Best antidepressant to take with Vyvanse (everything you need to know)

In this guide, we will talk about the best antidepressant to take with Vyvanse, their benefits, and possible side effects.

While stimulants such as Vyvanse (classified as ‘amphetamine’) are not normally recommended for use with antidepressants such as SSRIs (selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake), they are sometimes combined. When they are used together, it is usually for one of two reasons:

• The stimulant is used for depression as an ‘adjunctive’, or add-on, therapy. However, this is not an FDA-approved indication.
• For those diagnosed with ADHD, SSRI is used to treat depression.

While there have been several studies investigating the effects of Vyvanse for depression, most report that there is no substantial change in depressive ratings, although it can help to boost associated fatigue and apathy symptoms. 

More generally, for co-morbid depression, an SSRI is applied to anyone already taking a stimulant like Vyvanse. Studies indicate that more than 1/3 of people diagnosed with ADHD have depressive disorders associated with them and require some form of treatment, whether behavioral or medicinal.

To treat their symptoms, many people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) take stimulant medications. But your doctor may recommend you try an antidepressant if you don’t get better with those medicines.

For anyone, stimulants such as dextroamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall) or methylphenidate (Ritalin) do not function perfectly. Your symptoms do not improve or you may suffer side effects such as a disturbed stomach, sleep issues, or nervousness.

Vyvanse

Lisdexamfetamine is a drug that is a derivative of amphetamine, marketed under the brand name Vyvanse, among others. It is commonly used in individuals over the age of five to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder in adults. Lisdexamfetamine is administered orally.

Antidepressants with Vyvanse that can be taken

Although doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat ADHD, they have not been officially approved for that purpose by the FDA. One of the four forms may be recommended by your doctor:

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants like desipramine (Norpramin) and imipramine (Tofranil)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Depending on your symptoms and other health conditions, the best antidepressant for you.

Bear in mind that to start functioning, antidepressants take between 2 and 4 weeks. It is necessary to follow the directions of your doctor as to how often to take them, even if at first you do not see any difference in symptoms.

Antidepressants typically do not perform as well as stimulants and other medications created specifically to treat ADHD when it comes to increasing your concentration or attention span. But it is an individual thing how well they perform. Antidepressants can be a big help for some folks with ADHD.

Antidepressants should not be used by any individual. For example, if you have a history of manic behavior from bipolar disorder, they might not be correct. Also, whether you’ve had seizures or a history of epilepsy, taking Wellbutrin is not a safe idea.

Caution to be maintained with antidepressants and Vyvanse

While SSRI and Vyvanse have been safely used together, due to the possibility of serotonin syndrome, there will still be an alert to use them carefully.

Serotonin syndrome is a rare but severe condition that can arise with the use of serotonin-increasing medications. It is distinguished by the fact that the following symptoms frequently develop rapidly:

• With hyperthermia (increased body temperature)
• Blood Pressure High
• Spasms in the muscles
• Stiffness, Rigidity
• Fainting/dizziness
• Delirium
• Death (rare)

Regardless of SSRI drug selection, if paired with other serotonergic medications, the risk of serotonin syndrome will still be there. In general, people taking an amphetamine stimulant such as Vyvanse with an SSRI should be monitored for the onset of serotonin syndrome, especially when therapy is started for the first time and during dosage increases.

Side effects of antidepressants 

Side effects can partly depend on the type of antidepressant medication you are taking.

Tricyclic antidepressants, for instance, can cause side effects such as faster heart rate and higher blood pressure, as well as some heart attacks. Anxiety, headaches, and rashes can be caused by Wellbutrin. MAOIs can cause problems like weight gain and trouble sleeping.

Antidepressants can also have side effects, such as constipation and an upset stomach. You could get tired, dizzy, sweaty, and have blurred vision. Other problems that are possible include:

• Dry mouth 
• The loss of weight
• Blood Pressure Low
• Tremors 

Tell your doctor if you have any prior medical issues, such as heart problems, strokes, or high blood pressure, which can cause adverse effects for people who are taking some antidepressants.

Also, if you miss a dose or do not take it exactly as prescribed, some antidepressants can cause withdrawal symptoms or other side effects. Make sure that you follow the guidelines of your doctor while taking these medications.

Side effects of Vyvanse

The most common adverse reactions  in children, adolescents, and/or adults with Vyvanse were:

• Anxiety 
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased weight
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness 
• Dry mouth 
• Irritability
• Insomnia 
• Nausea

Antidepressants to be avoided with Vyvanse

Having said all of the above, some SSRIs present a greater risk of Vyvanse serotonin syndrome, including:

• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Paxil (paroxetine)

Prozac and Paxil pose a greater risk since the metabolizing enzyme CYP2D6, which is responsible for metabolizing amphetamines such as Vyvanse, is known to inhibit them.

Theoretically, inhibition of CYP2D6 raises the risk of elevated levels of Vyvanse in the body, raising the risk of side effects, such as serotonin syndrome.

Indeed, explicitly, the prescription information for Vyvanse warns against the use of drugs believed to inhibit CYP2D6.

It is understood that amphetamines and amphetamine derivatives are metabolized to some degree by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and exhibit mild CYP2D6 metabolism inhibition. There is a potential for pharmacokinetic activity when CYP2D6 inhibitors are co-administered, which may increase the risk of increased exposure to the active metabolite of VYVANSE (dextroamphetamine). 

Find an alternative non-serotonergic drug or an alternative drug that does not inhibit CYP2D6 in these cases.

If you and your doctor are considering adding an SSRI to your dosage of Vyvanse, it would be wise to examine medications that are not potent CYP2D6 inhibitors.

Sadly, it is assumed that all SSRIs inhibit CYP2D6 to at least a minor degree. The only two considered effective inhibitors, however, are Prozac and Paxil.

It is assumed that CYP2D6 is inhibited to a small degree by the following:

• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Luvoxa (fluvoxamine)
• Célexa (citalopram)
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Viibrydskaya (vilazodone)

SSRIs with amphetamine stimulants like Vyvanse have been used successfully and safely.

However, it is important to be aware of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome and the specific SSRI drugs, such as Prozac and Paxil, that could put you more at risk.

Interaction of Vyvanse and other medicines

Drug interactions can affect the working of your drugs or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all potential drug interactions are included in this paper. Keep a list and share it with your doctor and pharmacist of all the medications you use (including prescription/nonprescription medicines and herbal products). Without your doctor’s permission, do not start, stop, or adjust the dosage of any medication.

Herbal Medicine, such as Kratom. Check the Best Kratom for Depression and Anxiety.

A significant (possibly fatal) drug interaction can be caused by taking MAO inhibitors with this medicine. During treatment with this drug, you should stop taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine). Also, most MAO inhibitors should not be taken until treatment with this drug for two weeks. Tell your doctor when to start taking this drug or avoid taking it.

There are additives in certain items that could boost the heart rate or blood pressure. Tell your pharmacist what drugs you use and ask if you can use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products or diet aids).

If you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, the risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases. St. John’s wort, some antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), and others, are examples of street drugs such as MDMA/’ecstasy.’ If you start or raise the dosage of these medications, the chance of serotonin syndrome/toxicity might be more likely.

Lisdexamfetamine, or dextroamphetamine, is somewhat similar to amphetamine. Do not use amphetamine-containing or dextroamphetamine-containing drugs when using lisdexamfetamine.

Antidepressants help with ADHD symptoms

Like stimulants, antidepressant medications boost chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine levels throughout your brain. Doctors also found that these medications can help increase their attention span of people with ADHD. They also help to put a lid on acts such as being impulsive, hyperactive, or violent.

Depression and anxiety are also present in some ADHD adults. If that’s your case, antidepressant drugs could be a choice, as they can treat these disorders as well as ADHD.

Be sure to explore with your doctor your options for treatment.

In this guide, we talked about the best antidepressant to take with Vyvanse, their benefits, and possible side effects.

FAQs: Best antidepressant to take with Vyvanse

References

https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/antidepressants-adult-adhd

https://walrus.com/questions/is-vyvanse-safe-with-ssri-antidepressants

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208510lbl.pdf