new to vvyanse

[Mer23]

I just started taking vvyanse 30mg. Today was my first day taking it, im extremely shaky and my anxiety is worse. Does this get better? It’s definitely helping me concentrate and get more stuff done. I’m just extremely anxious and shaky.

[FindingTheAnswers]

Hi. I did take Vyvanse a while back but I don't remember why I went back to Adderall (possibly because the insurance company would make taking any brand name Rx extra difficult). As the same with Adderall, for what you are experiencing, (1) it was too high of a dose or (2) I was too stressed out and my anxiety was already worse than usual. To say the least, it was very unpleasant making things worse.

Have you had tried other ADD Rx's before? If you have 30mg of Vyvanse it does not always (or never?) equal 30mg of another Rx. Google to verify this.

[Wasted71years]

Hi Mer23

When I had my first days with Vyvanse I did experience physical jitter but at the same time I saw improvement in emotional regulation and a kind of calmness, almost sleepiness in my mind. It is paradoxical to feel the body stimulation and the mental calming, but I found that after a couple of weeks my system became used to Vyvanse and the physical effects became barely noticeable while the benefits remained.

It improved after only a couple of days and as I said by the end of the second week I didn't notice the effect. When I stepped up the dose the next month, again I had some sensations for the first week or so but each time I was able to acquire tolerance to the body effects.

This is one of the things you discover as your doctor seeks the right medication and right dose - which ones give benefit and whether you can get to a point where the side effects are tolerable or even absent. I have very few side effects other than feeling a slight caffeine like effect on my hand steadiness. Mentally I never feel buzzed, I actually need to drink a soda or have a cup of coffee if I want that mental stimulation feeling of caffeine because it is absent with the Vyvanse (for me).

If ultimately the side effects remain and are too objectionable, there are other classes of stimulants and other choices - it is a trial and error period until everything gets dialed in properly.

[Sidequest]

When I started my ADHD meds ( Elvanse) I was anxious and my back ached a lot. I had a dry mouth and my heart felt fluttery, within 4 weeks these issues pretty much disappeared ( still have a dry mouth and my back can be tense but nothing as bad as it was.) Hopefully yours will settle too X

[arepa]

Yes, this is absolutely normal when you start and people react in many different ways. It took me a while to get used to Vyvanse tbh but the physical anxiety did get better after some days. I think it's really important to find a way to release it (like exercising), avoid caffeine initially and monitor how you feel throughout the days regarding your level of anxiety, physical symptoms, irritability, and general mood. I found it helpful to take notes so that I could remember these things to report back to my doctor.

For me, it never worked to up the dosage - I tried 30, 40, 50, back to 40 and insisted for way too long, making me anxiously depressed. I actually feel my best at 20 which is a very low dosage and not as effective for my adhd symptoms but anyway, we have to weight the benefits and side effects. It's good that you're having the concentration benefits. Hang in there for a bit and let your body settle to it - but please don't insist on it for months like I did!

[Natural_Born_Carrie]

Just relax and try not to focus so much on the anxiety. Now that it's natural to feel uneasy. Give yourself a break. Take a soak. Stick with it.

Vyvance is a smooth alternative to Adderall. For me anyway just $50 vs.$10

[Hominid711]

Hi Mer23, Assuming you are not on other meds that could interfere with Vyvanse (and few meds do - your meds box leaflet will tell you) and/or have anorexia/significant malnutrition and/or have substance dependency of drugs and/or alc this increase in anxiety and shaking is unlikely (not 100% impossible but very unlikely) the effect of Vyvanse. I am a GP, not a psychiatrist, but with theoretical and working knowledge of certain psychoactive substances and myself on Vyvanse 70mg (50-60 might be enough but I'm great on 70) and Venlafaxine 375mg daily for General Anxiety Disoder ?Major Depressive Disorder (currently awaiting re-classification by a psychiatrist as mood has dipped over distressing bl00dy work conflict and work having been totally excessive/employer non-responsive ignoring occupational health recomms on reasonable adjustments entirely and violence, aggression, filming of staff by patients disgruntled over absolutely and unnecessarily excessive waits and this over many months) with originally episodic but almost paralysing, horrible anxiety/depression lasting 6-7m at a time since my teenage years.

Never again I thought at some point and eventually ensured I was getting plenty of the good stuff and permanently. One can always reduce a little when one feels ready but I'm in no hurry. In fact, I've just increased (my own GP's suggestion) the Venlafaxine to the maximum dose whilst awaiting the psych opinion. Might try reducing Vyvanse to 60, then if I feel that's the right thing to do further down to 50mg at some point, because I get a bit of perioral fasciculations (muscle twitching around the mouth) from it and that can come in useful (eg during cross-examination in an employment tribunal claiming disability discrimination) but more often it looks just slightly demented and distracts others from what I have to say (which cannot be in ADHD ;^)).

Back to you, dear (sorry!). I think what's happening to you is more likely a combination of preexisting anxiety and the anxiety common when starting any new meds/trying new things and worry about what it could do to you/lack of trust (completely understandable - I can get outright paranoid, not with meds because I know how to read/interprete information on them, but with other things like when my car makes an unfamiliar noise, in exams, when meeting a patient playing a personality disordered game with me etc). Try to hang in there. If you can't, there's a 20mg once daily option but, as said, I believe you would just use the placebo effect of reducing the dose. Better would be increasing it by 10mg daily every 5-7 days. You will feel better very soon, you'll see.

Best.

The Hominid

[Mer23 in reply to Hominid711]

thank you so much for your response. I have panic disorder along with generalized anxiety disorder. They have me on cymbalta as well with clonazepam daily. I always freak out when I start new medication. My doctor believes that my adhd is manifesting the anxiety. I literally can not stay focused on any task. I’m always overthinking everything. I really want this medication to work.

[Hominid711 in reply to Mer23]

I have read that the anxiety can be a result of worrying why you are the way you are (with ADHD but not knowing ADHD and what it means yet). ADHD is there from birth and through its many different manifestations in the way your brain works (feeling things more deeply ie catastrophising at one end and the opposite, increased positive excitement at the other, distractibility, storm of thoughts and impressions without the brain easily able to select and stick with one, hyperactivity or daydreaming etc etc) can result in reprimands and other negative reactions/responses from parents, teachers, peers. So the ADHD child is regularly put down over one thing or another, if not early, then later in childhood. That way he/she learns to expect and fear future responses/results of his/her actions. On the other hand she/he learns to develop coping, masking, enduring and eventually using ADHD symptoms to her/his advantage/benefit. So anxiety is secondary to untreated/insufficiently treated ADHD and eventually entrenched but so is a way of getting through and around obstacles. I'm sure you know some strategies that you have developed. I'm good at not giving up/endurance for example, challenging myself/others, speaking up, analysing and explaining things to myself and others, meeting new people. I realised some of it only in the last 5-10 years and I'm nearly 57. So if you can't think of anything straight away, ask others who know and like you. Not those who don't. No need for self-sabotage. Life can be tough enough.What I want to say is simply that everything has 2 sides to it. So accept your worry, call it being cautious and listen to people you trust. Not to those who constantly warn that this or the other could happen to you.

[creativextraordinair in reply to Mer23]

hi, I am also on Vyvanse... my GP started me on 10.. and gradually increased it to 50... I stayed on that dose for 10 weeks... my anxiety went throu the roof... and my chronic, life long insomnia became worse... which I had to put down meds because of the conflict. It's been 3 weeks and I am back to 40 mgs.. my anxiety has greatly lessened... and sleeping is getting quite a bit better... I am just hanging in there hoping my side effects diminish... this is a steep learning curve... and embracing the opportunities for growth

[ChristysUncleR in reply to Hominid711]

A well considered opinion base on experience, but the effects Mer23 is experiencing may resolve themselves without over analyzing other causes. That is a rabbit hole you should approach with caution...

I fell into that with more than one med when really it was about keeping it simple - rule out the first cause and re-assess as needed after that.

I am not an MD. I am just someone with 30 years of informed life experience to offer, so....again, good luck! 😉👍🖖

[Hominid711 in reply to ChristysUncleR]

Very true.

[lemonspeaks]

I’m on Vyvanse as well and I’ve found that the jitters are normal at first, but if the increased anxiety doesn’t improve in a week or two, the dosage may be too high. Going down a dosas to get used to it and then eventually increasing is what my doctor and I did.

[Ampersand1]

I take Vyvanse and I think it can be prescribed from 10mg up to 70mg. 30 mg is a common dosage for people to build up to but not where you should be started at. Ask your doctor for the lowest dose (10mg I think) for like 14 days worth. I take very similar meds alongside with Vyvanse for my anxiety, so I think you'll benefit from the lowest starting point and increase dose as needed.

Oh also, I had to reduce my caffeine intake after starting Vyvanse. I would do best to drink only decaffeinated coffee, but I have one 8-10oz regular cup of coffee and that's it. Otherwise, if I have any more than that, I feel the symptoms you described for hours afterwards. It is miserable.

Take care and wishing you the best on your journey to treat your ADHD!

[TurquoiseSunrise]

I recommend asking for a lower dose to start. Avoid coffee and black tea until you adjust to it. I am sensitive to meds so worked up to 30 and am good here for now. In addition I take Zoloft for anxiety.

[Dashingdart]

I'm on x2 70mg per day.When I first started elvanse years ago it did give me gitters and grinding teeth. But once I got on the correct dose over a course of a few month I found my anxiety went away. I will still able to eat well and sleep well as I used to take an instant dexamfetamine to go to sleep with. By taking x1 70mg at 7am and x1 70mg at 12pm I have a good round coverage up till 12am at night. As I sometimes wake up around that time at night when it's wearing off. But by then I'm still sleepy to fall back asleep again. Stick with the elvanse and if doesn't work you can always go on Instant dexamfetamine tablets. Elvanse was and still is my wonder drug so many benefits to life and mental health I can't live with out it. I must add I drink coffee like water with no ill effect. But I can't drink energy drinks as that's gives me flutter like panic attacks so you may want to avoid stimulant drinks and still to fruit Juice and water.

I must add I do have 4 days off my elvanse every month to stop building up a tolerance. And I can tell my partner and child that I'm off them. With the elvanse I'm so calm and collected without them I'm nasty and can't control my emotions. Everything sets me off. I'm also diagnosed with tourettes and psychosis I hear voices. But when my emotions out of check my rage from the tourettes kicks in which isn't good. I'm also on risperidone for the voices my emotions and tics

[Stellaluna007]

There’s been a lot of “buzz” on social media (TikTok) re: changes in Vyvanse efficacy and other symptoms/concerns (tripsitter.com/news/why-you.... Many have reported similar complaints. I started off w/20mg, increased to 30mg quite smoothly (until recent refills), started experiencing tremendous fatigue, low motivation, inner shakiness, & increase in emotional dysregulation (spontaneous crying, dip in mood, & racing thoughts)… I seriously thought I was losing it! 😭 Had suspected it could be hormonal due to peri(menopause), however, have also been trying to recover from severe burnout from work trauma. There’s SO much overlap in symptoms, it’s gotten incredibly hard to distinguish what”s from what?!? 😩 Hoping you find relief soon, navigating late diagnosis has been incredibly overwhelming and discouraging.

[JamiHIS Administrator]

Dear Mer23:

Thank you for contacting CHADD's National Resource Center on ADHD. I understand that you are inquiring about side effects from your medication.

Just a reminder for all users, that content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them. Never delay seeking advice or dialing emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.

You will want to keep a record of the side effects that you experience on any new medication including time of day that you experience side effects. You'll also want to work closely with your doctor to monitor how you react to any medication.

Stimulant medication may make a person's anxiety worse so please be in contact with your doctor to monitor your anxiety. There are a number of different medications used to treat ADHD and unfortunately there is no one medication that works for everyone. Oftentimes a person may have to try more than one medication to find the right one that works best for you.

Here is some information about the different medications used to treat ADHD: chadd.org/for-adults/medica....

I hope you find this information helpful! If you have further questions, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Jami

ADMIN

Health Information Specialist, Manager

CHADD's National Resource Center on ADHD

chadd.org