	5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 60mg	10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg
Onset	20 to 30 minutes after the last dose	90 minutes to 2 hours
Half-life	2 to 3 hours in adults and 2.5 hours in children	10 to 12 hours
Potential for abuse	High	Low compared to Ritalin
Cost	Cheap compared to Vyvanse	Costly

Which Is Better, Ritalin or Vyvanse?

If the condition of the patient gets better after taking a drug, then we can consider that drug a better option for them. Ritalin can be a better option for people who want immediate relief from the symptoms due to its faster onset of action. However, for people with milder symptoms, Vyvanse may be a suitable option because it stays in the body for the longest period and provides continuous relief throughout that time. Ritalin, being cheaper than Vyvanse, can be a good option if you have budget issues. All these are just theories, and the ultimate decision behind suggesting you drugs will be of your doctor.

Drug Interactions

Certain drugs must not be taken along with Ritalin or Vyvanse to avoid harmful reactions between them and ultimately cause harm to your body. Let’s see all the drugs that must not be taken with Ritalin or Vyvanse.

Drug Interactions of Ritalin

• Abilify
• Adderall
• Bupropion
• Clonidine
• Lexapro
• propranolol
• Prozac
• sertraline
• Tramadol
• Vyvanse
• Wellbutrin
• Xanax
• Zoloft

Drug Interactions of Vyvanse

• Abilify
• Adderall
• albuterol
• bupropion
• Buspirone
• Cymbalta
• Fluoxetine
• Hydroxyzine
• levothyroxine
• Lexapro
• Prozac
• sertraline
• Trazodone
• Zoloft

Ritalin vs Vyvanse Side Effects

Like all other drugs, individuals taking RItalin and Vyvanse also notice certain side effects, which can range from moderate to severe. Let’s see all those side effects of each drug.

Side Effects of Ritalin

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Palpitations
• Sweating

Side Effects of Vyvanse

• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Headache
• Nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• Constipation

Can You Take Ritalin and Vyvanse Together?

Since both are stimulant medications, mixing Ritalin and Vyvanse carries the danger of overdosing. There are also other health risks in this, such as high blood pressure, excessive sedation, and other cardiovascular risks with this mixture. There are certain rare cases in which the doctor might suggest this mixture to us. For example, if a person is taking Vyvanse as their regular dose and experiences sudden severe symptoms, then the doctor may ask them to take Ritalin immediately to tackle it. In other cases, the doctor might mix both these drugs in certain amounts and ask you to take them for faster recovery.

Alternatives

You can opt for other alternatives if these drugs do not fulfill your requirements or are unavailable at the moment. These alternatives will be equally effective and provide you with the same relief.

Ritalin Alternatives

• Strattera
• Adderall
• Focalin
• Vyvanse
• Clonidine
• Intuniv
• Viloxazine
• Evekeo
• Kapvay
• Methylin

Alternatives to Vyvanse

• Ritalin
• Strattera
• Concerta
• Focalin
• Intuniv
• Adderall
• Clonidine
• Azstarys
• Daytrana
• Methylin
• Wellbutrin

Conclusion

At the end of the blog, we can conclude that Ritalin and Vyvanse are both effective sources of anti ADHD medication. They have been effective against the disorder for a long time and are still in demand due to their efficiency. A doctor can suggest any drugs from either based on your condition. You must stick to your own drug and not interchange it as you wish. Do not take an extra amount beyond your prescribed doses to avoid combining Ritalin and Vyvanse to prevent overdosing. Continue your medication patiently, and you will get smooth and effective results.