Vyvanse and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2012

For ADHD "I am 20 years old and have been taking 60mg Vyvanse for a little more than 4 years now, and it really helps me focus. It increases my attention span, clarity, and motivation without giving me jitters. However, I have experienced almost every side effect that comes with this medicine, including insomnia, appetite loss, nighttime depression, flat-lined emotions throughout the day, etc. However, despite what you might think, there are ways around these bad side effects. Staying healthy is key. Making sure you're keeping yourself hydrated and getting a good hour of exercise every day can greatly reduce some of these bad side effects, and also hanging out with friends regularly helps too. This is just my experience, though."

• 21y...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2023

For ADHD "All I can say is wow. This drug has done so much more for me than anything in my life in the short period I have been taking it. I was diagnosed with ADHD finally at the age of 21 and started taking Vyvanse. Even at the starting dose of 10 mg, it has given me so much clarity, massively made tasks seem more accomplishable and less intimidating. I’m thinking about philosophical things for the first time in my existence. I’m actually approaching old people who I used to know when I bump into them. I’m communicating way better, I no longer find it hard to find the words I want to use. Immediately, the sensation of a switch being flipped in my brain and my world becoming so much more conquerable is an incredible feeling for the first time in my life. Thank God for Vyvanse, I probably wouldn’t be alive in the near future if it wasn’t for this drug. I also haven’t noticed any side effects other than maybe a little difficulty sleeping if I take it late, which I gladly will accept."

• Fru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2017

For ADHD "I recently returned to ADD meds after many years off and was put on 20 mg of Vyvanse. It does help me focus very well and makes me kind of fearless professionally and socially. Unfortunately, it really doesn't motivate me, which stinks. It also doesn't help much with my creativity - I wouldn't be able to solve a complex problem any easier on Vyvanse. It does work for a LONG time - well over 14 hours - and seriously trashes my sleep quality. I don't take Vyvanse on the weekends to reset my brain. I can eat if I think about it, but I can also go much longer without eating. Vyvanse is very smooth - no big highs or crashes. Pretty decent ADD med."

• mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 15, 2016

For ADHD "I was previously on Adderall XR before going on Vyvanse. My reason for switching was because I suffer from BED as well, which this drug is basically a miracle drug for. As far as how this drug functions as an ADHD med, I do not think it is as effective as Adderall, but it does last for a really long time, which has its pros and cons. If you take it too late, you will have a hard time sleeping, and if you want to go to happy hour or grab a drink that day, because this drug takes anywhere from 9 to 11 hours to leave your system, you won't be able to feel the effects of alcohol, or the effects of the alcohol will all kick in at once as Vyvanse leaves your system (be warned). But if you want to get a lot done during the day, it's good."

• r23...
• May 18, 2009

For ADHD "My son has been taking the medication for a week on Tuesday, and all I have to say is that he is doing a lot better. His teacher noticed a difference on the first day, so did my son. He stated to me that he can actually focus on lessons and listen to the lesson with no problem. The only thing that I can say is that my son said that he doesn't want to eat as much, but he eats anyway because he knows he needs to, and at night he wakes up once. The doctor did tell us that that may happen in the beginning, but that it will wear off."

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2010

For ADHD "I've been taking Vyvanse for about a year now, and it has been an interesting trip. At first, I couldn't sleep for the life of me and would go days on only a couple of hours of sleep that I could get. Then, after a couple of months, I was able to sleep almost like I used to, and I noticed that I was more mentally alert and energetic, but my appetite dramatically diminished to almost nothing and still felt like my body wasn't getting enough rest. On top of that, when I would skip a dose, I would have EXTREME hunger where I couldn't eat enough, and I would have terrible fatigue! After a year, everything evened out, and I began to feel normal, other than having no appetite, but I have a healthy food schedule so I don't forget to eat. I would also like to say that I think it should NOT be recommended for children!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 15, 2020

For ADHD "My 6-year-old was on Vyvanse 10 mg. After about 6 months, we put him to 20 mg, and we had a horrible experience. He completely lost his appetite, his weight was 43 pounds, and he went down to 36 pounds. And let's not forget he never slept, was up all night long, and finally, when he did fall asleep, it was about 3-5 am and then back up at 7 am for school. So I took him off it, and now he's on intuitive, and our doctor wants to add Biphentin 10 mg. I'm so worried he will have a bad experience again."

• Jay...
• May 24, 2013

For ADHD "I am 17 and have been taking this since 8th grade. I was diagnosed because I would get into trouble all the time, and when I first started taking it, it was great. I stopped getting into trouble and so on. Now, 4 years later, I feel it is completely different. Rapid heart rate, anger, don't care mood, dizziness, but it still makes me focused. I'm trying to get off it, but making slow progression because I'm really ADHD, my friends concur. The crash after taking it for so long feels like dementia. I only take it on weekdays and could relate to insomnia because I get less than 30 hours of sleep a week."

• pat...
• November 17, 2016

For ADHD "I started with 20 mg, and it was great, but after 5 hours, I felt that I lost the effect of the medicine. The doctor ordered 40 mg instead, and I felt depressed. Instead, I'm taking 20 mg Elvanse and 10/15 mg Adderall. I have to say that this medicine is the best ever. Side effects are dry mouth and sleep problems, and tiredness when the medicine goes away from the body. If you don't eat and drink water, you're going to feel bad, remember that. I recommend taking magnesium if you feel tension in your body and vitamin C before you go to sleep (it makes that medicine go away faster from your body). This medicine makes me focused, I do things properly, I like to talk with other people, and I feel so... quite in my head. Before, I tried Ritalin and Concerta, the worst meds."

• Its...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2016

For ADHD "This pill is very effective and has its ups and downs. I took this med back in 2014 for my ADHD and stopped completely in 2015 due to the side effects. I am currently taking it again, and it has changed me completely. PROS: *You can concentrate incredibly. *You get work done fast. *It makes you think twice. *Lose weight (if you're interested in that). CONS: *You get paranoid. *You feel nauseated the whole time. *You become very antisocial. *You get aggravated very quickly. *People always think you're sad or something's wrong. *APPETITE IS GONE. *You get sad fairly quick. *Everything bothers you. *It's very hard to get or stay happy. *It gets hard to fall asleep. This is my 2nd month back on it, and there has been a substantial change in me already."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2016

For ADHD "I have only been on this medicine for about two weeks at 20 mg, but it has completely changed me! It's awesome! I suffer from depression, anxiety, and ADD and was prescribed Lexapro to help with my depression and anxiety, it bumped up my mood a little, but I still had depression and anxiety symptoms. The first day I took Vyvanse, it kicked in after an hour, and automatically I was more awake, happy, confident, talkative, and focused! It helped me so much with college when, before, I was failing almost all my classes. I am in such a better mood now, life is great! The only downside so far is it makes me really hungry at times, and I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night, but it's worth it!!"

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2016

For ADHD "I have only been on this medicine for about two weeks at 20 mg, but it has completely changed me! It's awesome! I suffer from depression, anxiety, and ADD and was prescribed Lexapro to help with my depression and anxiety, it bumped up my mood a little, but I still had depression and anxiety symptoms. The first day I took Vyvanse, it kicked in after an hour, and automatically I was more awake, happy, confident, talkative, and focused! It helped me so much with college when, before, I was failing almost all my classes. I am in such a better mood now, life is great! The only downside so far is it makes me really hungry at times, and I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night, but it's worth it!!"

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2013

For ADHD "My 7-year-old was placed on this for ADHD. Although it did wonders for his academic progress, as if a light was instantly turned on. His personality changed. He went from occasional outbursts to full-blown temper tantrums, hitting, swearing. Like he was possessed by the devil. He couldn't sleep for days. Needless to say, he is off it. We are now trying Focalin. Not as many emotional problems. But not as focused. We'll hopefully find the right one."

• Anonymous
• September 22, 2009

For ADHD "Works better than Concerta for ADHD-IA for attentiveness as well as alertness. Far superior to Concerta in regard to affecting sleep. Vyvanse doesn't keep you awake. Also seems to contrast greatly to Concerta's method of dealing with attentiveness. Makes a less 'zombie-like' state of concentration and lets you break tasks when needed. An added effect is that of a more positive sense of well-being; most likely attributed to its amphetamine-based nature. The greatest advantage is the delayed release into the body. Great for those whose metabolisms don't react well to Adderall XR or Concerta. Only wished it lasted about two hours longer in the body, but adapting dose time is acceptable."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2009

For ADHD "Absolute miracle pill. I am 17 and take Vyvanse. I went from being a sleeping-in-class 'F' student to being more focused and motivated to do my work, and now my F's are A's and B's. It also made me so much more social and happy. One bad thing is that I do have trouble sleeping, and that's really the only bad thing about this drug. It also causes a decrease in appetite and weight loss."

• You...
• April 10, 2013

For ADHD "I am a high school student (10th grade). Today was my first day taking Vyvanse, and I feel like a totally different person! I was very stressed about school because I couldn't concentrate, and making bad grades isn't fun, so it made me a little depressed. I noticed that I actually felt like doing work (never thought that would happen), and instead of finishing my episode of Teen Mom 2, I was eager to do my homework instead! At night, I got about an hour of sleep, then was up for about 8 hours until it was time to go to school, and I forgot to eat the whole day. It's just food didn't sound good at all, and it gave me so much energy, especially because we had to run the mile at school, and I ran it very fast because it changes your whole mindset."

• lau...
• March 3, 2015

For ADHD "I'm 17 years old, and I have been taking Vyvanse for 4 years now, and I take 70 mg. It works so well, but the side effects are awful. My back, neck, and wrists hurt, and I can't fall asleep, and I have killer headaches, and I have shortness of breath, and I become socially awkward. Like, typically I'm a very sociable person, but when I take my meds, I don't talk."

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

For ADHD "My 8-year-old was diagnosed with ADHD this year. We tried a non-stimulant first (guanfacine), but it didn't work, plus she was so sleepy on this. Switched to 30 mg of Vyvanse, and instantly her grades and school performance increased. She also plays sports and has improved due to better focus. We constantly had to yell out into the softball field to 'be ready' prior to the medication. Now, she's always ready to go. Side effects to begin were insomnia for about 3 days. The doctor suggested 2 mg of melatonin, which worked fine. We did melatonin for 2 days, then she was back to falling asleep on her own. Weight loss is also an issue. She's down about 6 lbs, but she's tall 4'7" and weighed 94 lbs. I don't give it to her on the weekend, and she eats okay."

• BCo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2014

For ADHD "I was prescribed Vyvanse to combat daily fatigue caused by autonomic dysfunction. It treats those symptoms very well, but prolonged use has a large impact on my mood and personality. By the 2nd week, I was feeling very sad all day, every day. A strange side effect that I encountered was that it made my armpits quite literally drip with sweat. The only other bothersome side effect is that it initially kept me up until 5/6 am, but that was remedied with 0.1 mg Clonidine before I went to bed. I'm sure this medicine works very well for those with ADD and ADHD, as that is what it is designed for. If you are looking for a solution to chronic fatigue caused by autonomic dysfunction, you may want to consider other options."

• 12A...
• May 1, 2017

For ADHD "I've been on Vyvanse for 2 years. I started on 50 mg. I was on that dose for about 6 months, tapered down to 30 mg for a few months, and found a happy medium at 40 mg. 50 mg was too strong and 30 mg was too weak. I have a pretty severe case of ADD. For an adult, I never thought ADD would be an issue. I finally saw my doctor, who prescribed me Vyvanse. Vyvanse was the first pill I've ever taken for my ADD, and it's seriously improved my life immensely. The biggest side effects for me are increased anxiety, OCD tendencies, insomnia, and frequent mood issues after taking it. The ultimate biggest con for me is price. My insurance pays very little. It's around $250 per month."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2022

For ADHD "I’m 44, have lived with undiagnosed ADD and mild BED my whole life. I’ve been treated for depression, anxiety, and BPD for 14 years with some temporary improvement, then diagnosed with ADD at 43. Ritalin and Ritalin LA gave me worse anxiety, so I switched to Vyvanse 70mg. I no longer take any other medication and am finally getting my life under control. I am motivated, have energy, and a clearer head. I’ve also lost 8kg and no longer crave carbs at all. The downside is I find it harder to go to sleep, but I need less sleep now to function."

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2011

For ADHD "Vyvanse is the 4th medicine we've tried for our 7-year-old son's ADHD. He has been on Vyvanse for close to a month now. With Vyvanse, he still has a personality, it has a more natural, gradual start and end, so he seems more balanced overall. With other medications, he would suddenly switch back to wild and impulsive, as if you flipped a switch. The negative is that his appetite is definitely low. He has no interest in food during the day but gets hungry late at night. He is not falling asleep well at all, still awake after 2 hours of lying in bed. This is definitely due to the medication. He would always fall asleep within about 15 minutes. We've yet to find the right one, but this is definitely the best so far."

• Mum...
• October 15, 2015

For Binge Eating Disorder "Have taken 30 mg daily since mid-July. Up until this week, I have been very pleased at how effectively it has stopped my binge eating. However, this week it has prevented me from sleeping at night for 4 nights straight. Scary. Not sure how to stop taking it safely."

• Anonymous
• January 17, 2012

For ADHD "I have been on Vyvanse for over a year, started at 20 mg then 30, 40, 50 and decided 40 mg was perfect for me. I am a college student and have always had undiagnosed ADHD. My grades in high school were mostly C's and B's. After being on Vyvanse, my grades went up. It was weird because I felt more overstimulated, Adderall-type buzz/high feeling at 20 and 30 mg. I liked that feeling, but I was having side effects like lack of sleep. I actually then upped my dose to 50 mg. Around that time, I was holding two jobs and studying full time, six college classes. The 40 and 50 mg actually made me feel more normal as if I wasn't taking anything, except my mind was focused. I lacked side effects and everything was perfect. My grades are now 3.5 GPA thanks to Vyvanse."