Medication feedback

[LoveBear]

What have people experienced with Ritalin and/or Vivance? Providers want to add to my Prozac, Lamictal and Trazodone. I’ve been taking Ritalin - don’t get mood lift and the wear off is awful, now want to change to Lexapro...4 different meds how can this be good for my brain. Thanks for listening

[Dave_H]

I have treatment-resistant depression (meaning I've tried every medication/medication combo anyone can think of, ECT, TMS, and ketamine, all with no effective results. I do still take Effexor just to be on something for the depression. I also have ADD. I have been on Ritalin, Adderall, and now Vyanse for several years. The Vyvanse definitely helps my mood, and is the only thing that helps me get going. Ritalin and Adderall were 'peaky'. Once it would come on I would feel good for a couple of hours and then back to nothing. Vyvanse is very smooth in my opinion. It can take an hour to an hour and a half to kick in, but then I feel 'normal' if you can call it that. The effect generally lasts about 7 hours. I split my dosing; I take one first thing in the morning, and 1 at noon. I don't feel jacked up, hyper, any hint of mania. I do also struggle with insomnia. I did stop taking the Vyvanse for 2 straight weeks to see if it was the problem. No improvement in the insomnia. My two cents is do a trial of the Vyvanse. If it doesn't seem to help at first, ask your doctor to titrate up to the maximum dosage he is comfortable with. FWIW, the maximum is usually 70mg a day. I actually take 100mg a day. I have no noticeable side effects, and I don't feel drugged in any way.

[LoveBear in reply to Dave_H]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the details, the wear off of Ritalin has been awful for me. Take care