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What Causes Anger Bursts Inspite Of Using Lexapro And Vyvanse?

Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2014

Question: My teenage daughter has been prescribed Lexapro and Vyvanse. She has been acting out, sometimes violently. In addition to this she has periods of depression. Could the vyvanse antidepressant combination be the cause of the outbursts?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Clarifications

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for using health care magic for posting your query.

I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.

However I would require a couple of more details to help you in answering your query in a better justified way.

1. Why were you started on vyanase and lexapro?
2. How long has she been on these medications?
3..were both of them started together?

Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Regards and wish you good health,

Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Neuro-Psychiatrist and Sexologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (11 minutes later)

The vyvanse was prescribed for attention problems and the lexapro was for depression. She has been on vyvanse since age 13 and lexapro was added about a year ago. She was hospitalized for depression/ severe anger problems however we were never given any follow up info concerning possible causes or solutions to the behavior.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The combination is not responsible

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for all the additional information.
I understand that your daughter had ADHD for which she was on vyanase since the age of 13 years and then she was said to have developed a depression and started on Lexapro. Now the symptoms that you are stating of anger outbursts, impulsive, violent spells could all be a manifestation of Agitated depression which is common form of depression as per her age. The combination is not responsible for the stated symptoms. However its the core depression which is making her act this way and it appears that lexapro was not good enough to take care of these symptoms. The antidepressant needs to be changed as 1 year is a good enough trial period. She needs to be switched to either bupropion or mirtazapine. These are the drugs which also act on depression but by different mechanisms and will be useful if lexapro is not working for you.
You may discuss these options with your treating psychiatrist in your next visit, but its not the drugs that are causing these changes in behaviour.
Kind regards
Dr. XXXXXXX Reddy

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad