The Dangers of Mixing Vyvanse and Alcohol
While some people may accidentally drink while on prescription medications like Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), other people may do so on purpose. In fact, mixing drugs is not uncommon. Mixing Vyvanse and Alcohol is not medically recommended.
Drug companies warn against misusing or abusing alcohol while taking Vyvanse. This warning is because there are several significant consequences of misusing Vyvanse by combining it with alcohol. The practice can lead to overdose, cardiovascular problems, and even death.
What Is Vyvanse?
Vyvanse is a medication prescribed for several conditions, but primarily attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder. Vyvanse helps regulate symptoms associated with ADHD, like hyperactivity, inability to focus, and impulsivity. It is a controlled substance with the potential for misuse and addiction. If you have a prescription for Vyvanse, you must avoid mixing it with alcohol.
Some people abuse Vyvanse to improve work, lose weight, or enhance academic performance. Others may abuse it in larger doses in combination with alcohol to party, stay awake, and keep drinking. Abuse of stimulant medications like Vyvanse can increase your overdose risk, which may be fatal.
What Happens When You Drink While Taking Vyvanse?
Alcohol is a depressant, while Vyvanse is a stimulant medication. Because they produce very different effects on the body, taking them together causes them to act against each other. Vyvanse lessens the sedative effects of alcohol, while alcohol can decrease the stimulant effects Vyvanse causes. Some people will take more or less of each drug to reach their desired effect.
In addition, mixing Vyvanse and alcohol makes you feel like you’re not as impaired as you actually are. This combination can lead to engaging in dangerous behavior, including driving drunk, impulsive, erratic behavior, and unsafe sex.
Also, both Vyvanse and alcohol can result in a variety of side effects. The risk of serious side effects may be amplified when taking the two substances together.
Vyvanse can cause:
- Insomnia
- Weight loss
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Alcohol’s side effects include:
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Dilation of the pupils
- Headaches
- Dehydration
- Confusion
- Reduced inhibitions
- Paranoia or other mental health issues
- Alcohol poisoning
The Risks of Mixing Vyvanse With Alcohol
By combining these drugs, you may risk several harmful effects, including overdose. The most common side effects associated with combining Vyvanse and alcohol include:
- Dramatic changes in blood pressure
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased risk of seizure
- Increase in heart rate
- Hyperactivity
- Chest pains
- Heart attack and stroke
- Alcohol poisoning
- Death (from overdose)
Although some of these are short-term side effects, there are additional long-term risks associated with routinely mixing Vyvanse and alcohol. Each substance comes with its own risks, and using both regularly puts you at a greater risk for adverse outcomes.
Combining Vyvanse and Alcohol Overdose Dangers
Many of the dangers stem from Vyvanse and alcohol overdose because Vyvanse makes you feel energetic and euphoric. When you take Vyvanse while drinking, the stimulant effects can make you think you aren’t as drunk as you actually are. Some people will continue drinking even though they are past the point of being severely intoxicated.
Although you may not feel intoxicated, the damaging effects of alcohol will still occur throughout your body, and you may end up with alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly. In combination, you must be on the lookout for overdose symptoms for both substances, which include:
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Irregular or slow breathing
- Hypothermia
- Loss of consciousness or inability to maintain consciousness
- Shaking
- Hallucination
- Aggression
- Diarrhea
- Fever
In addition, there are several dangerous hidden consequences if you continue to mix Vyvanse and alcohol over time:
- Cardiovascular problems – Taking stimulants with alcohol can cause you to develop high blood pressure. Vyvanse also raises your heart rate. However, when you add alcohol to the mix, you enhance this effect and can even experience irregular heart rate, increasing your chances of heart attack, stroke, and death.
- Issues with mental health – Because alcohol is a depressant, you may develop anxiety or depression. Combining alcohol with Vyvanse can heighten this risk. There is also an increased chance of psychosis, which may cause hallucinations, delusions, and other disturbances.
- Liver damage – Vyvanse and alcohol can cause liver damage if they are misused. Over time, this combination can quickly lead to liver injuries. Because Vyvanse can cause you to drink more than you otherwise would, overconsumption of alcohol also increases this risk
- Polysubstance abuse – Frequently taking Vyvanse and alcohol together to get intoxicated can lead to polysubstance abuse. This can increase your risk of developing a substance use disorder, lead to various mental health conditions, and cause poor health outcomes.
- Alcohol poisoning – When you combine stimulant medications with alcohol, it will take you longer to feel “drunk.” Many people will continue to drink past the point of intoxication when they are taking Vyvanse. This combination increases your risk of alcohol poisoning, a potentially life-threatening condition, possibly leading to permanent brain damage, blindness, or death.
How Vogue Recovery Center Can Help You With Vyvanse and Alcohol Dangers and Addiction
The dangers of combining alcohol and Vyvanse are serious and put you at risk of long-term health consequences, decreasing your quality of life. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to Vyvanse and alcohol, we are here to help.
Vogue Recovery Center offers a safe and structured environment that helps you address polysubstance addiction as well as co-occurring mental health concerns. Our dual-diagnosis treatment approach is guided by a team of compassionate and knowledgeable professionals who will help you get to the root of your addiction so you can experience life free from substance. We can help you take the first steps as you begin your recovery journey through individual therapy, group counseling, and additional forms of treatment.
With Vogue Recovery Center, you are never alone. Reach out today to find out more about how we can help you get better. We can help you start a new chapter in life and break free from the cycle of addiction so you can experience positive change and a brighter future.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873712/
- http://www.drugs.com/vyvanse.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470276/
- http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=704e4378-ca83-445c-8b45-3cfa51c1ecad
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-022-00396-y
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26466222/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482368/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548941/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546632/
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00569
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-dangers-of-alcohol-overdose
Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC
