Vyvanse causing lethargy?? Help please??

[triedeverymed]

I am a 41 yr. old ffemale who was put on Vyanse to help with my focus and concentration.I have been on Vyvanse for 1 1/2 months. The original dose wa 30mg. but I didn't see a difference so I was upped to 70mg. 2 weeks ago. The past week I have felt very unmotivated to do anything. I don't even want to talk to my friends, I just feel like being alone all the time. This is partially what I went on the drug to get rid of but it's making it worse.
Has anyone else had a bad reaction to Vyvanse, if so what was it and how did you resolve it? I'm going to ask my doc if the dose it too high. Has anyone else had unwanted side effects from too high of a dose?
Any experience with Vyanse good or bad would be appreciated. Thanks so much for your help, as always!!
Erin

[3fourme]

Hi Erin-
I was on generic adderol tablets for six months, and they worked great, however, I felt like I was needing a liitle higher dose.  I was only taking 10mg tabs twice a day.  My doc suggested that i try a new drug called vivanse, that it's in the same family as adderol.  I was hesitant to change meds, but reluctenly, switched to vivanse, 1 30mg capsule once a day.  Wow!  what a mistake that was!!  I had a very bad reaction to it.  It felt like a hallucingenic.  Also made me very tired!!  I thought I would give it a couple of days to see if it woulsd change.  On the 3rd day, I had a complete breakdown.  I almost got in two car accidents, i was crying nonstop, I had to call my aunt to come down to take care of my three kids.  I was very scared.  My psychiatrist didn't return my phone calls, so when my aunt arrived at my house i drove to my family doctor because i was that scared how i was feeling.  He took the vivanse from me and threw them away and gave me a two week prescription for my adderol until i could see my doc.  Finally after a few days, i felt back to normal again.  I will never change medications ever again!!

I would never recommend vivanse to anyone!!
Good luck, i hope this helps!

[triedeverymed]

Thank you, that does help. I saw my doc yesterday and decided to go off of it and on to Adderal extended release. He said Lethargy is a comon side effect of the meds for untreated ADD. I guess I'll take having my thoughts scattered over lethargy any day. I will try this new drug for a week and see if it's any different, otherwise I think I will just go off this type of med alltogether.
Thanks for your information, I appreciate it!!
Erin

[triedeverymed]

I spoke to my doc about the lethargy and he said that what Vyanse and other drugs for ADD are suppose to do if we really have ADD. I begged him to lower the dose so I wasn't as "mellow" and keeping to myself. He cut it down to 50mg and I am feeling much better. I have more motivation to get out and do things that I did on the higher dose.
ADD is a tricky thing because the idea is to calm the person down, I just hated being too calm. I think I found the right balance, I hope anyway!!

[hello77]

I know what you mean!!!
I just switched to Vyvance 50 mg 4 days ago! I am 22 and have been on medications for several years. I have been on Ritilin and Concerta in the past, but had negative reactions to both.  About 3-4 years ago I switched to Adderall (adderrall) and was very happy with that choice.  I started on 20mg of XR and over the years increased to 40mg of XR.  I also had 10mg regular pills (not XR) to take when necessary, ie: on days I would have to stay up late to finish homework, study, or work late etc.  The problem I have with Adderall (adderrall) is over the years I have built up a high tolerance, to the point where I would need to take 40mg XR in the mornings AND anywhere from 10 to 30mg of additional redular adderall (adderrall) (depending per day) My doc wanted me to try Vyvance, because it is supposed to stay in your system for 12 hours.  
Today is just my 4th day but I am feeling the same way!! I am very anti-social, to the point of all I have been doing is sitting on my bed and staring at my computer.  I feel so lethargic and unmoviated to do even the simplest thing, like get up to get a glass of water.  All i want to do is just SIT.  I am also VERY irritable.  My cell phone rang and it made me so mad I chucked it across the room. I don't want to see or talk to anyone.  I have been depressed and crying randomly for no reason.  I am not able to do anything or get anything done, unless it is sitting and zoning out or laying down. Last night I had real bad anxiety and I didn't sleep until 8am (this morning!) I was supposed to work at 11am but I was so exhausted I slept through my alarms!  Luckily, after explaining my situation to my boss, he understands, although now I feel like a crazy person and now I have anxiety about going to work again while on Vyvance because I feel so out of it. Plus, I am frustrated at myself for not being able to do any work or get anything done. I really just want to cry again! I hope I can talk to my doc first thing in the morning.  Maybe I just need to give this medication time, but I really can't see myself going through this everyday. I would so much rather take the ups and downs from Adderall (adderrall) than this!!

[beefocus]

I'm a 48-yr old female trying to find the correct treatment for ADD. Vyvanase was prescribed for me as an alternative to Adderall (adderrall) XR, because when that was first prescribed, it didn't last long enough (20 mg) and Vyvanase is supposed to have a much longer, smoother effect. Vyvanasee is supposed to be "exactly the same molecule" as Adderall (adderrall) - after it is ingested and goes through your system (and therefore less likely to be abused). To me, it felt like a completely different drug. I felt like doom was just around the corner the entire time I was using it. Also, while I had more awareness of my "thought threads," I had less control over them - and therefore I was more distracted, not less. So, in my opinion, "exactly same molecule" does not equal "exactly same effect." Since reading a few threads (including yours) here, it sounds like this experience isn't too unusual.

My back-story: I never had any negative side effects with Adderall (adderrall), and wish we'd given it another chance. But my doc said that the fearful, sense-of-doom feeling was a hallmark of Adderall (adderrall) and Vyvanase, even though I never had it during my short stint with Adderall (adderrall).  We started with Methylphenedate (metadate cd) and that's been useless.

I'm going back this week to ask to give Adderall (adderrall) another try. So far, my doc has been good. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

[hello77]

You summed it up exactly when saying 'doom was just around the corner'.  That exactly what things felt like!!  I called my doc right away and had my Rx switched back to Adderall (adderrall)...  I'm sure Vyvance is helping some people but from what I experienced I cannot even believe this **** is being marketed and fed to children! Did anyone notice the information packet for Vyvance is intended for parents.. ie: "your child will feel this.. your child might never sleep again..".  Maybe adults should not take Vyvance? I Have no idea, but all I know is that if I was 10 and I experienced what I just did with Vyvance it would be so scary it would probably scar me for the rest of my life!  

[triedeverymed]

I'm happy to report I have stopped the Vyvanse and have been put on Adderral non extended release. I take 20 mg in the morning and can skip my noon time dose because I don't need it. I am finally sleeping better and able to start getting out and doing things.
I don't know what it was with that Vyvanse but I'm throwing all the bottles away, they changed my dose 3 times. So it's sad to toss $400 in the garbage but at least I have my mind back and I can still get out of the house now!!

[TUDA81]

WELL I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE A 7 YR OLD THAT HAS TRIED EVERY KIND OF MED OUT THERE I THINK. 2 WKS AGO SHE GOT PUT ON VYVANCE I CALLED THE DR THIS MORING AND PRETTY WELL TOLD HIM TO STICK IT CAUSE WE WERE GETTING AWFUL RESULTS SHE WAS LASHING OUT HATEFUL AGRESSIVE  AND JUST OUT OF CONTROL, I COULDNT TAKE IT NO MORE SO I TOOK HER OFF THIS MORNING AND WE ARE WAITING TO SEE THE RESULTS. ACTUALLY SHE WAS ON ZOLOFT AND RISPERDALE AND THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD SO WE TOOK HER OFF ALL THE MEDS TODAY. CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THESE MEDS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE IM TRYING SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND BUT ITS HARD JUST NOT KNOWING

[PillsnThrills87]

Vyvanse is ridiculous!!  I've been on every ADD med in the book, and nothing has compared to the horrible side effects of this drug.  

I would never recommend this drug to anyone, not even people I don't like, and as for kids....I agree that if I had taken this as a child, I might not be here typing this post.  I would have been in a mental ward.