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Vyvanse is a commonly prescribed prescription medication for symptoms associated with binge eating disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While it is an effective medication that helps people manage their diagnoses, there is still a potential for misuse. Many doctors warn their patients against the practice of drinking alcohol with certain prescription medications. You should not mix Vyvanse and alcohol. Combining alcohol and Vyvanse increases your chances of developing serious health-related consequences and engaging in risky behavior.
What Is Vyvanse?
Vyvanse is a stimulant medication called amphetamine. When you take Vyvanse, it increases levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. This increase can help people with ADHD control their impulses, focus, and perform better at work and school. Unlike other commonly prescribed stimulants, it is inactive until it is metabolized. This “time release” process means it has a lower potential for abuse compared to other stimulants since the chance of experiencing a quick high is reduced. However, exceeding the recommended dose can also make you become more tolerant of the medication, requiring you to take more to achieve the same effect.
Can You Mix Vyvanse With Alcohol?
No, you should not mix Vyvanse and Alcohol. Sometimes, people believe mixing Vyvanse with alcohol will completely cancel out the side effects of each since one is a stimulant and one is a depressant. However, combining the two will only make it more difficult to judge how intoxicated you are. Without understanding your level of intoxication, you may drink much more than you intended to, which can lead to dangerous, even deadly consequences.
What Happens if You Mix Them?
Drinking on Vyvanse is never a good idea for several reasons. Although people may initially enjoy a “high” from the stimulating effect of Vyvanse, it is not as pronounced as it can be with other types of stimulant drugs. People often take Vyvanse while drinking to increase their ability to stay awake and drink more. The following effects are common when mixing Vyvanse and alcohol:
- Increased energy and euphoria
- Presumed ability to drink more alcohol without feeling intoxicated
- Nausea and vomiting
- Nausea and diarrhea
Mixing Vyvanse and alcohol can create a pleasurable feeling. However, drinking alcohol will minimize some of the stimulating effects of Vyvanse, while Vyvanse will decrease some of the sedative effects of alcohol. When this occurs, you may take more Vyvanse or drink even more, leading to potentially dangerous consequences.
How Long After I Drink Alcohol Can I Take Vyvanse?
Adults may feel the effects of Vyvanse for up to 14 hours. Therefore, you should not drink alcohol for at least 14 hours. If you would like to skip a dose of Vyvanse to have a drink occasionally, make sure to speak with your doctor first.
What Are the Risks and Dangers of Mixing Vyvanse and Alcohol?
Mixing alcohol and Vyvanse is a risky practice. Although some people accidentally drink alcohol after forgetting they took Vyvanse earlier, others intentionally combine the two to increase the pleasurable feelings of both or to drink more without feeling sleepy. Because alcohol and Vyvanse both increase dopamine levels in the brain, they elevate these levels more when combined. However, the negative effects of mixing these substances outweigh the short-term pleasurable feelings. These side effects include:
- Irritability and agitation
- Aggression
- Dry mouth and sinuses
- Chest pain
- Pupil dilation
- Confusion
- Mood swings
- Hyperactivity
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Seizures
Like many substances, there are hidden dangers associated with mixing Vyvanse and alcohol. Misusing Vyvanse can lead to additional long-term risks, even if you do not experience short-term complications. This risk increases if you are misusing your prescription Vyvanse or taking it without a medical need. Some of these risks include:
- Cardiovascular harm – Mixing stimulants and depressants affects cardiovascular functioning, putting strain on your blood vessels and heart.
- Not realizing how drunk you are – The stimulating effects of Vyvanse make you feel alert, and you may not know how impaired you are, increasing your risk of alcohol poisoning.
- Drinking more often – Those who misuse stimulant medications like Vyvanse may be more likely to abuse alcohol or binge drink.
- Increased risk of polysubstance abuse – By combining Vyvanse with alcohol, you increase your chances of becoming addicted to several substances at once.
- Engaging in dangerous behaviors – Because people who misuse Vyvanse are also more likely to drink more alcohol, their chances of risky behavior increase. Examples of risky behaviors may include driving under the influence, physical altercations leading to legal consequences, and risky sexual behavior.
- Being the victim of a crime – Studies have found using multiple substances together puts a person at greater risk of victimization.
In addition, you put yourself at risk of liver damage when drinking while using Vyvanse. Your liver metabolizes both substances. Combining them puts additional strain on its ability to function, contributing to liver toxicity.
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Abusing Alcohol & Vyvanse: Polysubstance Use Disorders
Polysubstance abuse is defined as an addiction to the feeling of being “high” and may involve more than two substances. People who struggle to control their drinking and Vyvanse use, for example, is an example of polysubstance abuse. Polysubstance abuse can be dangerous because it increases the risk of overdose and other health consequences.
If you are having trouble controlling your alcohol and Vyvanse use, there is treatment available. Footprint to Recovery offers comprehensive treatment programs that address both substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Addiction Treatment for Vyvanse and Alcohol
At Footprints to Recovery, our approach to addiction treatment and recovery begins with supervised medical detox, which helps your body safely eliminate both substances while keeping you comfortable and safe throughout the process. Afterward, you will participate in a comprehensive treatment program to get the help you need to begin your recovery journey.
After detox, a residential treatment program is often the next step for a person struggling with polysubstance abuse. This program provides longer-term support for more severe addictions. A residential program may include individual therapy, group therapy, holistic services, and more.
There is always hope for a brighter future here at Footprints to Recovery, and we understand what you’re going through. Our experienced mental health professionals genuinely care for your well-being. If you are ready to take your life back from substance use, contact us today. We can help you start the enrollment process and answer any questions you may have about recovery. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Lisdexamfetamine Compared with D-Amphetamine in Healthy Subjects – PMC
- Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate (Vyvanse), A Prodrug Stimulant for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – PMC
- Alcohol Interactions with Psychostimulants: An Overview of Animal and Human Studies – PMC
- Methamphetamine and ethanol interactions in humans – PubMed
- Criminal Victimization and Comorbid Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders in the United States: Results from the NESARC
- Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
- Amphetamines – LiverTox – NCBI Bookshelf
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