Neurologist Questions Psychiatrist

When used long term what meds downregulate glutamate receptors?

My daughter was treated very successfully for ADHD with 20mg of vyvanse for 2 months, the next month 30mg (because the 20 wasn't working anymore) the 3rd month she was upped to 40mg. In the 4th month the same thing. Tolerance or dependency , I monitored her meds, she has no prior drug history. The 40 was no longer working so she did 50 briefly. Her and I had a talk and she said" dad I'd rather be dumb than taking these drugs" poor girl, she's far from dumb. She just can't focus. I was starting to have concerns at about 10 weeks, but the psychiatrist assured me this was a safe and proper treatment.

I have always payed a lot of attention to her, she exercises with me, she eats extremely healthy. She is by no means a typical teenager she is remarkable and kind. She has always struggled at school with her inability to focus but she always managed to pass. I tried many natural remedies before we went to a doctor about this, but her lack of focus has now kept her from advancing a grade which has really destroyed her perception of herself. This lack of focus is not just school work, she often changes a conversation she will initiate before she finishes.

She was not tapered off the drug, the doctor said it was safe to just discontinue.

She is experiencing extreme Sleepiness (sleeping 12 hours a day) , low energy all day, and a depressive mood. She had none of these symptoms pre vyvanse and she has had so many tests run, tests I didn't even know existed. Gene tests,, Blood work, urine test for neurotransmitters, and even brain imaging all come back normal.

I am wondering if her glutamate receptors may be not functioning properly and she is experiencing the effects of to much gaba as a result.

My brother was an alcoholic so I know a little about gaba receptors being down regulated through depressants. When he got clean he was an anxious mess that could barely sleep, had a siezure and developed short term akathesia as a result of a non medically supervisedcold turkey. He was sick for a good 6 months (but he was a very heavy and long term drinker) I'm just curious if the opposite is happening in the case of my daughter.


Female | 16 years old
Complaint duration: 4 months
Medications: None
Conditions: ADHD

1 Answer

NeurologistPsychiatrist
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