Vyvanse and Alcohol: Is It Safe to Drink While Taking Vyvanse?

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What you will learn

• Vyvanse is a central nervous system stimulant medication typically prescribed to those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Healthcare professionals generally discourage mixing Vyvanse and alcohol, although there is no formal warning listed on the prescribing information.
• Vyvanse can suppress the sedative effect of alcohol, making it difficult to determine the extent of your level of intoxication.
• When Vyvanse and alcohol are combined, there may be an increased risk of alcohol poisoning, dehydration, cardiovascular strain, poor judgment, and accidental injury.
• There is no proven waiting period that ensures safety when consuming alcohol after taking Vyvanse.
• People with heart problems, hypertension, anxiety disorders, or a history of substance abuse face a greater risk of adverse reactions when combining Vyvanse and alcohol.

Are you one of many who are concerned about whether you can consume alcohol while using Vyvanse? The main drawback of drinking alcohol while using Vyvanse is not due to a major chemical reaction. Rather, the primary concern is how each substance affects the other.[1]

Below, we address whether Vyvanse reduces feelings of intoxication, how long after a dose of medication to wait before drinking, who is more susceptible to risks, and when you should speak with a healthcare professional.

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Vyvanse?

Most healthcare providers advise patients to abstain from consuming alcohol while the medication is in your body. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prescribing information for Vyvanse, the label includes warnings about cardiovascular issues and the potential for misuse, but it does not specifically prohibit drinking alcohol while using the medication.[2]

Many factors influence how risky the combination is for each person, including:

• Each patient’s response to stimulants
• Dosage
• Amount of alcohol consumed
• Timing of when the two are taken
• Any pre-existing medical conditions

Does Vyvanse Reduce the Feeling of Being Drunk?

One of the most common things people wonder is if taking Vyvanse will make them feel less drunk after drinking. We will walk you through the answer.

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down brain activity. Conversely, Vyvanse is a stimulant that speeds up brain activity. When taken simultaneously, the effects of the stimulant portion of Vyvanse can mask the sedative effects of alcohol. However, it is imperative to note that merely feeling more alert and awake does not equate to being less intoxicated. In fact, a person under the influence of alcohol may continue to experience slowed reflexes, loss of coordination, decreased judgment, and may even engage in behavior that results in personal injuries.[3]

Because Vyvanse masks the sedative properties of alcohol, this mismatch can lead to:

• Drinking more than you intended
• Delayed perception of your intoxication level
• Increased likelihood of binge drinking
• Increased risk of alcohol poisoning
• Poor decision-making
• Increased likelihood of accidents

Feeling sober is not equivalent to being sober. Even though Vyvanse may produce feelings of alertness and wakefulness, alcohol still impairs reaction times, coordination, and judgment.

What Happens When You Mix Vyvanse and Alcohol?

Vyvanse and alcohol operate on the body in direct opposition to one another. The stimulant aspects of Vyvanse enhance alertness and increase heart rate, while the sedative aspects of alcohol induce drowsiness and dehydration. As opposed to canceling out each other’s effects, these opposing forces work together to produce a confusing and possibly hazardous experience within your body.

What Risks Increase When Combining Vyvanse and Alcohol?

Understanding how combining Vyvanse and alcohol can affect different parts of the body helps explain why caution is necessary, even when neither substance seems to be causing significant harm at the moment.

Cardiovascular Risks

Each substance places demand on your heart. Together, they may cause:

• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Heart attack
• A greater overall workload on the heart

Both of these effects are particularly concerning for individuals with existing heart disease or high blood pressure.

Alcohol Poisoning

Since Vyvanse can mask how intoxicated you feel, it is possible to drink more than you intended, which raises the risk of alcohol poisoning.

Signs of alcohol poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Inability to wake up
• Seizures
• Slowed or irregular breathing

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. Call 911 right away if you believe you or someone near you is experiencing these symptoms.

Dehydration

Both alcohol and stimulants individually contribute to dehydration, so combining them can make the problem worse.

Symptoms may worsen and include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Overheating
• Confusion

Mental Health Effects

When someone takes a stimulant such as Vyvanse along with alcohol, their psychological state may also suffer.

Psychological symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Panic attacks
• Mood swings
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis
• Aggression
• Poor concentration
• Disturbances in sleep patterns

Increased Risk of Substance Misuse

When individuals have a history of abusing substances or currently struggle with substance abuse, taking a stimulant and then drinking may increase their vulnerability to misusing either substance.[4] Stimulant misuse entails taking excess amounts beyond those prescribed, resulting in a variety of negative consequences.

How Long After Taking Vyvanse Can I Drink Alcohol?

There is no established waiting period for consuming alcohol after taking Vyvanse. Why? Because the duration that the effects of Vyvanse remain active in your body varies significantly among patients. Vyvanse’s effects often last 10–14 hours in adults, though this varies from person to person.[5] Even after the noticeable effects wear off, the medication’s half-life (the time required for the concentration of the active substance in the body to decrease by half) means it may still be affecting your body afterward.

Several variables affect how long Vyvanse stays active for you, including:

• Dosage
• Metabolism
• Kidney function
• Age
• Other medications presently being taken
• Quantity of alcohol planned to be consumed

Rather than establishing arbitrary guidelines or recommendations pertaining to time frames for consuming alcohol after taking Vyvanse, the most prudent course of action is to discuss your unique circumstances with your healthcare provider. In general terms, it is best to refrain from consuming alcohol until the medication ceases to exert its effects in your body. Regardless of whether or not you choose to abstain from drinking, never skip a prescribed dose solely so you can drink without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Who Is Most at Risk From Mixing Vyvanse and Alcohol?

Regardless of whether or not you experience any apparent negative side effects from combining Vyvanse and alcohol, there are certain populations that face a greater risk:

• Heart Disease: Added cardiovascular strain may prove detrimental.
• High Blood Pressure: Increased blood pressure may occur from the combined stimulation.
• Anxiety Disorders: Stimulation and sedative effects can heighten anxiety symptoms.
• History of Alcohol Misuse: Masked intoxication can impair the ability to drink responsibly.
• History of Stimulant Misuse: Increased vigilance is warranted with regard to medication use.
• Young Adults and College Students: Social settings where drinking occurs frequently increase opportunity for exposure.
• People Taking Other Medications: Additional interactions between drugs may add risk.

Common Signs of Mixing Vyvanse and Alcohol

Mild symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Rapid pulse
• Tremors or shakiness

Serious symptoms require immediate medical intervention and may include:

• Chest pain
• Severe confusion
• Fainting
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Seizures
• Difficulty breathing

If you observe any possible serious complications in yourself or someone nearby, please call emergency services immediately. It is always safer to err on the side of caution than to delay treatment in hopes that symptoms subside naturally.

How to Reduce Your Risk if You Take Vyvanse

As opposed to simply stating “do not drink,” here are some tips that can assist you in minimizing exposure to harmful complications from drinking while on Vyvanse:

• Take all prescriptions as directed by your physician.
• Speak with your prescriber prior to consuming any alcoholic beverages.
• Never binge drink while on a prescription stimulant.
• Always stay hydrated.
• Consume food prior to drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Do not combine any other types of stimulants with alcoholic beverages.
• Do not drive simply because you feel fine. Feeling alert is not the same as being unimpaired.
• Watch for signs of alcohol poisoning in yourself and in those around you.

Protecting Your Health: Navigating Prescription Use and Alcohol

Combining Vyvanse and alcohol creates a risky combination, primarily because the stimulatory effects of Vyvanse mask the sedative effects of alcohol, creating false perceptions of intoxication levels while placing an added burden on the heart. There is no scientifically supported time frame applicable to all individuals, as there are too many variables involved, including your dosage and any medical conditions you may have, which affect how long you experience the stimulating effects of Vyvanse.

The most reliable way to protect your well-being while taking Vyvanse is to speak candidly with your healthcare provider. This is especially true if you have heart problems, an anxiety disorder, or a history of substance abuse.

Ascendant New York encourages anyone facing struggles with stimulant abuse or alcohol use disorder to reach out for assistance via our professional staff, who utilize compassion and expertise in assisting clients through their struggles toward sobriety.