Lisdexamfetamine for Depression User Reviews

• Tho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2021

"I have suffered from Major Depressive Disorder for my entire life. I did TMS and had 17 ECT treatments after trying just about every depression medicine. I changed doctors and we moved to Symbyax at bedtime and Vyvanse upon waking. I have to tell you that Vyvanse has saved my life! I consider my current doctor to be a genuine innovator and out-of-the-box thinker who recommended Vyvanse to me. I am more than happy to share my story of being alive again. Please don't ever give up. Keep on keeping on!"

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2025

"I am a 58 y/o male who has been on numerous antidepressants for 35 years. I had a psychologist test me for adult ADHD. According to guidelines, I do have ADHD. She sent a report to my doctor who prescribed Vyvanse 20 mg. I immediately felt better. I am hoping that I might be able to wean off the SSRI meds this year. The psychologist said my depression may never have been a serotonin issue at all, but a dopamine problem. I have virtually no more suicidal ideation. And my ambition has come back."

• Luv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2018

"I have been diagnosed with bipolar severe depression/anxiety disorder. Despite being on Abilify, Prozac, and Xanax, I have spent most of my days in bed with no energy whatsoever. I have also put on 60 pounds. I asked my psychiatrist if there was a way to break this cycle. He prescribed Vyvanse. I started to notice a difference on 30 mg, and then he upped me to 50 mg. I have to say that this medication has really given me a new outlook on life. I have more energy now and it has given me the ability and confidence to do things like errands, cooking for my family, and interacting with people, whereas my anxiety prevented me from doing that. I am hoping to return to work one day after being away for 10 years. It's an amazing medication, and I am thankful for my psychiatrist. Vyvanse truly does make a difference."

• Lil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 15, 2023

Lisdexamfetamine "I’ve been taking Vyvanse for treatment-resistant depression for almost a year now. I don’t have ADHD, btw. I’ve been on a dozen antidepressants, and Vyvanse has outshone them all. I do still take an antidepressant for my anxiety, but my depression is insufficiently treated without the Vyvanse. I haven’t built up a tolerance either. Every aspect of my life is so much better with this med-even my social anxiety and sleep somehow. This was definitely the missing piece. Before the Vyvanse, I hardly had the energy to send a text message. Now I work out in the mornings! I only take 20 mg, but the difference is night and day. Be sure to use the savings card on the manufacturer’s website, even if you have insurance. It can get a little pricey."

• Air...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2021

"I was put on Vyvanse for ADHD, but my doctor had also been trying to control my severe depression as well with different antidepressants. All antidepressants I tried (at least 15) were no greater than a 5 in effectiveness, if rating them. Well, once starting Vyvanse, I noticed a dramatic and positive change in my mood after about a week. I thought that since it helped so quickly, it surely wouldn't be helpful long-term. I was wrong because I have been on Vyvanse for over a year now, and I've not grown tolerant to its antidepressant effects nor its effects for my ADHD. Plus, it has fewer side effects than what I experienced with traditional antidepressants."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 1, 2024

"Vyvanse has truly saved my life. 'Typical' antidepressants had no effect on me, but Vyvanse immediately improved my mood, gave me my energy back, granted me impulse control, and stopped my daily suicidal ideation. I seriously cannot live without it. I’m currently on Vyvanse and Wellbutrin to treat my ADHD and MDD. Those drugs combined have put all my symptoms into remission."

• Bec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2020

"I've been diagnosed with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, bipolar II with rapid cycling, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and insomnia. I've been on so many medications over the past 20 years, it's hard to remember them all, but my first day taking Vyvanse - it was like the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders for the first time in my life! I'm currently on 70 mg once a day in the morning for the past 6 months. I don't get quite the same effect anymore, but it definitely makes me able to get up and stay up throughout the day. I also take Ativan 2 mg 4x a day to help with the anxiety, but I'm off all the antipsychotics and SNRIs and SSRIs I was on before and am actually able to function and feel like a human again."

• MsU...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2019

"Everyone is different. Some people like Adderall, some people like Vyvanse. For me personally, Vyvanse works much better. I was prescribed Adderall at first for my depression. It worked okay, but then kind of stopped working. So I switched to Vyvanse. For me, it’s a much smoother, more natural type of feeling. Gives me energy throughout the day and lasts longer. I would definitely recommend trying it. The only side effect for me is loss of appetite, so I have to force myself to eat."

• ili...
• April 10, 2021

"This saved my life!! Vyvanse has improved my depression more than every antidepressant I've been on combined. I used to be constantly exhausted, disinterested in everything, and dissociate constantly, just sorta floating through life. It has given me the ability to do the things that actually make me happy, focus on my schoolwork (I've always had attention issues, but I'm not quite full-blown ADHD), work, and hang out with friends without getting drained. It brings my dissociation down from a constant 7-8/10 to a 3-5, which is huge, and it lasts long enough that I am able to be myself for 100% of the day. I also tried Adderall XR, and it was definitely better than nothing, but made me anxious and didn't last long enough (and just didn't quite work as well). The only thing I will say: eat something with protein. I hate eating breakfast, but even just yogurt or an egg makes a huge difference in the effectiveness. Side effects are my hands are always cold, but like, whatever because this drug is literally saving my life lol."

• cur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2024

"I almost still don't know how to act, not being weighed down with the depression that has been my constant companion for two decades. This medication quieted all the rushing voices in my head, allowed me to slow down and accomplish things without getting entirely overwhelmed. When my depression started lifting I was confused. After some online research, I found that is a common thing for some people with depression, or rather, untreated ADHD. It can't hurt to try, it worked so well for me. Good luck getting it at your pharmacy though."

• Vyv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2022

"I have lived with depression, anxiety for most of my life! I was diagnosed with ADHD 5 months ago. I take Vyvanse, this medication has changed my life! I feel so much better, it's amazing how a tablet can help so much. I feel I can live my life now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2022

"This medication has saved my life. Even on three different antidepressants, my depression wasn’t getting better. Literally, after my first dose, I noticed a difference. Have energy to live life again. The only side effect I have noticed is my legs have been very restless."

• Roe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2020

"Much like the previous person, I have depression and extreme fatigue due to Crohn’s disease. I’ve been on Adderall for a few years and tried Vyvanse too. Today I switched to Vyvanse for good. It’s much subtler, and I don’t crash like I do with Adderall. I’m happy my doctor suggested it, and my insurance company finally approved it. Good luck to all. Depression can be debilitating for the person suffering and the entire family."

• Ken...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 22, 2020

"I've been fighting what is deemed to be depression for years. I've got chronic urinary tract problems and advanced Crohn's disease, which is likely the cause or greatly contributes to the cause of the depression, fatigue, etc. Long story short, after all the psych docs and all the other meds I've been prescribed, Vyvanse is the only medication that keeps me up and going. When I've quit taking it for any amount of time, I crash, and I crash hard."

• Anonymous
• January 2, 2012

"I was prescribed 20 mg of Vyvanse last year after trying different medications for a couple of years without much success. I had found bupropion (Wellbutrin) before, after being on SSRIs, and felt better immediately after I began taking it. As a result of my mood improving dramatically on more of a stimulant type of medication, and the fact that I smoke cigarettes and drink plenty of coffee, I was prescribed a CNS stimulant to try. My doctor suggested Adderall, but I didn't want the up-and-down mood swings that came with it, so I asked for Vyvanse instead. I moved from 20 mg to 30 mg a month after I started and haven't looked back. It's a very subtle medication that I find gives me the alertness I need to not feel panicky on a day-to-day basis."

• Dan...
• April 12, 2016

"I suffer from paralyzing anxiety that came on when I was 36, and I'm now 40. I haven't had it for the entire four years, but I'm going through my third episode now, and it's brought on by finances, and then I suffer panic attacks, which turn into chronic, severe, bedridden anxiety. I have thoughts that just take over, and each thought sends me spiraling, and then the depression kicks in, which makes it worse. I'm a father of one and married. Anyway, I was put on Vyvanse, and it takes it away for the time it's in my system. I'm going to try Zoloft to help with the depression after it wears off, but Vyvanse at least gives me a glimmer of hope. I can think clearly, so I hope this is helpful to others."

• Tob...
• November 8, 2023

"Lisdexamfetamine has done wonders for my depression. I explained to my doctor that I was feeling kind of sedated and blunt on my antidepressant, so he prescribed me this. Unlike other ADHD medications that can treat off-label depression, the crash is nowhere near as bad as dexamphetamine and Ritalin, and wake promoters like Armodafinil."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2022

"I've been dealing with major depressive disorder since I was a child. Some of the medications I've taken offer little or no relief. Some, of course, have been better than others. Lisdexamfetamine does, however, offer the best relief yet. It allows me to feel like not watching TV all day and helps me in social situations. Also, I am able to write (I'm a part-time writer) with a fresh, clear-headed mind. I am taking 50 mg, but 50 mg twice daily would be ideal. Also, I am grateful when a doctor realizes that major depressive disorder is not the same as regular depression. Thank you for your time."

• Tob...
• October 24, 2023

"I've finally found the one stimulant that doesn't give me a horrible crash. I don't have ADHD, but I do use lisdexamfetamine off-label for my depression. Honestly, if you're on an antidepressant, add this in conjunction with your treatment. It'll do wonders, one of them being (this isn't the same for everyone) the reduction of anhedonia, which was super bothersome. Feeling emotionally blunt all the time and the second being that it perked my energy levels up, leaving behind the constant feeling of fatigue. Definitely beneficial to have as a depression treatment, however, I wouldn't rely on it as a magic pill. I'd suggest taking it in conjunction with an antidepressant."

• Tia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2022

"Depression is not exactly sadness, but the inability to find pleasure and comfort in things we enjoy in life. I have tried so many meds, and none of them worked the way Elvanse does for me. I highly recommend giving it a try if other meds for depression haven't helped you yet! The only side effect that I notice from it is increased sweating, and at some point, appetite loss."

• Ami...
• May 19, 2023

"Not suitable, at least for bipolar depression, at all. This one was a letdown, too. It gave me too much sudden mental energy, and I just desperately wanted to talk to someone due to the huge urge it gave me. Nobody was in the mood. It actually put me through an intense depressive episode of bipolar disorder. I just made a fool of myself. These medications make so many people with bipolar disorder just overexert themselves and reach out to anybody for socializing. It doesn't work. In addition, it made me hate food, which wasn't good in my case. It made me just a needy person who was in desperate need of talking to others, but others don't care. Just a waste of mental energy and money, as usual. At the end of the day, I'm more depressed and just worked too much without getting any appreciation from my boss."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 17, 2025

"55 y/o male with depression and anxiety since I can remember. Have tried 4 different SSRIs, 1 SNRI, 3 adjunct antipsychotics, and Ketamine. Effexor worked for 3-4 months and then stopped working. Auvelity worked for 2-3 months and then stopped working. Ketamine worked for literally 24 hours and then no benefit. Have been on Vyvanse (standalone) and intense daily exercise for a couple of years now, and not only has it taken my depression and anxiety away, but I actually feel happy, motivated, and peaceful."

• Tob...
• October 29, 2023

"I've been prescribed two stimulants for my depression as an insurance plan to get a little bit of short-term relief from the lack of motivation and low energy to get me out of bed and get going. I was prescribed Dexamphetamine and Ritalin and, unfortunately, to no avail. I was happy for 2-3 hours and then the crash would linger for longer. HOWEVER, Lisdexamphetamine, being a slower release stimulant, has done a very good job for my depression and Anhedonic symptoms. I do get a crash, however, it's not anywhere near as tearful or irritable as the previous two meds. The worst-case scenario is a headache and maybe a little bit of drop in energy, other than that it's great. I've been on this trial for 5 days now, and it's really been mostly positive so far. Definitely recommend giving it a try if fast-release ADHD stimulants aren't working for you."

• gem...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 5, 2023

"35 years of chronic depression, more than a dozen different medications prescribed, leaving me even more depressed because of hopelessness and negative side effects. One drug seemed to work but lost its effectiveness after a month: Ritalin. Then, a new psychiatrist, hearing this about Ritalin, prescribed me Vyvanse, and from day one to day 5500 (been on it for 15 years), I feel normal about an hour after I take it. Life no longer feels like climbing a mountain, and my negative thoughts are not totally uncontrollable. I call Vyvanse my miracle drug. It's about to go generic, but even so, Shire and now Takeda have a patient assistance program that takes the cost down from $300-$400 to $0. Only problem, and it's not a little one, is trying to have doctors prescribe it and pharmacists fill it. As a Schedule II drug, I have had so much trouble filling it over the years, and these days all it takes is 2 days off it, and I literally get suicidal. Doctors do harm when they keep it from me."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 11, 2024

"I’ve been prescribed over 20 different meds for treatment-resistant depression throughout the past 25 years, including esketamine currently. I've also tried several other stimulants. NOTHING works like Vyvanse. Nothing. I am able to get out of bed, go to work, not ruminate too much. My mood is increased a little but the biggest difference between this and everything else is the energy that I have to do normal everyday things that everyone else seems to have."