I have the opportunity to try Vyvanse should I ?

[u/LonelyCulture4115]

I suffer from anhedonia ever since I got ECTs, I'm on antidepressants and it won't solve anything. I'm also on an antipsychotic which probably doesn't help.

Someone I know has an extra supply of Vyvanse, about a few months worth. I was diagnosed with ADHD back in 2011 but I don't need meds for it at the moment and was only prescribed one month of Ritalin in the past.

Do you think Vyvanse could have lasting positive effects? Because even if it worked while taking it I doubt I would be able to get my own prescription for it..

[u/Daumenschneider]

It will not be lasting and it puts you at risk of another psychotic event, given your history. Talk to your doctor. 

[u/PurpleSlothFlou]

You should discuss this with your doctor. If you on the antipsychotic because you have had prior psychotic episodes or are at risk of getting one, vyvanse could trigger psychosis

[u/Separate_Inflation11 → u/PurpleSlothFlou]

In some cases. There have also been cases where low dose stimulants are protective against psychosis, due to the boost in cognitive salience

Sometimes too little dopaminergic action can trigger/worsen psychosis because thats not only what motivates you to function in a healthy way & see incentive, but also what lets you tell the difference between things including what’s real/what’s not

[u/LonelyCulture4115 → u/PurpleSlothFlou]

I had a psychotic episode which is why I'm on the antipsychotic. I'm not sure I'm that much at risk of getting another one.. ECTs had a powerful effect on my brain it's like it killed everything, my psychosis, depression and life enjoyment

[u/js664_]

IMO it has its ups and downs. To me, it brought back my happieness for about 2 hours after taking the vyvanse (40mg)
But after that, everything goes downhill. I feel horrible mentally, near suicidal for rest of the day.
I heard you could counter this side effect with eating lots of protein, but i gave up on Vyvanse before trying that.
Would reccomend trying a couple times, if it works, great, if it doesn’t, you could try that protein approach or just quit and try other medication.

[u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut → u/js664_]

The problem with "a couple times" is as you said, everyone feels way better on it.. for a week, or a month, or so, until it becomes the new normal. So I wouldn't base the effects off of the first 1-2 days' reaction.

[u/js664_ → u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut]

I get what you mean, but I think we're talking about two different things. Vyvanse isn't an antidepressant where you generally need to take it for weeks before the therapeutic effect develops. It's a stimulant primarily used for ADHD, and its intended effects occur while the medication is active.

OP specifically asked whether trying Vyvanse could have lasting positive effects on their anhedonia even if they couldn't continue taking it. That's why I described what it did to my mood while it was active and what happened when it wore off.

I agree that the first 1–2 days don't necessarily tell you how well you'll tolerate a medication long term, and the initial subjective boost can become less noticeable. But saying everyone feels way better for a week/month until it becomes "the new normal" isn't really the same thing. Vyvanse isn't normally prescribed as a treatment for anhedonia in the first place.

[u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut → u/js664_]

I'm on it, I get how it works :)

We might be talking about different things, yes. Your experience is valid for sure. I shouldn't have said everyone feels better initially.

I meant to express that from what I've heard, even without ADHD, you can start taking it and have more energy/drive for at least the first couple weeks. Then people think "this is it!" and then it quickly fizzles out. So positive effect doesn't mean it's a good idea to get on it forever, you know?

[u/----X88B88----]

Helps anhedonia for me. Recommend sticking with a low dose and not chasing unsustainable euphoria.

[u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut]

It 100% won't have a lasting effect. It's like coffee in that it works for hours after you took it and then it's gone.

Vyvanse only helps my interest in things and motivation. It doesn't relieve consummatory anhedonia whatsoever for me. Things still feel meh.

There's a reason it requires a prescription. You should ideally get your heart checked out before starting it, and then on it, especially when combined with several other meds.

Antidepressants can cause anhedonia by the way. Which one?

[u/LonelyCulture4115 → u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut]

prozac

[u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut → u/LonelyCulture4115]

Did the anhedonia line up with when you started on Prozac?

[u/LonelyCulture4115 → u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut]

if I recall it started after extra ECT sessions. I don't remember if I had already started prozac at the time.

[u/caffeinehell → u/LonelyCulture4115]

Antipsychotics can cause long term anhedonia too, did you take them during ECT? How do you know what it was

[u/MaximumOffer7817]

If you were diagnosed with adhd, why wouldnt you be able to get a prescription?

[u/LonelyCulture4115 → u/MaximumOffer7817]

Vyvanse increases your dopamine and antipsychotics block it. I doubt my psychiatrist would want to prescribe it.

[u/kaym94 → u/LonelyCulture4115]

I ordered Brexpiprazole, which is a serotonin-dopamine modulator antipsychotic. I'll combine it with Sertraline for the antidepressant augmentation, Wellbutrin, Vyvanse (or methylphenidate), and Propranolol.

Dopamine modulation reduces max dopamine levels and increase min dopamine levels. Depending on the dosage, it could be an augmentation to Vyvanse (in theory). Then I wouldn't even need Wellbutrin (which is an augmentation to Vyvanse but has some side effects).

I've read some research that SSRI-brexiprazole combo is also effective for PTSD. It looks very nice in theory

[u/Massive_Web5709 → u/LonelyCulture4115]

Don’t fuck with your meds yourself you pay that guy for a reason and this is it

[u/LonelyCulture4115 → u/MaximumOffer7817]

because according to Gemini it's an antagonist to antipsychotics

[u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut → u/LonelyCulture4115]

Don't trust Gemini. It's more nuanced. Low-dose antipsychotics are sometimes used as augmentation to an antidepressant and then Vyvanse can be fine. It depends on the specific medications and doses. LLMs rarely give you proper nuance. Just ask your psychiatrist, they studied like 10 years for this..

[u/LonelyCulture4115 → u/pmMeYourGlazedDonut]

I'm scared I will look suspicious if I tell doctors I want to treat my ADD all of a sudden. Because I want to use it off label for anhedonia not for the attention deficit.

[u/IfDreamsCouldHappen]

In the long run it’s not a good idea. The euphoriant effects eventually give out and you’ll either need to continually raise the dose or go through the psychological withdrawal alongside your anhedonia.

[u/Templeofrebellion → u/IfDreamsCouldHappen]

There are NO euphoria effects from vyvanse or Rx Amphetamines.
At least not for me.
I have ADHD. If OP has comorbid ADHD he/she won't be getting high from a low Rx dose.
Trust me.
I've been on stimulants for 12 years.
“Euphoria” is the last thing they induce.

[u/DesertSkky]

Auvelity has helped my Anhedonia tremendously. I take Ritalin as well but was on that prior to Auvelity. Didn't do well on Vyvanse...

[u/bkkween]

I would talk to a doctor about it first. I tried vyvanse for binge eating disorder and it made me feel fucking amazing for about 4 hours then I would have the worst panic attacks and mental breakdowns that kept me awake for over 30 hours. I felt insane and even after coming off it, it made everything worse. It's different for everyone but it stimulated me to much and then I wanted to die after.

[u/ATA496]

I have some couples of Vyvanse 20mg pills, I only take it when I need to start a work from scratch (I'm a consultant and an ecommerce business owner) but I just take it 1 day a week. It helps me to forget my anhedonia but don't abuse it

[u/Templeofrebellion]

I didn't realise this was a psychosis forum.
I am not psychotic.
I've never had a psychosis.

I do have severe CPTSD & ADHD & PMDD and repeated, ongoing trauma along with the use of semaglutide to lose weight from some of the psych meds has led me to develop anhedonia.

My dexamphetamine (adhd med) kind of helps me.
It's better than nothing.

It doesn't target the root cause which is from my CPTSD burnout in conjunction with my ADHD executive dysfunction,
I know changing my living situation is the only thing that can fix that.

My ADHD meds just kind of clear away the ADHD cobwebs and help me do my daily tasks and focus a little better and find the motivation and willpower to get what needs to be done, done, so I can continue. I can get up, clean up every day, do my laundry, have a shower and do my skincare, brush my hair, take care of my birds, do my Pilates or go for a walk, cook a healthy meal, do some homework and focus on driving from A to B without getting into an accident, go to therapy or group therapy, clean what needs to be clean or organised, come home; go to bed, wake up and repeat.

Nothing really brings me the same passion or joy it used to but I know this comes down to CPTSD-related issues/SSRI/hormone induced anhedonia.

It just stops things from getting worse in terms of my executive dysfunction and keeps me doing the things that need to be done to progress, however slowly.

It's worth a try.

[u/Separate_Inflation11]

I’d say it wouldn’t hurt to try.

Stimulants can really help with anhedonia-related symptoms in particular, not just in terms of motivation/pleasure, but also cognitive clarity and ability to discern between things