Lisdexamfetamine and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Don...
• July 12, 2017

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "Take Elvanse (50 mg - UK version) in the morning for the past 2 years. Meds are slow-acting and do not improve motivation or efficiency when working. There is no alternative in the UK - no Adderall - so this is the only option. This medication sucks because: 1.) It gives such a great high for the initial 15 minutes to 30 minutes, but it gives such a horrible crash that the negative feeling ruins your day. It does not help motivation, if anything, it causes depression, possibly improves concentration marginally. 2.) I have faced serious and significant weight loss. Being skinny myself, this is of course not a good thing. Currently a 5'11 male, weighing 62 kg or about 135 pounds. Am 24 years old. 3.) The medication is addictive."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2009

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I was originally on Concerta for my ADD and got extremely depressed and almost suicidal. I then switched to Adderall, which I took for 4 years without many problems, until I developed a tolerance to it and my dose got so high that I was getting a bunch of side effects. I tried Strattera, which did absolutely nothing and made me really sleepy. Then I switched to Vyvanse, which worked about the same as the Adderall, but I wasn't as irritable and didn't have the same loss of appetite. However, I did start to develop acne, which I didn't realize until recently was being caused by the Vyvanse. I've also developed a major dependency, if I don't take it, I have trouble doing daily tasks and I'm really tired."

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2009

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I used this medication during the last school year, but it didn't help me much. My grades were still failing, and I had no appetite. I was also very depressed. I have been off it for a while now, and my grades have significantly improved compared to what they were."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2017

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "First off, I have to just say that I was on Ritalin before I started Vyvanse. Ritalin was awesome for about 4 weeks and then did the complete opposite, making me depressed, having horrible comedowns, and downright stopped working. I've started Vyvanse 30 mg, and this is the third day I have taken it. It has made me really depressed, and I've been crying uncontrollably. I don't know if I should keep going and play with my dosage to see a change with dopamine or go on antidepressants. Advice highly appreciated."

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 2, 2018

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "My son has ADD, and we thought this would be the answer to his problems. While it did help his concentration in school, he ended up with terrible depression and was Baker Acted (involuntary institutionalization and examination) because of suicidal thoughts twice. We figured out what it was and got him off of it. He has been fine since."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2017

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I feel like I’m being a little generous by giving Vyvanse a 3 because it does work to some degree, but I have very unpleasant side effects from it. My doctor finally switched me to generic Adderall IR-thank God-and it’s fantastic. I must be abnormal with how I digest Vyvanse or something because I find it far more potent, and not in a good way. It gives me serious dry mouth, diarrhea, anxiety, excessive sweating, and depression. The effect was different almost every day: some days were okay, a lot were terrible, and a few were good. It muted most of my emotions except a general sense of discomfort. But I could focus when it didn’t make me depressed. On the other hand, Adderall IR is a cakewalk and I feel great in general."

• Equ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2016

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I've been taking this medication for many months now. I take it on workdays mostly and days when I need to get up and go. I still have depression, and sometimes it's hard to sleep, but not always. It helps if you love food because I don't overeat, but if I forget to bring a snack to work, I get a little nauseous or I just feel super hungry by the end of my shift because I forget about food for like 7-9 hours. I try to eat food before I take it. Girls at work ask me what helps me be confident and sell stuff, and I tell them Vyvanse. I have depression and anxiety, but this helps so much. I do feel really tired and like I don't want to do stuff on days I don't take it and after it wears off. So my doctor is trying me on Brintellix or something too."

• ava...
• March 7, 2021

Lisdexamfetamine "The drug didn't pass the clinical trial for depression. Even though it was only tested in combination with other drugs (probably SSRIs). For me, this was what lifted me out of my black hole. I suffered from insomnia, depression, and anxiety on and off for years. For like 1 year, I was badly sleepless and depressed/hopeless/anxious. Thought my life was over, despite my life being great by all common criteria. Tried everything without success. The breakthrough came with the combo of Trintellix and Vyvanse. I've been on that for over 6 months and never felt better! Sleep 5-8 hours without interruption, happy and motivated. I reduced Trintellix to 5 mg, and it doesn't seem to make any difference. The key to success was also to work on some mental barriers that caused the trouble in the first place. You need to get rid of your inner critic and replace him/her with your inner friend. Sounds trivial, but you have to love yourself. This is the true key to a good life. Never give up. There's light at the end of the tunnel!"

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2011

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I've started taking Vyvanse about a year ago, and for the first six months, it was fantastic. I could concentrate, and my grades were stellar. I was noticing some depression and random bouts of anger, but I just shrugged it off because it had been a rough school year. However, around September 2010, I ran out, and the doctor couldn't see me until December (I know, it's crazy). Of course, I couldn't concentrate as well, but my mood improved considerably, I was actually happy. I started taking it again in January, and on the second day, I saw an ex-girlfriend that I still really liked, and I almost broke down in tears. The drug does its job, but for my personal experience, it has played with my emotions."

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2019

For ADHD "Was on Concerta, which didn’t do much at all for me, so tried Lex. ‘Really’ enjoyed it once I went up to 40 mg, 30 mg didn’t do much. Found it took me around 1.5 hours after taking until I experienced ‘coming up’, it’s quite nice and intense, actually. I then just get super absorbed and focused, and after a few hours, just feel TOTALLY loved up!! HOWEVER, I’m finding the crash more and more difficult and noticing usually the next day a very heavy, deep feeling of sadness in my belly and a feeling of shakiness and quite low. Also noticing that I’m getting a bit like Frodo and the Ring, the pills are addictive, and just noticing I’m feeling that pull to them, which I don’t like. I’m (UK) a social worker and ordained Buddhist meditation teacher, so I know my mind pretty well. Good luck out there, folks! xx"

• cca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2016

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "Took for two months, 1 capsule a day for my ADD. I have tried most ADHD medicines, stimulant and non-stimulant types. I was expecting a 'non-event' transition, from Adderall to Dexedrine predominant Vyvanse. I have used Dexedrine and found it helpful with focus and follow-through issues, with minimal side effects. Vyvanse did not turn out to be what I'd hoped for. Minimal fuss, and a stable continuation of living and treating my ADD. Vyvanse had no similarities to Dexedrine. Felt sad, bad, and disconnected from being in the moment. Side effects did not disappear during the course of treatment. Somehow a perfectly acceptable drug ingredient, Dexedrine, became Lisdexamphetamine. The long-acting formulation benefit is lost to an imposter drug."

• hoc...
• March 3, 2015

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I'm on Vyvanse for ADD and social phobia. I also take 1 milligram of clonazepam, which helps with the anxiety stimulants may cause. In my experience, you'll crash and feel extremely anxious, depressed, and moody when taking anything less than 60 milligrams."

• Day...
• January 27, 2016

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I am 20 yrs old and I have been taking Vyvanse for about 2 years now. I take 60mg about the same time each morning, and it really does wonders in helping me concentrate and getting everything done both at home and school. I've noticed a BIG difference in myself on the days I do take it and on the days I don't. Only side effects are the loss of appetite, headaches from not eating (from the loss of appetite), dry mouth, irritability, and now I have depression. Don't know if I should lower my dosage now or maybe it's from another cause."

• Zac...
• October 12, 2016

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "This medication was possibly the worst experience of my life. In the matter of a week, I managed to have my boss lose all hope in me, I ruined my 3-year relationship, and for the first time in my life, I was so depressed I had thoughts of death (not to mention I was kind of moody all day). Not to mention it actually made my memory and focus worse! Thank God I had a couple of Adderall left to make it until my next (emergency) appointment! Thanks, Vyvanse! You really changed my life! I have a psych appointment tomorrow morning, I am going back to Adderall! Vyvanse didn't last a full week for me, maybe it's different for other people."

• Jeb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "Not close to the focus and retention required for even getting out of bed for me. No motivation to do anything. Just awake, and heart beat is fast. Anxiety is intermediate, and depression is excruciating regularly, this puts icing on the cake. Adderall had a worse crash, but I had better days socializing and suffering in silence than now."

• mes...
• January 26, 2011

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I'm a 24-year-old female who was diagnosed with ADD last July. I've been on Ritalin, Adderall, and now Vyvanse. I started off on Vyvanse 30 mg about a month ago. It didn't do a thing for me. My doctor upped my dosage to 50 mg a little over a week ago. Since then, things haven't been too pretty. My mind is clear, which is great, but I'm completely unmotivated to do anything. I don't want to clean. I don't want to leave my house. I don't want to do anything. I feel exhausted. I guess it's like a zombie-like state that I wouldn't mind if I didn't have a child and a house to care for. I'm hoping my doctor will switch me to Adderall XR. I've always lacked energy, and this definitely isn't helping."

• los...
• July 20, 2011

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "My daughter is 8 years old and has been taking medicine since she was almost 4. She has been on a lot of different medicines. I am just wondering if her sudden outburst of happy, sad, violent behavior is due to the doctors increasing her Vyvanse from 20 mg to start with 1 year ago to 70 mg, which is what she is taking today."

• eri...
• March 20, 2010

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I am 26 and started taking classes again. I was diagnosed with ADD at 9 and was off and on Adderall and Ritalin through high school. I would always take it in the morning of school days and not take it on weekends. I'm on 70 mg Vyvanse now, I've been on it for 3 months. I like it because it suppresses my appetite the least of the 3 medicines. I'm getting concerned though, because with school and work I will take 2 a day sometimes. But I still don't take it on non-work or school days, but my concern is I think I am feeling withdrawal effects. I took it 12 days straight between 70 and 140 mg a day, and the first day I didn't take it I couldn't get out of bed and felt depressed and had no motivation. I'm on day 2, and my brain feels like mush."

• eri...
• March 20, 2010

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I am 26 and started taking classes again. I was diagnosed with ADD at 9 and was off and on Adderall and Ritalin through high school. I would always take it in the morning of school days and not take it on weekends. I'm on 70 mg Vyvanse now, I've been on it for 3 months. I like it because it suppresses my appetite the least of the 3 medicines. I'm getting concerned though, because with school and work I will take 2 a day sometimes. But I still don't take it on non-work or school days, but my concern is I think I am feeling withdrawal effects. I took it 12 days straight between 70 and 140 mg a day, and the first day I didn't take it I couldn't get out of bed and felt depressed and had no motivation. I'm on day 2, and my brain feels like mush."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2011

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I'm a 16-year-old female and was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 6. I was on Ritalin, then something else, then Concerta, and it was hard. I had major depression, lack of sleep, lack of appetite, and the ability to feel any emotion was gone. Yes, I'm an A student, but I was not happy, so I tried Vyvanse. It doesn't last as long, but I am happier. I can feel emotion now, and I'm still getting A's and B's."

• Iya...
• January 23, 2019

For Binge Eating Disorder "BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS MOOD WISE!!! I am a 19-year-old female in college. I was prescribed this for my binge eating disorder, which was getting way out of hand. This medication did curb my appetite, but I didn’t lose any weight. I know it’s not for weight loss, but I was hopeful that I would lose a few pounds. Anyway, I had been taking 20 mg, and I recently moved up to 30 mg. Once I began the 30 mg, I began to feel so distant and irritable. I also feel SO apathetic. I have struggled with severe anxiety and depression, and I would much rather feel things deeply than to feel nothing at all. The only emotion I really feel right now is frustration because I know other people are able to feel things, but now I am incapable of that. I am a very empathetic and warm person. But now I feel so cold and unavailable. Even my boyfriend of 2+ years just annoys me with his affection. I am so excited to get off of this medication!"

• Jan...
• April 4, 2017

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "First, diagnosis is mild ADHD. 11 years old. 50 mg. Our experience with my son and Vyvanse. He was on this medication for approximately 9 months. For the first few weeks, he was sort of hyperfocused and had difficulty with transitioning from a task if he was fixated on it. He transitioned well to middle school and achieved great grades. However, he lost a lot of weight, about 15 lbs. He had horrible insomnia. He slowly became very emotional and depressed in the afternoons and evenings. We decided to stop the medication. Within weeks, he was back to himself, and his doctor advised him to stay off the medication."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2021

For ADHD "It helps me focus, but that doesn't outweigh the negative side effects: - Depression - Dry mouth - Sweating - Irritability - Decreased blood pressure after standing up. It really changes me into a worse person. I can't enjoy anything. It's a shame I need to take it for academics."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2021

Lisdexamfetamine for ADHD "I am 49, female, and was taking 30 mg Dexamphetamine a day and switched to 30 mg Vyvanse two months ago. It was great for the first few weeks, but then I started having suicidal thoughts and really bad moods. I didn’t have any motivation or enjoyment for anything, I couldn’t think, had headaches, and I started isolating myself from everyone. I started getting severe night sweats and was waking up in pools of sweat. Some hot flashes at night are normal for me due to menopause, but this was out of control. It seemed like my brain was on high alert, and I was waking up 10 or more times a night, so I was exhausted by the morning, and my brain wasn’t getting any rest. I am back on 30 mg Dexamphetamine, and all of the above symptoms have stopped. It is great to feel happy again. I have no doubt Vyvanse works great for some people, and I may revisit it again down the track."

• You...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 22, 2024

For ADHD "50 mg dosage. Was unable to concentrate all my life until Elvance was added to accompany my usual prescription of fluoxetine (for Asperger's syndrome). Has worked very well, though as a note, I have to take it alongside fluoxetine to prevent a sort of hyperactive anxiety that results from being able to think clearer. Additionally, my withdrawal symptoms when I miss a dosage are narcolepsy accompanied by depression; have fallen asleep for entire days on missing a dosage. An effective drug, but perhaps not for everyone - I would personally recommend it for those with Attention Deficit Disorder like myself."