new rx combo - strattera and vyvanse

[Geaux Tigers!]

I think I would firstly, avoid that Stattera. Then I would do away with the Vyvanse (at least on a daily basis), and taper down and do away with the Cymbalta. I think what could really be of help to you would be a tricyclic anti-depressant. There are a number of these, some more initially sedating than others. They can work quite well with depression, anxiety, pain, sleeplessness, and attention issues. They work on serotonin and norepinephrine. I think at the right dose, a TCA might be of great help for you. I might also suggest Lyrica or Neurontin, and a benzodiazepine (either daily or as needed depending on how well the TCA and Lyrica/Neurontin controlled your anxiety). Just ideas to consider.

Alex, please read my prior posts, especially#13 with the “cocktail” and let me know what you think please!!

Yes, avoid the Strattera and taper away the Cymbalta. I agreed with you here earlier. Also, I suggested the TCA imipramine and the benzodiazepines.

Meh, I’m not sure if the Vyvanse should be dropped, technically it should, yes. I can see how that might be helping in a lot of ways but I can see how it might be leading to some of the problems you’ve mentioned, Kaity. I’d go without for a week or so and see if symptoms improve.

 

[Shady Kaity]

I actually don't feel like the vyvanse has an effect on my anxiety.
It lifts my mood usually and makes me a little more social and actually a little more assertive; for example in school if I don't understand something I'm. Able to ask questions for once in my life lol. So I guess it aids in my social anxiety, but overall anxiety can sometimes worsen such as ill worry about something and get irritable....idk if that makes sense.

As for benzos, I prefer not to take them, low doses don't help me other than make me lazy and sleepy and if taken in higher doses, I have been known to do very very stupid things uncharacteristic of me and or become violent.

And ill be honest I'm a little scared to take topamax after reading how it "dumbs" people down and impairs cognitive functioning...if anything if I were to take it, I might prefer to wait till after this semester ends so my work isn't compromised. I also saw on tv some law commercial about topamax being harmful?

I am however curious about lyrica.

I wish there was a way to have all my brain levels and shit tested and then have a cocktailed fitted to me specifically...with out negative effects. But that would only happen in a perfect world lol

Why do I shake terribly on strattera by the way? Is this something to bbe concerned about?

 

[ErgicMergic]

Yes, you should be concerned. It's from the extra adrenaline (NE), which causes "jitters," like drinking too much coffee. It's just making you more anxious, as you can't relax when you're adrenalined up. Your body is in fight or flight mode, and it's impossible to relax when your brain is telling you "fight this coyote that's trying to eat your baby," or "run away from that lion so your baby and yourself will be saved!" If your muscles are twitching hard, it could even be indicative of an impending seizure... taper off that drug, it's not meant for your current situation and is interacting with your other medications.

You say Vyvnase helps? Ditch the Strattera, Cymbalta, all that stuff IMO. If you must take a reuptake inhibitor, take an SSRI. SSRI's suck, but they don't cause even more adrenaline in your anxious (adrenalined) state. And don't listen to my suggestions about Bipolar, as I'm pretty unfamiliar with mental disorders other than ADHD and anxiety disorder.

Try a mood stabilizer, imo. Lyrica is great, one of my favorite recreational drugs, but you gain a tolerance to the anxiolytic GABA effects very quickly (faster than benzos), and the extra energy it gives you can turn you manic. Definitely not a drug to take every day, but as needed, it's amazing. Lamictal and Lithium have greatly increased quality of life in people who are truly bipolar, they're worth a shot.

 

[Steps]

The strattera vyvanse combo is doing 1 of 2 things

Raising NE more than vyvanse by itself
Or lowering NE compared to vyvanse by itself

Vyvanse is an NE releasing agent
Strattera is an NE reuptake inhibitor

NE reuptake inhibitors block the effect of NE releasing agents

Now, if vyvanse increases NE levels more than than straterra, then strattera+vyvanse has lower NE levels than Vyvanse

If strattera increases NE levels more than vyvanse, then straterra with or without vyvanse raises NE levels more than vyvanse alone

 

[shalnon]

My psychiatrist just rx me strattera ontop of my vyvanse.
Why is this? Like what is the purpose?
I'm on 70mgs vyvanse and now on 40mgs strattera. And what struck me as strange is he wants me to take the strattera at nighttime.?
Opinions on this?
And on occassions ill take 140mgs of vyvanse, would that still be safe?

And he also. Gave me topamax, idk much bout this one if anyone could inform me.

And a side note, I'm on cymbalta too, if that matters at all. As well as prednisone and plaquenil.

Hey
I signed up just to reply to this topic.

Im 21 year old 190lb guy. I take 70mg of vyvanse and 60mg of stratterra.

I ended up stumbling upon this med combination kind of by-mistake. I was trying strattera alone for a few weeks and it didnt help me focus at all. IT made me tired and i felt kinda dazed. However i was trying this medicine because Vyvanse on its own made me feel weird. I felt sorta like i had alot of pent up anxiious energy. I was also having mood issues and becoming depressed and whatnot. When i was taking my strattera and observing the side affects i wondered that if i took some vyvanse with it the strattera might help counter balence the bad side effects of the Vyvanse and the Vyvanse would help balence out the Strattera. I was right!!! With this medicine combo i am able to focus while not feeling over charged and am able to keep my mood up. Since strattera was originally produced as an anti depressant i think it must help with mood even past it eliminating the overcharged-anxious feeling.

I told my doctor this and after some adjustment in the strattera dosage from 40mg to 100mg to 60mg im now taking the vyvanse/Strattera combo.

The strattera actually also helps me sleep oddly enough. If i dont take the strattera i usually cant go to sleep till atleast 4am and usually later, and thats with me already taking 9mg meletonin.


Taking the straterra at night is a good thing. Unlike Vyvanse which takes effect and wears off within 24 hour, strattera has to build up in your system, however it does of some short-term side effects which form my experience are all negative. So taking it at night is the best option because by the time you wake up the side effects will be minimal.

The one bummer about Strattera though is that its really frigin expensive.
Oh and btw, ive also been taking 10 mg of aderoll in the afternoon like 5ish because the vyvanse tends to wear off by than.

You also said u take 140mg of vyvanse sometimes 8( Holy crap, thats alot. My head would be spinning probably. Im not medical expert but from what i know about vyvanse i would be worried about the kind of effects that much of the medicine would have on your heart.

Hope my experience is beneficial.


Edit: To those who think strattera+vyvanse sounds like "hear atack city", Ive been taking this med combo for over a year and ive never had elevated heart rate or raised blood pressure or anything.

 

[shalnon]

I actually don't feel like the vyvanse has an effect on my anxiety.
It lifts my mood usually and makes me a little more social and actually a little more assertive; for example in school if I don't understand something I'm. Able to ask questions for once in my life lol. So I guess it aids in my social anxiety, but overall anxiety can sometimes worsen such as ill worry about something and get irritable....idk if that makes sense.

As for benzos, I prefer not to take them, low doses don't help me other than make me lazy and sleepy and if taken in higher doses, I have been known to do very very stupid things uncharacteristic of me and or become violent.

And ill be honest I'm a little scared to take topamax after reading how it "dumbs" people down and impairs cognitive functioning...if anything if I were to take it, I might prefer to wait till after this semester ends so my work isn't compromised. I also saw on tv some law commercial about topamax being harmful?

I am however curious about lyrica.

I wish there was a way to have all my brain levels and shit tested and then have a cocktailed fitted to me specifically...with out negative effects. But that would only happen in a perfect world lol

Why do I shake terribly on strattera by the way? Is this something to bbe concerned about?

Also remember that with ADD and any mood issues like bi-polar/anxiety/depression Medication isnt the only part of what you should be doing to help yourself. Excercise is also a HUUUGE part of managing ADD and mood, aswell as good nutrition. I used to scoff at such claims but since ive started excercising and trying to eat better(less artificial/processed food) ive noticed i just feel...better. Like i feel more springy and have more energy.

Also i went through a period of time myself where i was very depressed and i was on medication and also used alcohol to try and feel better. What i learned from this time period is that i shouldn't expect medication alone to make me feel better. What a medication should be doing is helping you to eliminate un-controllable symtoms that impede your daily life. Such as lack of focus, irrational anxiety or depression. Your anxiety and depression should be at levels that are managable. With good coping techniques you should be able to manage these problems even if it can be challenging. This requires a wholistic aproach, Medication, Nutrition, Excercise, Family and personally i have found my faith in God to be invaluable. Focus issues can be less predictable i feel than mood issues. My Dad has bad anxiety issues that hes been battling for a long time and really his big challenge was just realizing he had anxiety issues and than taking the medication, once he took it, he improved tramendously.

Im innatentive ADD and i hate it!!
Its weird because i know im inteligent, it would seem most of the time that i am more inteligent than a good majority of people i meet, im creative and got lots of great qualities but ADD prevents me from deomnstrating these qualities in a pracitcal way. Im the best computer programmer i know, im an artist whose sold my work, Ive played piano for 15 years but i still cant handle taking more than 2 classes at a time. Even though my medication is helping me im still learning other techniques and methods that i need to take me a step further.

Im going to landmark college in putney vermont next semester. Its an incredible school for people with issues like ADD. They teach you about your ADD and help you attain techniques you need for the future. If your having alot of trouble with school and cant seem to gain footing id recomment looking into spending a semester or 2 over there. Everything ive read/heard from school officials and students makes me incredible optomistic. I think this school will be my saving grace.