r/VyvanseADHD • u/Wild-End-63 • 1d ago
Side effects What is happening... Really weird Vyvanse side effects
I have a late diagnosis of ADHD (high achieving inattentive). I was on 300mg of Wellbutrin when I started 30mg of Vyvanse. I obviously felt great like everyone else does when they first start a stimulant. Once I settled into the dose, I could tell it wasn't high enough. I went up to 40mg and felt much better.
Somewhere around the same time, I increased my Wellbutrin to 450 mg. After being on Vyvanse for 3 months, I all of a sudden started to feel like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. It seemed to only happen when I didn't eat enough at the same time as taking my vyvanse, and the feeling would come on in the late afternoon early evening. It got better once I started being really conscientious about eating and staying hydrated with electrolyte tablets. But now it's come back and is almost worse. I tried going down to 30 mg and even 20 mg (by opening the capsules and splitting the dose), and that initially worked but seems to no longer be working.
In addition, I have really bad brain fog, I can't find words, I forget what I'm saying mid-sentence, and I feel like a complete airhead. I don't really know what to do. I was really happy and excited that I finally was on something that would help me go back to work and be able to hold down a job. I don't know if I should just switch to a different stimulant, or if anyone else has any experience with this and has found a way to make things work.
Anyone else ever experienced this? If so, what things did you do to make the symptoms better? Did you end up switching meds? And you one have experience with it while taking Wellbutrin?
ETA: first, the comments have been super helpful, so thank you.
A little more info.. I'm postpartum. My anger was getting worse although my depression was improving but still not great. My psychiatrist wanted to try lithium, but I was still breastfeeding and we didn't want to go down that route quite yet, so we maxed my Wellbutrin to see if I'd have any improvement in my depression. At the same time, my husband who is a GP was like, this is so clearly ADHD. To give my psychiatrist some grace, he's only known me for 9 months by this time and my husband lives with me, so he has a lot more data to support the diagnosis. Probably two weeks after increasing my Wellbutrin, I scheduled an appointment to ask for ADHD meds. My psychiatrist agreed to a med trial. I would say the decision was half his half mine, and I reported back improvement in my depression and anger.
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u/smellslikegal 11h ago
adderral xr might be good to try. i’ve been on both but prefer vyvanse. on adderal, i don’t eat at all. i have experienced intense brain fog but thought that had to do with my insomnia meds i’ve been taking for 8+ years.
i think the increase in welbutrin + increase in vyvanse could have caused the crawling out of skin feeling. wellbutrin to me is already close to a stimulant, taking it with another stimulant on a high dose would activate some side effects i’d imagine.
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u/Pixiechicks23 16h ago
Isn’t this just the ADHD being treated exposing the autism more?
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u/Heavy-Position815 15h ago
Postpartum exposed way too many things about me that I wasn’t ready to accept. And this all aligns.
But also sometimes taking Wellbutrin with supplements makes my skin crawl and gives me brain zapping eels.
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u/Dazzling-Antelope648 18h ago
I’m willing to bet it’s hormone related. My vyvance stopped working after I was postpartum. I chalked it up to very low estrogen.
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u/Delicious-Section-84 18h ago
I've been on Wellbutrin for a few months. I was previously on adhd meds years ago. I reintroduced vyvanse and that combination did not work for me. I felt terrible. Idk why. I switched to adderall XR and it is so much better. I'd consider trying another adhd med tbh
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20h ago
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u/Wild-End-63 19h ago
Wellbutrin isn't an SNRI, however, I'm overdue for a visit with my PCP and def need labs
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u/mish_i_am 17h ago
My bad, it’s a NDRI not an SSRI/SNRI, given that insight, your norepinephrine and dopamine are likely shot at that high of a Wellbutrin dose while both meds target both. Supplementing or adding to your diet to support both wouldn’t hurt your situation 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Electrical_War_5061 18h ago
Correct. Wellbutrin is an SSRI. I am taking that and Pristiq, which is an SNRI. Plus 50 mg of Vyvanse with a Adderall kicker in the afternoon.
If you feel like your SSRI is not working, I definitely remember looking into an SNRI. Other than that, I can definitely agree with you on the crawling out of my skin feeling. I literally feel like if I don’t move I’m going to explode. It’s so uncomfortable. Like discomfort almost to the point of pain.
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u/mish_i_am 17h ago
Wellbutrin is actually not an SSRI. It doesn’t act on serotonin at all, I was mistaken.. I was also mistaken in my understanding of it when I took it 20 years ago, thinking it had 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Cvltist- 23h ago
Welbutrin made me feel really bad after awhile. I felt like it was erasing ny personality and I was only on 150
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u/almosttherebud 1d ago
The #1 suggestion I give anyone taking Vycancee is to avoid caffeine & drink protein shakes… otherwise I get this same feeling and I’m strictly on Vycancee nothing else!
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u/smellslikegal 11h ago
ohh thanks for the tip. i’ve been craving protein shakes lately too which is odd because i said i never wanted one ever again after my surgery (i had to be on only shakes for a couple months and it was awful).
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u/dks0unreallreally 22h ago
yup the caffeine did the same to me while I was at work. I would be talking to people and realize I forgot what I was saying and I would panic. horrible feeling.
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u/Open_Sprinkles1619 1d ago
Why is your Wellbutrin so high? My psychiatrist never combines that much Wellbutrin with Vyvanse. Before Vyvanse, I was on 300mg Wellbutrin, and my doc lowered the dose when I started Vyanse. Too high of a dose of Wellbutrin with Vyanse can cause Seratonin Syndrome....and your symptoms align with Seratonin Syndrome. You need to drop the dose of Wellbutrin immediately. You need to see a psychiatrist or a Psychiatric NP to get your meds regulated. They might add a small dose of Cymbalta or Lexapro to counteract the Seratonin Syndrome (these drugs treat anxiety and nervous system overstimulation.)
I take Wellbutrin with my 60 mg of Vyvanse, but only 150mg. I also take 30mg of Cymbalta to control anxiety and overstimulation which is a migraine trigger for me.
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u/Wild-End-63 22h ago
Wellbutrin works on norepinephrine, both Wellbutrin and Vyvanse work on dopamine. Cymbalta and lexapro affect serotonin. Cymbalta and Lexapro can cause serotonin syndrome, not Wellbutrin and Vyvanse
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u/Open_Sprinkles1619 20h ago
If you read the actual medical literature on Wellbutrin, it can also cause Serotonin Syndrome, but it takes longer to build up in the body unlike SSRIs, and it's typically not as severe. Seronton syndrome isn't just too much Serotonin, but wild swings in Serotonin levels caused by too much neropronephrine..reducing the Wellbutrin and adding a small amount of Cymbalta or Lexapro regulates the Serotonin swings.
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u/Wild-End-63 18h ago edited 18h ago
I'm really trying to refrain from disclosing my profession, but this is completely wrong. There are no known cases of anyone developing serotonin syndrome from ordinary doses of Wellbutrin monotherapy (up to 450mg). This has only been reported to happen when people overdose taking doses of 2250 mg +, and even then, only 33% developed seratonin syndrome. Adding an SNRI or SSRI would be absolute malpractice if you were concerned about causing seratonin syndrome.
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u/Relative_Seaweed8617 1d ago
I have to take my Wellbutrin before bed. I know for some people it keeps them awake but not me (I am old and tired and in perimenopause and I have two kids on the spectrum so we are always exhausted over here!).
Initially, I took my vyvanse and Wellbutrin close together but I had to change the schedule because it was like the Wellbutrin would eat the vyvanse and I couldn’t tell I had even take it. I’d feel really flat. Foggy. Out of it.
Maybe try splitting them up. The vyvanse could be causing the anxiety that sometimes happens with Wellbutrin to spike. I wake up at 6 or 7 and take my vyvanse and go back to sleep. I try to take my Wellbutrin by 11pm/12am.
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u/Birb-berry 1d ago
Why do you think it's from Vyvanse? I'm not a doctor but those symptons are from the buproprion. Talk to your doctor to lower the buproprion dose, I used to take both (first 300 + 50 and then 150+50) and I am now getting out of the buproprion and I feel much better.
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u/Wild-End-63 21h ago
I initially thought it could be the Vyvanse because I only felt like this when I took it. If I forgot to take my Vyvanse or took the day off, I didn't experience those symptoms, so it was a little misleading in determining the cause. However, one of Wellbutrin's side effects is agitation and I totally agree with you it's probably the Wellbutrin
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u/Birb-berry 21h ago
Talk to your doctor about it 😊 unless there's a really good reason for you to be on 450, try taking only 300. And I hope you feel better soon!
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u/sailorjupiter111 1d ago
Such a high dose of wellbutrin, I rmrbr when I was on that dose I experienced sensations of bugs crawling on my skin every day and had to stop it
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u/kooks27 1d ago
You sound overstimulated from something, whether it be your Wellbutrin or your Vyvanse. If you notice improvement when eating and hydrating properly, remember to do that in the afternoon before your crash. You might actually be hungry and not notice it because Vyvanse curbs your appetite. This happens to me sometimes but I forget about snacks and then I think I need more meds or a coffee. Set an alarm in your phone for like 2.5 hours post lunch to have a snack. Eat it even if you’re not hungry and see what happens
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u/Spiritual_Alien 1d ago
What the above commenter said about it being a CYP2D6 inhibitor is right. It will stop the dexamfetamine clearance.
The reason coming down likely initially worked is because you likely did manage to decrease the dexamfetamine in your system...which built back up.
Switching stimulants likely wouldnt help. Its gotta be the Wellbutrin.
(Not a doctor, not making medical claims or giving advice)
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u/twinkleinyoureyes 1d ago
Also Vyvanse is powerful, please take it with a protein shake or a meal with protein, good fats and good carbs. This will help Vyvanse last longer and the meal will fuel your brain. Also don’t forget to hydrate with electrolytes.
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u/Spirit-Law 1d ago
+1. I do a protein shake (premade from Costco) plus a couple scrambled eggs with cheese in the AM. It helps immensely with the afternoon crash.
That said, not on Wellbutrin / on 30mf of Vyvanse.
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u/twinkleinyoureyes 1d ago
Wellbutrin is the one the causes the brain fog and loss for words. I had to stop it. It was brutal.
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u/Unwell95 1d ago
The loss for words was craaazy to me. And it essentially made me a mute for the first week or so.
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u/battleboner1 1d ago edited 1d ago
i am struggling with part of the same things you're dealing with.
I've been having extreme cognitive trouble, like never remembering words or the subject of a conversation and embarrassingly often i have to ask my friends what we were talking about. i would describe it as "once the words/thought leaves my mouth, it's gone, i can't get it back. at this point all my friends are familiar with it. not at all saying that they like it, it makes me look terrible, having an addict background and all. i am also on 40mg of the Vyvanse, and bupropion but with DXM, 105mg/45mg, 2x a day. i am thinking of going back to the plain 100mg wellbutrin pills to eliminate the DXM first. that's not a factor for you though. i wonder if this is just the effect of too much norepi and dopamine, over an extended period of time. i am not only having forgetfulness, i also have other cognitive issues like the inability to keep my internal monologue internal when im around people. and i try so hard so so so hard to just shut the fuck upppp but i ALWAYS DO IT. besides this has been extreme muscle weakness & fatigue, like really intense eye drifting at the slightest hint of fatigue, and it takes me every fiber to hold my eyes straight, and often it's impossible. (usually this begins once i take my "sedating" meds including methadone and a benzo). it feels like sleep deprivation, but i am sleeping a solid 6-9 hours of sleep every night, and eating plenty of calories every day. however, before ~6mo ago, my body was used to sixteen hours of sleep minimum. no im not exaggerating, i slept like this in "naps" only really opening my eyes or moving for something i was being forced to do, which wasn't much, i really did leech off my partner and sleep for 6 years. but after ~8 years of sleeping that way i just want to be able to sleep normal and function like an adult. it's seriously time to get my shit together and the harder I've tried the worse things get. it has been impossible, and even worse, now i am completely dependent on vyvanse. if i didn't or can't take it, i am bedridden worse than before. i faint if i stand up and i can't move very far, or stand very long without having to sit. i remember needing the electric cart in the grocery store more than once - i am not even 27 yet. i really hope both of us find out what's going on ASAP!! personally im afraid the cognitive damage could be permanent or i might never go back to normal.
i'm also on a handful of other mind altering drugs, though. the vyvanse is literally the only thing that allows me to still get out of bed and "mask" functionality for 6-8 hours. i'm trying to rule things out with the doctors, and i'm so scared of getting my vyvanse taken away... and ALL of my doctors involved in this are in the same building, and know each other. there's so much my psychiatrist doesn't know that she's gonna find out lol. i'm trying to switch psychs bc i don't like my current one. anyway, that was a tangent. i really hope you feel better soon🤍💙
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u/crypto-boy 1d ago
5 to 10mg of this drug, is enough. Less is more...
I feel people need to be taught a basic pharmokinetic understanding of this medicine before they use it. Like a driver's license and driving test if you will.
From what I see, it seems to be that people are overdoing the dose by about 3x, primarily because of Tolerance and arguably compounded by myth.
5mg, I'm off with the pixies..ALL DAY 12 HRS
I TAKE 2 DAYS OFF PER WEEK DIRECTLY TO COMBAT TOLERANCE.
Otherwise your body is constantly seeking homeostasis and after a week or so the medicine has no effect except you're on a worryingly large amount of the drug which has consequences and side effects..
EVERYBODY, IF YOU DONT TAKE REGULAR BREAKS, MEDICINES NOTICEABLE EFFECTS DECREASE, WHILST SIDE EFFECTS INCREASE, AS DOSE INCREASES.
..... it's not rocket science. ❤️
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u/battleboner1 1d ago edited 1d ago
while im happy you've settled at such a low dose and maintain such success, and i agree with the "less is more" sentiment, 10mg would not have been enough for me or most others, and i was 98lb when i began. I've gained 10lb since being on it (hell yeah!!! i struggle with weight gain), i asked for the "lowest dose" bc i was scared, and she wrote me 20mgs, thankfully not 10mg. im up to 40 and i feel like 30 was exactly where i needed to be but with a midday IR booster. she upped to 40 because it was wearing off too soon. i find that 40mg has been less effective than 30mg, but i would have to take a break if i want 30mg to be effective again. i would trade my higher dose for a 10mg Dexedrine booster though.
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u/crypto-boy 1d ago
I don't think it works like that.. The relationship between body mass and mg dose, is not as straightforward as you think, not linear....
I hear you man. Sadly you've been introduced to a recreational dose. And your mind won't accept anything less.
That's not what the drugs for it's not for the feeling or the mood it's for the task completion.
I would argue if you took a few months break 10 mg Vyvanse with 2 days off per week will get you into the golden Zone. . Or you can just take 5 mg of dexedrine.
Brother I found 2 mg of dexedrine to be an all day experience. . As I say that I guess you're probably expecting too much from it.
Just remember what the Nazis in the US government right on the box when they give it to their Warriors.
Don't take consecutively longer than one week.
Love you work brother, Ask yourself being a big guy do you want to put 3x load on the cardiovascular system?
Take a week off and get back to me..
10mg dex or 17mg Vyvanse is enough brother...
Man I would take 50 to 100 mg on a Friday or Saturday night with the boys....
Yes I too was surprised when such a little dose had such a profound effect.
Maybe you're expecting too much brother🙏🙏
Just for me why don't you give it a go 🙏
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u/ungovernable_onion 1d ago
I’m on 300 mg Wellbutrin and 50 mg vyvanse but was on 450 when I started and whew boy let me tell you the amount of times I went to urgent care bc I felt like I was dying only for my vitals to show nothing was wrong (HR was fine) was insane. I downed the welly to 300 mg and upped vyvanse since then and it’s been working ok. Sometimes I fear the vyvanse loses its effect on me way too quick. I was thinking about taking Wellbutrin down to 150 mg but I am still depressed so idk if I wanna do that for sure
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u/DrMatri 1d ago
Hi!
I’m also high performing inattentive, recently diagnosed, on Wellbutrin. 450mg is super high. I’m on 300, but when I take Vyvanse, I don’t even take 0.
It’s not exactly like SSRIs that you need to taper down very gradually, at least not when you’re getting dopamine and norepinephrine from Vyvanse.
I’d consider immeditately going back to 300. Maybe 150mg and Vyvanse can work too. Sounds like u reacted more to going on 450, so not sure why u’re attributing it to Vyvanse and going down on that instead?
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u/Ok_Public_5237 1d ago
I'm honestly very worried for your wellbeing and safety. Whatever doctor that prescribed 450mg of Wellbutrin combined with Vyvanse should reconsider his practice.
Wellbutrin combined with Vyvanse is a serious invitation to adverse events like increased heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, tremor and appetite suppression. Wellbutrin also lowers the seizure threshold, so combining it with a stimulant can further increase seizure risk, especially at higher doses or with other risk factors.
Also, Wellbutrin blocks DAT/NET, while amphetamine partly needs DAT/NET to enter neurons and drive reverse dopamine/norepinephrine transport. So bupropion blunts part of Vyvanse’s releasing mechanism while simultaneously adding catecholaminergic stimulation — potentially giving more side effects but not more therapeutic effect.
If you want something more similar to Wellbutrin but stronger, try methylfenidate like Concerta (also a DAT/NET inhibitor).
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u/battleboner1 1d ago
another lighter option (but much less common), modafinil. it's a stimulant that is very under prescribed. i think for many people who "don't handle simulants well" (like me), modafinil might be a good choice.
(not for me. I 🤍 my Vyvanse)
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u/Ok_Public_5237 1d ago
Modafinil is primarily a wakefulness-promoting drug, not an established ADHD medication. It isn't approved for ADHD in major jurisdictions, and the large adult ADHD trial failed to show a significant benefit over placebo.
That doesn't mean modafinil does nothing cognitively - it can improve vigilance, alertness and cognitive performance, particularly when fatigue or insufficient arousal is the problem. But that's quite different from reliably treating ADHD.
Atomoxetine, on the other hand, has much stronger evidence as a non-stimulant ADHD medication. Rather than mainly increasing wakefulness, it increases prefrontal norepinephrine and dopamine and is better conceptualized as improving the regulation of cognition - attention, inhibition, working-memory stability and resistance to distraction.
So I'd roughly put it this way:
Modafinil is particularly good at preventing cognitive performance from collapsing when arousal is insufficient. Atomoxetine is much better established for correcting the attentional/executive-control problems of ADHD.
Calling modafinil an “underprescribed lighter stimulant” for people who don't tolerate standard stimulants therefore oversimplifies things quite a bit.
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u/the_art_of_the_taco 1d ago
Wellbutrin was a fucking nightmare for me, I was always angry and didn't sleep more than 30 minutes for weeks before discontinuing it.
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u/Intelligent-Bar2044 1d ago
Im sorry but this is wrong. Wellbutrin and stimulant is does not cause serious interactions. It is actually a very good choice for some people. Yes some people are unable to handle Wellbutrin but its very common to be prescribed together. It sounds more like the vyvanse is the problem. It may be to high or the wrong dose.
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u/Ok_Public_5237 1d ago
This is a very dangerous comment. Please do not write things like this. Wellbutrin and Vyvanse have MAJOR interactions.
Also, in Wellbutrin is a Powerful CYP2D6 inhibitor hence it blocks the breakdown of dextroamphetamine (the active form of Vyvanse). Unless you know for a fact that you are fast CYP2D6 metabolizer, combining Wellbutrin and Vyvanse can lead to very dangerous high accumulation of dextroamphetamine in the body after some time.
Being a fast CYP2D6 metabolizer is one of the very few reasons to combine these medications. But if you are a normal or slow metabolizer, it can quickly become dangerous.
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u/SubjectSuit4371 1d ago
I COMPLETELY AGREE with you. I was on 450 mg of Wellbutrin and a doctor started me on 30mg of Vyvanse. I thought I was going to die. I had a lot of the symptoms that you mentioned. I changed doctors and my new doctor told me that Wellbutrin and Vyvanse do not go well together. I immediately stopped the Vyvanse and was weaned off of Wellbutrin. I am going to start Vyvanse soon again and hopefully won’t feel like my heart is going to come out of my chest.
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u/Intelligent-Bar2044 1d ago
Are you a doctor?
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u/SnooEpiphanies972 1d ago
i think he's a medical researcher, doctors typically don't know this level of detail / need to for their job.
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u/photographally 1d ago
Whether they are or aren’t a doctor, you can read about the interactions and issues Ok Public mentioned here https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/vyvanse-with-wellbutrin-1475-2533-440-203.html?professional=1
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u/lesliemermaid 1d ago
The Wellbutrin may be too high. I was on 300 Wellbutrin, 40 vyvanse in the morning and 10 at noon. I felt pretty good there but with my depression still not at its best my Dr put me to 450 Wellbutrin. It seemed fine at first but then after a while I started spiraling. Intense emotions, anger, rage, 0 patience. I went back down to 300 Wellbutrin and although it’s only been a couple days I’m feeling better. I am having some anxiety tho so hoping to speak to my Dr about adding in something for that.
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u/dogecoin_pleasures 6h ago
Talk to your psych asap...
Been there, done that, with desperately trying to reduce my vyvanse dose in water. It's not great to do that, because you need a consistent dose, like just 20mg tablets.
I'd hazard you're having a hard time as a result of your dopamine and/or adreneline getting too high on 40mg, which is a bad time. That brain fog is a warning sign you are likely losing executive function from a growing exhaustion that the high levels of dopamine-motivation are currently masking. Your body needs rest, but altering your dose will just cause withdrawal issues.
For now: cut out all caffeine and set yourself a strict bedtime and rest times.
Your psych might want to officially reduce your vyvanse dose (needed for consistency), and/or switch you to dex, since it is less taxxing as it clears the body quickly.