My doctor just started me on Vyvanse a few days ago, and I'm already experiencing side effects( headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea. You know, the norm) However, one concerning one came up: mood swings. I can go from rage to depression to elation. (An example: I scream-cried in my librarian's office because someone laughed.) For that reason, I am discontinuing the medication tomorrow.
The questions I have:
1. Is this just me? Or does this happen to others?
2. Does anyone have a medication for inattentive-ADHD that actually works? That hopefully won't make me so angry?
Thank you so much for any help that you can give!
DRINK WATER!!!!!!
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sophiebrodie
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I don't have any experience with Vyvanse specifically, but I have been on medication for the past two years. I started with Ritalin, then switched to Concerta, and now I'm back on Ritalin. Although I'm not a doctor, I recommend trying medication for at least two weeks to a month before deciding whether or not to continue. If you can, see a psychiatrist who has experience treating ADHD, and try different meds to find the right one and the right dosage for you.
Regarding side effects, headaches, dizziness, and nausea usually improve as your body adjusts to the medication and dosage. However, loss of appetite and dry mouth are gonna be there until the end. In my experience, if you have a low body weight and slow-release forms of meds reduce your appetite, talk to your doctor about a fast-release med like Ritalin. The instant-release form is effective for about 3-4 hours on average, after you will get very hungry and want to eat everything.
Personally, medication has been a game-changer for me. However, it's important to remember that they're not magic. Meds can provide symptom relief, but not for all the symptoms. The most significant benefit is the motivation and attention they give you to change your environment and behaviors.
As someone who was diagnosed at age 21, I can tell you that treatment takes time, and you need to be patient. Although the meds may work instantly, behavior changes will take time and effort.
My family and I are pretty prepared for the side effects of medication because I've been on meds since sixth grade, and I was all prepared for the sometimes long wait to see the results.
I think the concern here was the rage and the SH tendencies. I am pretty used to the headaches, nausea, and all that jazz.
When I started Vyvance I'd get a headache late in the afternoon, when it started to wear off. This went away after a few weeks. I also lost weight, but I'm not sure if it acted as an appetite suppressant, or if it helped me control mindless eating or a bit of both. I am a mindless eating machine.
I did not get mood swings. I'd recommend talking to your doctor about what you are experiencing. Finding the right medication and dosage is a journey for most, working with your doctor to discover what will work best for you through "trial and error."
For me, Vyvance isn't a "silver bullet" killing the adhd monster, but it makes it easier to get through the day.
I was started at 20mg, which is supposedly low. I thought he would start me at the absolute lowest dose, given my tendency to experience every side effect (and then some), but I don't know what made him change his mind. Tomorrow I will be switching to 10mg.
The same med can work great for one person and awful for someone else. I have inattentive adhd and all the stimulants seem to be basically ok for me, but all of them also impact my sleep (to different extents) so I need to be extra careful with my sleep routines and also take sleeping meds/aids, or skip days. I actually prefer the generic vyvanse because it seems to last the longest for me, but when my pharmacy was out of it, I’ve been doing ok with generic concerta. Generic extended release adderal was my least preferred, but it is often used as a first treatment for adults because statistically it works better for more adults than Ritalin (which is often a first treatment for kids). All of them help me with binge eating (though with the concerta and adderal, I do better with an additional small dose of immediate acting in the afternoon) but I don’t lose weight automatically and I have gained weight on them too.
For years before I was diagnosed, I was already on Wellbutrin for depression , and in retrospect I’m pretty sure it actually helped me manage my adhd and go so long before a diagnosis. I think Sam-e as a supplement, which I tended to take when I didn’t have good enough insurance to access Wellbutrin affordably and consistently, also helped.
Trial and error is generally how meds are determined, but there is a new genetic test that claims to be able to predict which drugs will be more or less compatible for you, and it includes adhd meds, both stimulants and non. It may or may not be converted by health insurance though, and I think it’s new enough that not all doctors are convinced of its efficacy yet.
My friend who had a really tough time with the trial and error process for mental health drugs got her doc to prescribe it and decided that she was ok with covering the cost even is her insurance didn’t. It’s still under review, but she got the results already and they seem accurate to her based on her experience so far, and her doc is using it to help decide which drugs to trial next.
There are people who don’t have a good experience with any drugs. That is a tough spot to be in for sure. They do their best with exercise and maybe occupational therapy and coaching if they have access, and some people find that they can make dietary changes that are helpful. Depending the severity of their adhd and the amount of support they have and the extent to which they can simplify and minimize their obligations, it can work, at least intermittently and sometimes very effectively.
But it is pretty normal to need to try multiple drugs to find what works best, or at all, for you, and unfortunately I don’t think any of us will be able to help much because it depends so much on factors that are specific to you. I do think it worth the trial and error process because chances are you’ll find a drug or combo of drugs that works for you, and that can be super helpful.
I am on the generic, since the name-brand is SO EXPENSIVE. I also have inattentive type, and my doctor recommended me this. Although, we haven't talked about more options.
Thank you for the tip on Wellbutrin! I've heard the name before as an SSRI, but I'll look into it with the ADHD.
I have heard of the genetic test, but, until a few weeks ago, I thought that I wasn't adding any more meds, since I just had written off my spaciness as "anxiety fatigue". I doubt my parents will let me get that; they're very paranoid about the government. I also haven't heard anything about it from my doctor, so who knows? Maybe he doesn't like it? I wouldn't know, lol.
I am trying to use non-medication, and I only went to medication because those weren't working. They was mainly CBT, supplements, and general lifestyle changes.
I was mainly writing this as kind of a "Hey, who else emotionally kersplat on Vyvanse? Did the next one help?" I am not the biggest fan of the trial-and-error, but I am willing to do it.
You sound like me on Methylphenidate, had to stop after 3 weeks because the mood swings were horrific.I've been put on Elvanse, uk name of Vlvanse I think, but because I reacted so badly to the Methylphenidate I'm on 20 mg for a month. First week I couldn't sleep, but I'm an insomniac anyway. Fortunately this side effect resolved after a week, I've been told it will probably happen everytime I change dose so it will be a slow process.
Ah! People have used the name Elvanse on here; I was wondering what it was!
I have experienced the insomnia. Last night, I went to bed at eight, woke up at eleven, and deep cleaned my bedroom until five am. I do also have that issue with increasing doses (primarily with Lithium and Prozac), which is why it's concerning.
Ooh I liked Prozac, has that weird side effect of making you yawn more, and even weirder have more accute hearing, drove my mum crazy flinching every time a pin dropped. I thought it wasn't working so I took myself off it, then had a collosol nervous breakdown. Doctors wouldn't put me back on it again saying it obviously wasn't working despite the fact I kept telling them I'd stopped taking it 🤷.
I've seen lithium transform people, but very dangerous if you're inclined to overdosing which sadly my friend was...
I haven't had that side effect with Prozac. I already have a startle reflex from PTSD, and I haven't noticed it worsening.
Lithium helped me a good amount. My doctor never actually checked my blood work levels at all, and I only got them checked when I went to the hospital. But I do know the signs of toxicity.
So turns out that my doctor wants me to keep being on the medication, but we're going to be on a half dose (20 to 10).
The symptoms got worse, but I won't get into them due to content warnings (I think you can guess, though).
I am not taking it today because my mom wasn't able to split the capsule, so I feel a little bit better, but I'm really nervous about taking it tomorrow because I have a 10-hour shift of work in the food industry.
Sufficient sleep actually super helpful for managing ADHD, so if the meds are ringing your sleep it seems plausible that’s that could be canceling out any benefit you may have otherwise got.
Trying a lower dose sounds likes good move, and if that doesn’t work, hopefully your doc will have some other suggestions, possibly including the non stimulant meds - which actually do work better than stimulants for some people.
I have been working on getting better sleep. I usually get anywhere from 6-8 hours, but I've gotten around 4-5 hours when I've been on it. I've been functioning normally though, and haven't experienced any fatigue, which is crazy.
I think at this point my doctor will cut off all of the ADHD medications, but I will ask him for the non-stimulant.
do you notice those side effects when it kicks in, when you you are coming off of it or the whole time? My partner got rage when coming off vyvanse because of the shock to his thoughts. He started a booster of dextroemphetamine mid day and it helped.
Another option is that you can get a gene sight test. It will show you what meds have adverse side effects with your specific genetics.
I experience the side effects all day, love. Although, the first time I got the rage was about 7pm, the rest happened mid-day (12pm, 2pm). I am trying to stay away from mid-day medications, though, because I am pretty good with the AM and PM, and don't want to mess it up.
I have heard about the genetic test, but nobody has recommended it to me, mostly because I was sure that I was done with medication until a few weeks ago. My parents are paranoid, though, so I don't think I'll be allowed to do any testing.
Well, the testing is not invasive at all, and you do t have to do anything with the results if you do t choose meds. Just a cotton swab on the inside of the cheek really. Less invasive than a Covid test even.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE Y'ALL (yes I am from the south. It has wormed its way into my vocabulary...)
We are actually NOT taking the medication now, given that I had a panic attack and relapsed on Friday.
The emotional stuffy is still there, though, but no more rage! My period is due in a week, and I do have PMDD, but I don't think it's that, since my symptoms come in around 3 days before. Could it possibly be that it's still in my body, or that my body's a jack weed and likes to keep the side effects going?
So sorry for not updating. Senioritis, am I right? LOL
So I talked to my doctor, and I am currently off of all ADHD meds. He plans to put me on a non-stimulant after I graduate because of a risk of mania (he thinks I have bipolar and I don't). He hasn't said which one, though.
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