Vyvanse and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Lis...
• December 2, 2019

For ADHD "I am a 50-year-old woman with ADHD in addition to mild OCD. I was prescribed Vyvanse for focus and motivation at a high-stress job. This drug was amazing at first; I felt calm, focused, confident, and organized for the first time in my life. I take 60 mg at 7 am, and it wore off about 4. Six months later, it is still helpful with motivation and confidence. That said, I now get too focused on details, and by evening, I am anxious, irritable, and don’t want to do anything. I have a hard time waking up. I tried on the weekend to not take it and had terrible depression, negative, and crying. I ended up taking it to function. It has started causing anxiety, I’m too talkative, and procrastinate tasks I dislike. I am not very social after work. Without it, I am emotional and want to sleep all day. I tried 5 mg Adderall IR in the late afternoon, but that caused me to stay up late and could barely get up. It was so helpful at first, but now I’m worried and am trying to wean off."

• Tru...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2017

For ADHD "WARNING: Majority of the positive reviews for this drug are from people that are new to Vyvanse and the problem is that this drug works wonders at the start, but benefits quickly start to diminish and side effects start to get worse. I took Vyvanse for two years and at first, it worked great for ADD. However, after taking it consistently for a few months, I started experiencing anxiety, depression, aggressiveness, negative emotions, insomnia, and isolation... things I never experienced before in my life. You become very dependant on it because if you stop, you feel 100x worse than before you started taking it, but the longer you take it, the higher dosage you need to get the same effect. Eventually, it stops working and you just need it to get out of bed."

• 33y...
• November 10, 2008

For ADHD "Works better than any other stimulant medicine I have tried. I have sensitivity to stimulants; it causes bruxism. The bruxism is absent with a 20 mg dose, and minimal with a 30 mg dose. Other stimulants - I cannot take even the lowest dose without getting the bruxism side effect to the point I can't stand it. Also, I can't 'feel' when it starts working and stops working - which is great. It wears off slowly starting about 7-8 hours after I take it. After 10-11 hours I do not feel it in my system anymore. No insomnia or 'crashing feeling'. Weight loss (okay since I am fat) about 25 lbs in 3 months. My only complaint is it makes me want to smoke. I quit smoking a long time ago. I think about wanting to have a cigarette several times a day."

• Ben...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 23, 2024

For ADHD "Vyvanse has been very much a mixed bag for me. I have taken it for years, but then quit it for more than 5 years, and now I'm planning to start it again. I do it with trepidation, though. First of all, I think there are lots of people on here giving nines and tens that aren't legitimate reviews. So consider that carefully, please. I'm going to give it a 6, I think. It's hard to put a number on it. I myself have found it to be pretty addictive, but some of you will be okay, it varies. It works amazingly well at first, but it may not do as well after a couple of weeks, then you will be tempted to take a higher dose, take it more often, or just be frustrated. The biggest problem for me probably is that it causes a mood swing downwards when it wears off, which I think everyone that takes it has, but to a greater or lesser degree. This dysphoria really is unpleasant. The drug works quite well for me for about 4 hours. Insomnia can be a HUGE problem issue if taken late in the day."

• CMc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2013

For ADHD "After entering into a rigorous educational program where I am in the operating room for hours at a time, I realized I needed to see my doctor for my ADHD. I first tried Adderall XR. I had severe side effects, nearing a heart attack. I went back to the doctor and was prescribed Vyvanse. I also have a history of anxiety and some depression. Vyvanse has been amazing! I can focus and my anxiety is nearly gone. I will say that I had more focus with Adderall, but an unnecessary amount of focus. I feel normal on Vyvanse, like I am not on medication. My heart rate does increase during the first couple of hours. I also have to time the dose just right or I will either not sleep or the meds will wear off too soon."

• att...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 5, 2015

For ADHD "LOVE IT. I took Strattera for 4 years but switched because of terrible nausea and anxiety. The first 3 months I had terrible migraines, lack of appetite, and trouble sleeping. Keep taking it daily to give my body time to adjust. No side effects now and a huge, HUGE improvement in work, concentration, and motivation."

• Ban...
• November 7, 2019

For ADHD "I’ve heard so many stories of this drug triggering personality disorders in people. My parents made me take it in high school for a few years, and I was so depressed for those years. It made me act weird. It caused facial tics that I still have to this day and can’t seem to get rid of, even being off the medication for 7 years. I was 95 lbs when I started taking Vyvanse and lost 8 lbs after taking it for 2 weeks. I recently started taking it again for binge eating and immediately felt the depression start by the end of the first day, didn’t take it the next day and still felt depressed. Taking it in school, I got a stimulant high for about an hour or a few hours depending on the dose, but after it wore off I lost all motivation to work, socialize, exercise, etc. I couldn’t fall asleep most of the time. This is my experience with Vyvanse and it may not relate to everyone, but I wouldn’t recommend this drug and can’t believe it’s still legally being prescribed, especially to kids."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 15, 2013

For ADHD "I am productive, but I am not myself, I can't sleep. I stay up for days on end because there is so much I have to do. My body just wants rest, and my pulse is pounding behind my eyes. I can't remember the last time my body or my mind allowed me to eat, hunger is a distant memory. I am gregarious in conversations and go off like Charlie Sheen. I have stayed up for days until white walls turned orange. I have been on Vyvanse for a year, and before that, Medidate, Strattera, Concerta, Daytrana, Ritalin, and Adderall. I don't know who I am outside of my daily dose because I've been fed since I was 9, I'm 21 now. I have a 4.0 GPA, but I am miserable. None of these are good, the alternative is worse."

• 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."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2016

For ADHD "Vyvanse has changed my life. I went from being a failing student to having grades above 90% in only a few weeks. These past 3 1/2 weeks have been the most productive weeks of my life. However, this med does come with a downside. Some side effects I experienced have been loss of appetite, dry mouth, trouble staying asleep, as well as some minor OCD. The OCD is really the only side effect that has been bothering me, when I have paper in front of me and I'm writing, I will constantly keep erasing what I wrote and writing it back down until it looks perfect, which I've never done before in my life. As for social anxiety, I actually feel more confident going outside, my brain feels slowed down when working, and I don't zone out anymore. 9.5/10"

• Hoo...
• July 20, 2013

For ADHD "I cannot stress enough how thankful I am for this medication. I had always been a very smart kid, but my drive and focus would come in very short bursts if I was interested, otherwise, I could not have cared less. I was prescribed 30 mg of Vyvanse initially, and that was upped to 50 mg, which I have been taking for over a year now. My grades went from a 3.2 GPA to a 4.0 within a semester. I excelled at work. I am a more alert driver. Like everyone else has said, I feel as if my thoughts are all organized the way they always should have been, and I am finally able to catch up on life, which always seemed out of reach. I strongly prefer this medication over Adderall IR, which I tried. There are no negative side effects except insomnia."

• you...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 3, 2012

For ADHD "I'm a 24-year-old recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I've been misdiagnosed by many doctors and been on several medications such as lithium and Prozac (which I reacted horribly to and sometimes ended up in a psych hospital) as a result of those misdiagnoses. I was untreated for ADHD my entire life since I was first diagnosed at the age of 9. I've been on Vyvanse for over a year now under the direction of a new doctor/addiction specialist, and this medication has CHANGED MY LIFE. It has made me more focused and productive, more motivated, less hyper, less anxious; it has also CURED my insomnia. This is the real me: balanced, organized, articulate, focused, and productive. I'm so happy a doctor finally got my diagnosis right."

• Scr...
• December 6, 2016

For Binge Eating Disorder "I have always struggled with compulsive eating and have yo-yoed up and down my whole life. I was a relatively normal weight when I was prescribed Vyvanse, not for binge-eating disorder, but ADHD. I felt AMAZING. I had incredible focus, tons of energy, and best of all, no appetite. For the first time in my life, I never thought about food and lost 30 lbs plus. But it wore off earlier and earlier, so I was given bigger doses. Then the mania started. No sleep, my mind whirling all day, my behavior manic and crazy. I came off, and immediately gained 60 lbs, turned into a zombie. The pharmaceutical stress this drug put on my body brought on tons of illnesses that are chronic and I now live with 6 years later. NOT WORTH IT. Disaster drug."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2017

For ADHD "My 9-year-old son started Vyvanse two weeks ago (lowest dosage), and we saw positive results right away. In addition to ADHD, he has a writing disorder and will literally sit and stare at his paper for hours because he can't get his thoughts written out. The first day he tried Vyvanse, he took it in the morning and then came home from school and, without being asked, he finished his book (25 pages) and then sat down and wrote a 2.5-page book report! I have not noticed a change in his appetite, and he has only experienced some minor sleep issues, but it does not seem to really bother him. Testing has shown my son to be highly intelligent, but his grades do not reflect that - I finally have hope that he can reach his potential!"

• Tm5...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 8, 2019

For ADHD "I was prescribed Vyvanse in high school for ADD. I always had a really hard time paying attention in class, and Vyvanse helped a lot. My grades went up, and schoolwork became easy. However, there were various bad side effects: extremely dry mouth, weight loss, trouble sleeping, and the worst of all, mood swings. During the day, I would be fine and very productive, however, at night, when it started to wear off, I would get extremely depressed and even, at times, have increased really dark thoughts. They call this “Vyvanse crash,” and it is no joke. This became a big problem. I loved Vyvanse because I was able to get so much done, but the mood swings made it unbearable. I am now a college student and no longer take Vyvanse consistently. It is great for concentration problems and ADD, but beware of the dosage of the Vyvanse and the possible side effects that may occur. There are also studies that show it can be very addicting."

• Ron...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2019

For ADHD "Firstly, if any doctor tries to start you or your child off at 50 mg or 70 mg, get a new doctor. This stuff is strong. I started at 30 mg, which is recommended. It was still too intense, and I had to open the pill and take 2/3. I have been on and off ADHD meds since I was 6 years old (30 years ago). Today, at 30 mg, was great-more focus and motivation all day. It affected my sleep the first 2 weeks, which made it not as effective. Getting enough sleep is key to it not making you antisocial and depressed. Lime in orange juice before bed helped, I think acidic. Three weeks in, sleep normalized. I feel great, have more focus, drive, less anxiety, and a lot more patience. Does not have the push that Adderall has, but the push comes at a cost."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2019

For ADHD "Don't let ANY healthcare provider start you or your child's dosing on Vyvanse above the 10 mg capsule. I switched from Adderall XR 30 mg to Vyvanse 70 mg back in June since Adderall XR 20 mg didn't work long enough for the days in my week. Over the course of 5 months of trying different dosages, I've learned when I ingest an amphetamine product that is too strong, I feel sleepy yet become unable to sleep while it's in effect. Vyvanse starts working about 45 minutes after ingestion and continues raising in your bloodstream for about 2 hrs after it starts working. If you feel good at first, but then notice that it makes you feel oddly more tired, kind of like a zombie, or puts you in a state of emotional lability, you are overdosing and feeling the side effects of the most potent medication for ADHD on the market currently due to its long-lasting time. I switched back to Adderall XR 20 mg recently, but would go back to Vyvanse again as soon as I hear of a 15 mg capsule being put out."

• yxx...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2019

For ADHD "I started taking this after being diagnosed with a depressive disorder, GAD, and ADHD while in a short stay at the mental hospital for kids. Before this, I was so smart, but I couldn’t stop talking. I would constantly get in trouble for not staying quiet, and I wouldn’t do the best on my tests just because I couldn’t pay attention. As a young girl, they just said these symptoms were because of ‘puberty,’ and my severe ADHD went unnoticed until I was 15 and failing all my classes. After taking Vyvanse (started at 30mg and increased until 60mg where I’m at now), my grades went from C’s, D’s, and the occasional B to all B’s and A’s in a month. It suppressed my appetite, but that helps me with binging due to my ADHD. This medication works well, but the insomnia for the first week was hard. Melatonin worked well to fight that."

• 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."

• Mus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2015

For ADHD "I have been slowly taking increasing doses of Vyvanse for recently diagnosed ADD. I've been on this particular stimulant for probably 6 months. I was increased from 50 to 60 mg a week ago and am having trouble with insomnia, but will wait and see if it goes away. This is life-changing for me as, for the first time, I was actually fired from a job I had for 9 years right after finding out my work issues were largely due to ADD, even though I advised them of my condition and that I would be improving. I am in a new job with an employer who is much more caring, and I'm doing better now that I have found a medication to help me. By far, the positives of this medication outweigh the negatives."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2014

For ADHD "Was placed on Vyvanse after extreme weight loss on Adderall. Started at 20 mg, upped to 40 mg, then upped to 40 mg 2x a day. I got my appetite back, but the medication really did nothing else for me. I went into rages and had huge anger problems for no reason. Anything could set me off! I could barely sleep or focus at work/school. Basically, I gained back the weight I had lost, but everything else sucked. I couldn't make it more than 6 months, my doctor switched me to Adderall XR."

• Sib...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2017

For Binge Eating Disorder "I've been struggling with Nighttime Eating Syndrome for years now. NES is an eating disorder that causes you to binge in the middle of the night. This disorder is not only bad because you consume most to all of your calories while everyone's asleep, you also gain more weight when you eat at night, and you wake up in the morning feeling unrested and guilty. I've been on this medication already and stopped taking it because of the trouble sleeping. It's a catch-22 because my binging happens at night. Taking the meds at night keeps me up. I do love the energy and lack of wanting to stuff my face with food at night. I'm going to hang in there and see if I can take my dose slightly earlier so that I'm not peaking at 10 pm."

• Rhe...
• July 1, 2008

For ADHD "Vyvanse is probably one of the more successful attempts by pharmaceutical companies to create a medication for ADD/ADHD that doesn't carry the negative repercussions other, older medications have, i.e., anxiety, anorexia, insomnia, etc. It's amazing."

• Sal...
• April 12, 2013

For ADHD "I am a 50 y/o f just recently diagnosed with ADHD. My 32 y/o was diagnosed just 2 or 3 yrs ago. I have always been forgetful, impatient, unable to focus, misplaced items, etc. I went back to college 2 1/2 yrs ago and did excellent, but it was very hard. Even though I studied and knew the material, it was the same in HS. I realized something was changing in my ability to learn and saw a doc on adults w/ADD & ADHD, realized it was hereditary, got tested and BAM. I've been on the initial 30 mg a day for a month. I feel sure doc will increase the dosage due to how long it lasts. But, it's GREAT, completely changed my life. I have a small decrease in appetite, must take it early to negate insomnia, otherwise, awesome med."

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 6, 2017

For ADHD "I've been on Vyvanse for a year. I take 50 mg now and I wouldn't say it's a miracle drug, but over the past year I have attended more classes and gotten more consistent grades in university. I definitely have to put in the effort to experience the benefits; it's not motivation/focus-in-a-pill for me! The side effects I've experienced are increased anxiety, dry mouth, increased perfectionism, irritability, and some insomnia. Its impact on my mood varies. At first, my appetite decreased and I had terrible afternoon crashes, but they have leveled out over time. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons for me. I haven't tried anything except for Wellbutrin, which I still take. Not sure how they interact."