Vyvanse and Irritability: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Tan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 24, 2021

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD recently and went on Vyvanse for it and binge eating disorder. I am taking 30 mg. The only complaint I have is during the afternoon I have increased irritability. Other than that, I am awake, I clean, I focus on work, and I can remember what I was doing and finish a complete thought."

• Don...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2015

For ADHD "My experience on this drug started well but has dropped off, and I'm looking for an alternative. The first couple of months, I went from 20 mg in the morning and another 20 in the afternoon. I'm now at 70 and 40. My therapist rx'd Kapvay with it to help with irritability and quick reactions to situations. While it helped, the combo was making my teeth feel like razor blades, and I was getting abrasions on my tongue. I dropped the Kapvay, and it has helped with the teeth, but I'm now dealing with several cavities to get filled. Also having trouble with insomnia, as I always feel like I need to be getting something done. Over the past couple of months, I've probably had 5 instances in which I've gone close to 44 hours without sleep."

• Auz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2016

For ADHD "I was on Vyvanse for ADD. I started off at 30 mg and enjoyed the ability to better focus my attention on tasks, and it worked as an appetite suppressant. I increased it to 50 mg, and that is when my eyes started to become blurry. I decreased it back down to 30 mg, and I still had blurry eyes at times, so I discontinued using the medicine. While using the medicine, I took my Vyvanse in the morning early and then 50 mg of Zoloft in the early afternoon. If I took both pills at the same time in the morning, I became agitated and felt like EVERYTHING was important and found it hard to concentrate. It was a really weird rush of emotions. If it doesn’t make your eyes blurry or make you agitated, this is an awesome drug. It started working within a week."

• she...
• June 17, 2010

For ADHD "My 6-year-old son (has autism) has switched to Vyvanse 20 mg from Ritalin. He has been on it for about 10 days now. He is calmer in the morning but very restless and irritable in the evening, starting from late afternoon. I think it is a withdrawal effect. I have not seen any other side effect. Perhaps I will ask the doctor to increase the dose a bit. If there is anybody who thinks he/she has found the right dose, please post it here."

• JD4...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2021

For ADHD "Only on it for a few days, and I do not like it. I feel more irritable, and I noticed new symptoms that I never had before – muscle pain, mostly around my right lower back and hip. I was at the hospital, and I did have blood work done, and my kidneys are fine according to the ER doctor. I'm not saying it is a bad med, but I won't take something that is making me hurt. I read online that muscle pain is common with this medication, so everyone be aware. My pain is severe enough that I had to stop it. I never had this issue with Adderall, so I'm going to try something else. Listen to your body and report all side effects to your doctor."

• Lul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2019

For ADHD "Concerta gave insidious side effects of plummeting self-esteem and extreme suicidal ideation as medication decreased effectiveness over time and dose has to be increased. (However, it did help with procrastination and getting stuff done.) The horrible thing is that my son had similar effects and was trying to choke himself when he felt that he hadn’t performed well. It is so hard to know when you are in it that the medication is causing the symptoms. Now both of us are on 20 mg Vyvanse. Some occasional SI on my part, mild and very intermittent. I’m also on Vybrid for GAD and he is on buspirone. I’m not sure I’m actually getting things done...I have a project I’m anxious about, I’m just not doing it and I’m on 40 mg now. I might be irritable in the evenings. My husband and I are wondering if the medications are worth it...I guess these are long-term issues and the medication's effectiveness waxes and wanes."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2010

For ADHD "I'm 21 years old, and have been on Vyvanse for 5 months (40 mg). Compared to other medications, it's more evenly released throughout the day and seems to last around 8 or 9 hours. I would definitely suggest giving it a month before you completely ban it because it did take getting used to (like any medication). It can affect your sleep depending on the time of day you take your medication. It hasn't decreased my appetite, but in the beginning, I would forget to eat-as long as you get on a routine eating schedule though, you should be fine. It made me slightly irritable in the beginning, but like I said, give it some time and it seems to even out."

• Day...
• January 27, 2016

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."

• cst...
• October 28, 2009

"My 10-year-old son has been on Vyvanse for 1.5 years. Worked GREAT in the beginning. Grades, handwriting, organization, and attitude improved. I worry about long-term effects. I just recently noticed a change in his behavior. Getting grouchy, irritable, not focusing, and his grades are falling. I give him 'breaks' during Christmas vacation and summer. However, he has side effects from getting off and getting back on that are scary. He starts hallucinating and wants to hurt himself. It's been 2.5 months since he has been back on after summer break. It just doesn't seem to be working like it did before. I am trying to adjust his dose while working with his doctor, but I don't like the effects. I would love to take him off for good, but know he would struggle even more in school."

• Twe...
• June 14, 2010

For ADHD "I am a 15-year-old female. I started taking Vyvanse around 5 months ago. When I first started taking it, I saw a difference immediately. I was always on 50 mg. It made me very irritable and emotional the first times I took it. Currently, I've been taking this for a few months, and it is starting to become less effective on me. I am now starting to double up my doses, taking 50 mg to 100 mg a day. It gets me through the day and keeps me awake. Not to mention, excellent grades in school."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2010

For ADHD "I've been taking Vyvanse for a couple of months, and I've learned that the first couple of weeks taking the medication is really the hardest when it comes to side effects. I suffered from dry mouth, loss of appetite, headaches, some but very few mood swings. As far as sleep, I crash at the end of the day, which can be due to this medication. I am irritable every now and then, but before, I was very frustrated with everyday activities. It gives me energy for the most part. I'm not shaky or nervous like I was on Adderall XR. I haven't lost a ton of weight on Vyvanse, unlike Adderall, which I lost 60 pounds on within 4 months."

• dol...
• September 24, 2016

For ADHD "I have ADHD plus anxiety. I was diagnosed 20 years ago. I've always had difficulties in school, work, and life because of this. I've been on Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera (awful med), plus 30 or more anti-depressants, anxiety meds, seems anything from A-Z. I started 20 mg Vyvanse a month ago. First 6 days okay...had headaches. Then came irritability, paranoia, crying, scared, ALL negative. Concentrated too hard, more mistakes at work. I purposely dumped it in the sink. Only positive: 1-3 hours of energy. Doc switched me to Metadate CD. After 3 days, the fog began to lift and no side effects. I'm sorry I wasted $50. But that's life and today I'm good."

• Suz...
• April 3, 2012

For ADHD "My experience was one of 'thank goodness' until 17 days after. Now I am VERY irritable with little or no patience. I am seeing my doctor today for an update and will ask him to let me try (again) Dexedrine. I did not want to go off of it, but I think because Vyvanse is new, well, you can fill in the rest. The Dexedrine has been around for a long time, and I feel it is above and beyond others with knowing what to expect all the time. Good luck to all of you. God bless."

• Mor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 21, 2022

For ADHD "I'm not happy, but I'm also not unhappy from Vyvanse. If you have a form of ADHD, then it makes you feel normal. Though your body gets used to it very quickly. Went from 10 mg up to 60 mg, and I've fallen back into my old habits. Took about 12 weeks total. I've had to really make my own choices on how to take it. E.g., take only when I know I need to accomplish some items, then take a few days' break. The withdrawal is always a bummer, I find. Everyone is different. Have to watch your blood pressure (best to get a BP monitor) while doing things. Sometimes I find if I get up too quickly, I become dizzy and lightheaded. Positives: I'm wide awake and not prone to falling asleep, would have made college and high school better. If I focus hard enough, I can really get work done, but I have to ride the effort when it happens, day or night. Cons: blood pressure, slight food decrease, become used to it quickly, long-term usage, some agitation, low sex drive."

• can...
• April 13, 2011

For ADHD "I'm a 19-year-old male. I struggled through school my whole life but still tested past most of my classmates. I was diagnosed with ADHD last year and was on a different medication that really didn't work, and then a month ago my doctor prescribed Vyvanse, and it has changed my life so much. I recommend that every person with ADHD try it out. It's amazing. The only real side effect I have is I'm a little more irritable."

• BDD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2021

For ADHD "My experience with this drug has been just okay. I was originally on two 15 mg Adderall a day but noticed it was making me more and more irritable/distracted between my 1st and 2nd dose of the day. I did not want to go up any higher on my dose, so my doctor switched me to Vyvanse. We have landed on 50 mg of Vyvanse a day. It does work well for focus but does not give me the morning boost of energy Adderall did because it releases over time instead of peaking earlier. I do not have the curbed appetite side effects some people have reported, but I have been on stimulants for several years and am used to it. I am significantly less irritable than I was on Adderall, but I have noticed my emotions are more tampered in general on Vyvanse. I am starting to feel less “myself” on the med, so I will continue trying other options."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2009

For ADHD "I am a 27 y.o. male. My doctor started me on a Focalin XR 20 mg regimen a month ago to treat my ADD and hopefully control my anxiety at the same time. I loved the Focalin for the first week or so that I was on. I could immediately tell a huge difference in my mood, concentration, focus, and general outlook on life. My anxiety was decreased tremendously as well. As the month went on, I started to notice that the Focalin was very hot and cold. Some days I would feel on top of the world, and other days it didn't seem to work at all. My irritability increased too, so my doctor has switched me to Vyvanse 40 mg. This is my first day on it, and no complaints so far."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2020

For ADHD "I was previously taking Adderall IR 30 mg tabs, one tab twice daily. I switched to Vyvanse to give it a go, and it has done nothing but make me miserable. In fact, no other medicine has made me feel this way: lethargic, irritable, depressed, uncomplicated, bored, unsatisfied, hungrier than usual, and very different compared to my normal self. I will NEVER take this medication again. It is an absolute joke to be used as treatment for ADHD. Furthermore, I find it ironic it can also treat Binge Eating Disorder because it made me eat more than usual. My two cents - AVOID THIS MEDICATION AT ALL COSTS. A waste of time, money, energy, and life. Find a suitable alternative and spare yourself the misery this medication causes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 4, 2015

For ADHD "Cannot get to sleep. Extremely angry/irritated when first get up."