Your body depends upon sleep to help rest, revive, and recharge both mentally and physically. Without it, you can harm your body and influence ailments over time. Children especially need their rest as their bodies and brains are actively developing, and sleep deprivation can hinder these processes. Unfortunately, there are many causes to sleep loss, and when it is caused by medications, it can be especially frustrating.
VyVanse is a type of drug that stimulates the central nervous system and is often used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHA) in young children. VyVanse may often create insomnia in the patients it is prescribed to and can lead to further problems when not addressed. If sleep is elusive due to its use, take a look at some of the following tips designed to help provide the best way to fall asleep on VyVanse.
Why Sleep Is Important
Mentioned above, sleep is vital to your overall health – even more so in young, developing bodies. During your rest, your body repairs itself on a cellular level and provides the time needed for your brain to store and process information. It supports metabolism, physical performance, heart function, memory, focus, social and emotional reactions, and keeps your immune system working. When sleep-deprived, the body is at risk for sickness, short term memory loss, heart stressors, and overall health deterioration.
What is VyVanse?
VyVanse is a central nervous system stimulant that affects chemicals in the brain to help control the nerves that contribute to impulsive behaviors and hyperactivity. It is designed to help children as young as six with concentration and focus, and work to control impulsive behavioral problems. It also can be used for adults to help control severe binge eating disorders since it works to calm impulsive decision processes.
The central nervous system stimulation releases dopamine but stops it from being taken back up. Dopamine is naturally occurring in the brain is what helps channel signals from the brain to the body. This hyper-alert stage created by the dopamine release helps a child to concentrate and can support a healthier impulse and emotional response.
VyVanse should never be used without a prescription.
VyVanse Side Effects and Sleep
Possible side effects are common for any prescription medication, and VyVanse is no exception. Common side effects are insomnia and irritability, but patients may also experience dizziness, weight loss, or even severe dry mouth. Less common, but severe in nature, are vocal outbursts or uncontrollable body movements.
Insomnia, in particular, can be highly damaging due to how it leads to further health issues if not addressed. This can be very problematic for young children who may suffer more from sleep deprivation than they would from a lack of attention.
Tips to Fall Asleep on VyVanse
Because VyVanse works to stimulate the mind and body, it can be very difficult to relax in order to fall asleep. If you struggle with falling asleep, or wake through the night and are unable to stay asleep, you might want to try a few of the following to help influence your body to better rest.
Take a Warm Bath or Shower
Release tensions and relax as you warm your body in a warm bath or shower. This is a great practice to incorporate into a daily night time routine as it brings the blood flow towards the surface of the skin and allows your core to cool more quickly–stimulating a rest-like state as your body drops in temperature when you sleep.
Diffuse Essential Oils
Certain essential oils help to relax the body and influence a calming sensation. Diffuse for 20 to 30 minutes prior to bed to help stimulate this feeling and create a regular sense of peace prior to going to bed.
Turn on White Noise
A consistent static, or white noise, can help block out distracting and disrupting noises and also lull the mind to allow you to relax and fall asleep. This practice creates a sound cocoon of consistency to help keep you asleep.
Avoid Alcohol, Sugar, and Caffeine
Alcohol, sugar, and caffeine all work as additional stimulants, and most likely will add to restlessness and mental anxiety. Plus, they work as a diuretic and may cause you to wake through the night to relieve yourself.
Practice Meditation or Yoga
Whole-body and mind relaxation is a part of both yoga and meditation practices. Controlling your breathing and concentration of body keeps you both physically and mentally focused. The practices release tensions as well and make you feel more present in the moment.
Create a Routine
Your body already recognizes a natural circadian rhythm that is related to both daylight and darkness. If you keep a very specific set schedule your body will be better able to take advantage of this to help mentally ready yourself for bed.
Have a Regular Exercise Routine
Exercising right before bed may not be the best practice, but if you set a routine to exercise regularly you are going to influence a deeper, more restful sleep according to many studies on the subject.
Invest in a Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets stimulate serotonin release to help trigger a calming sensation. Originally studied as a way to help calm those with sensory disorders, the product has become incredibly popular as a therapeutic aid for stress, anxiety, and insomnia relief.
Dedicate Quiet Time
Create a quiet time during the few hours leading up to bed. Help trigger your natural sleep cycle by dimming the lights, turning off all screens, diffuse oils, practice mindful meditation, etc… Try to avoid any stimulation and allow your body to wind down from the day.
Avoid Screens
Because we are in tune with the rising and setting of the sun to help release the hormone melatonin that influences sleep, having a screen on leading up to your bedtime can offset your rest by tricking your mind into thinking it is still day. The ‘blue’ light emitted from these screens are similar to the sun and can disrupt your rest. Try to avoid screen, especially phones and tablets for 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.
Try to Quit Smoking
Being addicted to nicotine means your body craves it, even when you sleep. It can easily disrupt your rest and keep you awake.
Use Transitional Objects
It’s common sense to use a blanket or stuffed animal for young children to provide comfort at night, but what they also provide is a sense of mental recognition of it being time for bed. Try using this technique and designate a comfort aid to help this transition to bed.
Consider Supplements
Since your body already produces melatonin to promote rest, you can try a supplement to help boost your natural levels to influence a calming effect. L-theanine works in a similar manner to reduce stress and influence relaxation. You may want to speak with your doctor about this as well, despite them being easily found as over the counter options.
Speak With Your Doctor
If you have tried the above, or variations of the above and still a struggle exists, you may need to ask your doctor what remedy is needed next. There are certain prescriptions that may help with much-needed sleep if it has become a problem.
Conclusion
If VyVanse is creating insomnia and nighttime restlessness then it truly should be addressed before it gets too uncomfortable. Stop asking yourself how to fall asleep on VyVanse and begin applying a regular bedtime routine to prepare your mind and body towards rest. Use some of the techniques mentioned above to influence rest, and see how well that begins to work. If you still find yourself struggling, speak with your doctor to see what advice can be given.
Photo credit: Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder experienced by people of all ages and is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep. Insomnia happens for many reasons, even if you have the time and the right environment to sleep well. Insomnia can be triggered by many factors, including stress and aging, and can be especially prevalent if you are taking certain medications that can disrupt sleep such as VyVanse, certain anti-depressants, and beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and angina. Frequent insomnia can interfere with your ability to properly perform daily activities and may make you feel sleepy during the day.
Can I eat a big meal before bed or will it disrupt my sleep?
While a small snack an hour before you go to bed is fine and probably won’t affect your sleep, eating a large meal can make having a good night’s sleep difficult. Firstly, what you eat is important. For example, cola, some teas, coffee and chocolate all contain caffeine, which can keep you awake. Other foods such as tomato sauce, spicy or deep-fried food, can cause heartburn, indigestion or acid reflux, all of which can be triggered by eating and then lying down right after. Bigger meals take longer to digest than light snacks. The fuller your stomach is, the longer it takes to break it all down, increasing the probability of experiencing indigestion or acid reflux, both of which can make sleeping difficult. Eating quickly can also cause an upset stomach, putting a good night’s sleep farther out of reach.
Would changing my bed and mattress help me sleep better?
Sleeping on an old or lumpy mattress that doesn’t offer your body the right lumbar support can make it more difficult to fall asleep and also result in you waking up multiple times during the night. As well, if you are a “hot” sleeper, the type of mattress you have could be contributing to you feeling hot and sweaty during the night, which again could mean a lot of tossing and turning and wakeful moments. Do some research to find the right mattress for your body type, including a cool gel mattress if you are a hot sleeper, which may help you sleep better.
Does listening to music, the radio or a podcast help falling asleep easier?
If you lie in bed at night unable to fall asleep because you have so many thoughts running through your head keeping you awake, you’re not alone. The good news is, some experts say that listening to a podcast might distract you from your thoughts and help you focus on falling asleep, as long as what you are listening to isn't centered around heavy or stimulating issues. When it comes to music, some studies have found that music with a rhythm of about 60 beats a minute helps people fall asleep. So, as you are falling asleep, your heart rate begins to slow, and starts to move toward that 60-beats-per-minute range — in other words, slow music can “tune” your heartbeat toward the sleep zone.