Vyvanse and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• smh...
• February 9, 2008

For ADHD "I've been on 30 mg of Vyvanse for a week now since I was recently diagnosed with ADHD. I am a 46-year-old female, and this was a curve ball. I am now experiencing extreme high energy (too high), anxiousness, lack of sleep, etc."

• Kp9...
• November 7, 2017

For Binge Eating Disorder "I’ve been on Vyvanse for 6 months and have slowly increased from 20 mg to 40 mg. I’ve lost 24 pounds and plan to lose more. I had the hardest time changing my eating habits after pregnancy and continued to eat more than I should have. I gained the 34 pounds back that I had lost after giving birth to my son. I ate large portions and didn’t realize it until after it was gone. Vyvanse has changed my eating habits much more than I expected. I eat very little, and when I look at food, nothing looks appetizing, not even crackers. I’ve started to experience issues with anxiety and depression and am worried that it is being brought on by Vyvanse, as anxiety and agitation are side effects. Vyvanse works, but listen to your body for signs of trouble!"

• Owl...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 30, 2016

For ADHD "Before taking Vyvanse, I was on Adderall, then Adderall XR for my ADD. Neither were near as helpful for energy or concentration. Vyvanse was able to give me energy and concentration that lasted all day without making me jittery (except the first few weeks I was getting used to it) or wearing off. My doctor gave me an attention test to see if I needed Vyvanse. I scored in the lowest percentile. After being on it a couple of months, finding my dosage, I took the test again and scored in the top percentile. Since then (seven years later), we've only had to up the dosage once, and that was because I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which aggravated all my mental conditions."

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2016

For ADHD "Be careful. I was prescribed this at 20 mg for my depression and ADHD last February. For the first few months, it was a miracle. It took care of all my symptoms and even obliterated my social anxiety. As the drug became less and less effective over the months, though, I became more and more depressed, and that's when the miracle pill suddenly became a burden. The doctor prescribed me 30 mg, worked for two days, then nothing. Not to mention at that dose, the crash was awful, some days I would cry over everything and wish I was dead, thinking there was no point to life. That's where abuse came along. Some days I was taking up to 60 mg just to feel normal (without doc's approval). I overdosed on 400 mg and almost died. Be careful, please, always think twice."

• Jil...
• February 15, 2016

For ADHD "Completely stopped all panic and anxiety that antidepressants never helped, nor any kind of benzo. After two months, I was able to wean off of my antidepressants and happily zero anxiety or panic. I started in July after a bad try for a month of Concerta. Been on it since, now month 7. Tried a few dosages, but 80 is what works best for me. Since stopping the antidepressant at the end of August, I have lost 25 pounds! It helps control binge eating that I did out of frustration of my disorder. I now make clearer, healthier food choices and drink a ton of water. You must be careful with the caffeine intake and may possibly need something to help you settle in to sleep at night. I should, but choose to only take one med currently."

• Ean...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 1, 2019

For ADHD "I’ve been on Vyvanse daily for the past 8 years (recently, my doctor has added 10 mg of Zenzedi in the afternoon). Vyvanse has truly been a godsend for my ADHD. I also have anxiety, which causes even menial tasks to seem unbearable. With Vyvanse, daily life tasks are not only easier to complete, they are easier to begin. Prior to Vyvanse, I tried Ritalin and Focalin (gave me horrible anxiety and agitation), Strattera caused me to lose an unhealthy amount of weight, Adderall gave me headaches and plunged me into a depression as it would wear off."

• EMc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2015

For ADHD "I'm 25 years old and was diagnosed with ADD when I was about 8 years old and also have a processing problem as well. This is the 2nd day I am on it and on 20 mg (lowest dose). It takes a little while to kick in, but when it does, I do get a little jittery (which is a side effect); which only lasts a few minutes. I concentrate so much better with my online courses. When I was first diagnosed with ADD, I was put on a medication that my mother said I wasn't the same person anymore, and since then, I was never medicated and struggled with the simplest things and also became depressed. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD/ADD, I do suggest this for you and helps; with this med, you aren't a zombie or foggy."

• HQa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 20, 2015

For ADHD "Love this medicine! Tried all the others, Vyvanse definitely works the best. I stay on task, focused, more organized, and have been moving up in my field. 29-year-old female, 30 mg dose. The only negative is if I don't take it for a day or two on the weekends, then start again it makes me really jittery and makes me go to the bathroom until my bowels are essentially cleaned out, but that's really not a bad thing. Also, I love the way it curbs my appetite and keeps me around 115 lbs without even trying (I'm 5'3'). A very pleasant side effect! I was on 70 mg a couple of years ago, but I was getting a little too skinny (stable around 106-108 lbs), so I decreased the dosage."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2013

For ADHD "I am a 23-year-old female, recently diagnosed with ADD. Thanks to my amazing doctor, he discovered my problem was actually not anxiety (like I've been told my entire life), but actually ADD. Makes complete sense. Always been a horrible student, and have had to work my butt off in college. Vyvanse is amazing: gives me energy, do not have to nap every day, my thoughts and emotions are very thought out, have already improved in school. I actually hear people when they talk to me now! I am much more social, relaxed, and confident. I feel like myself with Vyvanse. Only downfall - makes me really tired when it wears off in the evening and I cannot drink more than 1 or 2 cups of coffee during the day, or else I get very anxious!"

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2016

For ADHD "My 13-year-old son was put on Vyvanse for his ADHD and started at 20 mg, 30 mg, and for the last two weeks has been on 40 mg. He's had the usual not much of an appetite and off sleeping patterns. However, I've noticed in the last two weeks a drastic behavior change in him where he is extremely emotional, very anxious, feeling like everyone hates him, depressed, and wanting to hurt himself. His pediatrician advised me to stop this medication."

• ADD...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2024

For ADHD "I really want to like Vyvanse because it definitely does help me focus, skim read without losing comprehension, multitask, listen, and it lasts for a good 11 hours. But, unfortunately, more often than not, it also seems to make me moody/irritable, anxious, paranoid, a little socially awkward, sometimes suicidal thoughts (so, depressed), and I absolutely HATE the heart palpitations I experience on it. I've also experienced mania on it a few times, like I felt high. It was strange. Oh, and I'm way too talkative on it! It feels like a really strong medication, like I'm on meth or something (I only take 20mg - 30mg. Tried 40mg once. It was fine - not much of a muchness between 30 and 40mg). Strangely, I don't experience nearly as many bad side effects when I take dextroamphetamine. So I suppose, be aware of these more worrisome side effects when taking Vyvanse for ADHD. And remember to take days off from taking it to ameliorate tolerance!"

• ADD...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2024

For ADHD "I really want to like Vyvanse because it definitely does help me focus, skim read without losing comprehension, multitask, listen, and it lasts for a good 11 hours. But, unfortunately, more often than not, it also seems to make me moody/irritable, anxious, paranoid, a little socially awkward, sometimes suicidal thoughts (so, depressed), and I absolutely HATE the heart palpitations I experience on it. I've also experienced mania on it a few times, like I felt high. It was strange. Oh, and I'm way too talkative on it! It feels like a really strong medication, like I'm on meth or something (I only take 20mg - 30mg. Tried 40mg once. It was fine - not much of a muchness between 30 and 40mg). Strangely, I don't experience nearly as many bad side effects when I take dextroamphetamine. So I suppose, be aware of these more worrisome side effects when taking Vyvanse for ADHD. And remember to take days off from taking it to ameliorate tolerance!"

• ADH...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 4, 2013

For ADHD "I'm 23 and have tried just about every ADHD medication out there. I've been on Vyvanse for some time now, and it's great! I have energy, I can focus at work and school. It lasts the entire day and then some. The only drawback is you won't eat. You'll be hungry, your stomach will growl, but you can't eat. Sleeping is tough because it's a stimulant, so I was put on sleep meds to help. You might have a jittery feeling and increased heart rate at first. It takes about an hour or so to kick in, but it's a fantastic medicine. It's also very powerful. All you gotta do is NOT take it past 2 pm at absolute LATEST, or you'll lie awake forever in bed. Eat prior to ingesting because you won't eat later. It's great, try it!"

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2015

For ADHD "I'm writing a review to hopefully help others who haven't taken Vyvanse yet and want some information on what to expect. I felt really uneasy and nervous prior to taking my first Vyvanse dose, and it was honestly not worth the worry. I started at 40 mg to help with my ADHD. I read lots of reviews about how it makes you feel high and super active. I felt a little bit of a buzz but not high. It was just a pleasant feeling of happiness. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but mine wasn't extreme. I also felt like I had more energy, but not enough to obsessively clean my house like others that left reviews. Definitely take it early. It will keep you up, otherwise, only complaint so far!"

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2015

For ADHD "I'm writing a review to hopefully help others who haven't taken Vyvanse yet and want some information on what to expect. I felt really uneasy and nervous prior to taking my first Vyvanse dose, and it was honestly not worth the worry. I started at 40 mg to help with my ADHD. I read lots of reviews about how it makes you feel high and super active. I felt a little bit of a buzz but not high. It was just a pleasant feeling of happiness. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but mine wasn't extreme. I also felt like I had more energy, but not enough to obsessively clean my house like others that left reviews. Definitely take it early. It will keep you up, otherwise, only complaint so far!"

• Mik...
• July 19, 2021

For ADHD "I am 26 years old, been on for a couple of months now, started with 20mg extended release of Vyvanse, then 30mg. It works in the beginning. Once your body gets used to it, if you are a high-functioning individual with a very active brain and life speed, you will notice it fading throughout the day. Crash is the worst, especially if you got used to not doing anything after 5 pm (after work or whatever) before taking it. One thing I noticed was I have no anxiety anymore, but I do not want to say it was due to the pill because I stopped several things the past few years that could’ve contributed. Anyways, one MAJOR side effect I got that I was not AWARE of is going psycho. You think people are always staring at you, they are out to get you, you become secluded, you get irritable way easier as well. You do not have control over your thoughts, emotions, body. It changed my PERSONALITY. I do not remember who I was before taking Vyvanse anymore, and that’s a fact."

• Vym...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2019

For ADHD "Started at 20 mg, then 30 mg, then 40 mg, now back to 30 mg. After taking Adderall, this is a wonder drug. Smooth on the upswing and even less noticeable on the downswing. Has changed my life. Able to be productive again, anxiety gone, talk to people, sense of purpose. Seeing a head doc that doesn’t believe in medicine. So I get my meds from another doc. Head doc noticed a difference right away after I got the dosage dialed. Fairly new, couple months on this med, been trying others for 2 years without luck. Hopefully, this is the one."

• Dah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2015

For ADHD "I have suffered with BED and bulimia for over 5 years, and after feeling like I tried everything to control my eating, including spending hundreds of dollars on therapy, I discovered Vyvanse. I was very reluctant to try it, as I did not want to become dependent on any type of medication, but I was at my wit's end with my eating disorder. My Dr. started me off with the smallest dose (30 mg), and after taking the pill each morning, I did not feel much different at all. But I gradually worked my way up to the highest dose (70 mg), and I could not be happier with the impact it is making on my life. Food is something I no longer 'love' and then 'hate.' I now have a healthy relationship with food, and it no longer controls my life. Sure, I still overeat and crave junky food sometimes, but there's nothing wrong with that... I am human. The only downfalls for me are that if I don't take it early enough in the day, it keeps me awake at night (effects last approx. 13 hrs), and I can no longer smoke weed or drink coffee, as Vyvanse gives me a touch of anxiety. I realize that Vyvanse could possibly only be a temporary fix for me, but now that my mind is not ALWAYS on food, I have been able to focus on controlling my emotions that trigger my eating disorder. I am not giving it a 10 only because it does give me anxiety and is extremely expensive! Thanks for reading."

• Que...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 28, 2016

For ADHD "At first, I felt like it was a miracle pill. THE PROS: I could finally focus. I got things done. My grades improved extremely. I'd feel so happy, I wanted to talk to everyone about everything. THE CONS (These are the side effects that came after taking it for a year or so): I'm not the same person anymore. I only care about what I'm focused on doing. I'm not fun and happy anymore. I don't like to joke around. I'm constantly anxious. It makes me obsess over everything. Terrible headaches. Beyond exhausted and light-headed for the first few hours. No appetite. Can't sleep without medicine. In the middle of doing things, it's like my brain just freezes for a minute. Worst of all, I feel addicted to it, and I don't enjoy time with my children and loved ones like I used to."

• Gmo...
• February 22, 2015

For ADHD "I'm 42, highly successful in my career and family life but always thought I had ADD or ADHD. I got decent grades in high school and college but always felt like it was a struggle, and I would have to beat myself up for hours with guilt and fear of failure to produce even passing results. After 20 years, I've decided to actually do something about it. I tried both Adderall and Vyvanse, and Vyvanse is superior because it's less harsh. I've benefited from it, but it does make me anxious. I take Ativan to help with that. I'm also on Brintellix. I hate being on tons of meds, but if I can increase my quality of life and be a better person, it's worth it."

• 24y...
• February 4, 2014

For ADHD "Was on Concerta 18 mg for 3 years, worked great. Stopped taking it, felt like I didn't need it anymore, and I didn't want to pay for it then. Wasn't doing so well professionally or at home, not getting chores done, feeling real lazy, etc. So I went back on the Concerta, couldn't feel it this time, bumped up to 36 mg, still most days didn't feel a difference. Tried Vyvanse, definitely can feel motivation, only doesn't seem to last as long as Concerta used to for me, but I feel happy on Vyvanse, just wish it lasted longer. Also, as a lot of people say, less anxiety. I can say I don't have an anxiety problem on Concerta or on Vyvanse, but Vyvanse feels like it has anti-anxiety medicine built in. I feel real comfortable wherever I go."

• hoc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2015

For ADHD "If you have social anxiety, don't take more than 40 milligrams of Vyvanse because you'll be extremely anxious. I'd also suggest taking 0.25 milligrams of Klonopin in the afternoon to help with the moodiness and anxiety amphetamines cause as they wear off."

• Red...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 3, 2017

For ADHD "I have been on Vyvanse for about 10 months. It is an amazing drug to reduce distraction, calm the hyper/distractable me, and just enjoy life a bit better. The only downside for me are two things: firstly, the afternoon crash can suck. I often am left feeling a little anxious or irritated. The other thing, and probably the more annoying side effect, is that it does impact my sleep. To minimize these side effects, here are my tips that work for me: 1) stop drinking coffee or other stimulants. 1b) wait until you are properly awake before you take it... 2) don't drink on medication days. 3) schedule your diet and stick with it. 4) exercise in the morning (before taking it). 5) have your no medication/chill days."

• ldd...
• August 22, 2013

For ADHD "26 y/o female who was diagnosed with ADHD at 15. My parents chose not to treat it with medication. As an adult in college, I got made fun of in good humor by friends about how much I studied. I couldn't concentrate, remember, mind wander, and jump to something else & hyper. Tried Adderall instant and XR. My husband said both made me mean and irritable. Plus, I lost 10 pounds before our wedding (already underweight). It increased my anxiety, I hated it. My psychiatrist switched me to Vyvanse 30mg. Wow! No mood swings, no appetite changes, can concentrate, less anxiety because it evens me out. I feel alive and normal!"

• HMH...
• October 30, 2018

For ADHD "Began 20 mg on Wed. 10/24 at 9 a.m. First day fine - didn't feel as anxious as I have been on Ritalin 10 mg 2x/day. My doctor said it maybe would work because it's slow-releasing compared to Ritalin's immediate release. Thurs. awoke with a headache. Took another 20 mg Vyvanse at 9 a.m. Headache disappeared and focus was good through my 10 a.m. class, but by 1 p.m. felt very anxious. Went home at 5 p.m. Felt so emotional, kept crying. Kept thinking about everything that has happened in my life. Trouble falling asleep. Took doses Fri., Sat., & Sun. at 9 a.m., but by Sun. my emotions were so unbearable I went off Vyvanse on Mon. 10/29. Had wheezing/breathing trouble and brain zaps. Took Ritalin instead because of all these. Wish Vyvanse was a miracle drug for me, but it's not. Tried many different drugs. I'm overwhelmed but went back to my doctor, who prescribed Zoloft for the anxiety. Began 10 mg today. Doctor said to stick through the next 2 weeks and call him if I feel suicidal. Just sensitive to meds. Be very careful."