DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY!!!!!

32F with Bipolar 2 and ADHD. I’m currently on Lamictal, Abilify, Hydroxyzine, and now Qelbree.

I started Qelbree about 3 weeks ago at 100mg. The first week or so was pretty rough— I was emotional, my sleep got all messed up, and I had extreme caffeine sensitivity.

Now I feel fine! The side effects have really leveled out, except for a bit of caffeine sensitivity. I’ve noticed I’m able to start and continue tasks more easily. My executive function has definitely improved. I’m going to talk to my doctor about bumping up my dose to 200mg mostly to see if it will help my ability to focus a bit more, but overall I’m happy I’ve started it.

Just thought I’d contribute a positive story amidst all the bad experiences in this sub. 🤍

Hello. I just wanted to inquire into anyone’s experience with irritability and Qelbree.

Our son (9yo) went on Qelbree for ADHD 4.5 months ago. While it has helped with concentration at school, over this past month he has reached a level of irritability which we haven’t seen before. He is almost non-functioning, and will spend entire days on the ground shouting “stop” if anyone so much as says “mom, can I have some milk?”

He isn’t on any other medications and there aren’t other factors in his life that have changed over these months. Has anyone else experienced such irritability on Qelbree? We asked his psych but he dismissed it and said that Qelbree has no long-term psychological side effects.

The behavior is so exaggerated that it almost seems like it HAS to do with a medicine. He is panick-attack level dysregulated almost 24/7.

I really appreciate your insight. We don’t want to dismiss the medicine, but it is really hard to watch him go through this and we want to make sure we’re doing our due-diligence.

Thank you!

I am 30F struggled with ADHD, severe anxiety and BPD my whole life. I am on quite the mix of meds for all this which helps manage the BPD and anxiety, but i had to be taken off stimulants because I have an addictive personality and cannot take them without abusing them - it is just not an option for me anymore. So my psych just started me on 200 mg of quelbree to replace the stimulants, and I’m so nervous reading all of the negative side affects. I just really am hoping that this will genuinely help with my lack of focus, procrastination, inability to complete or finish anything… but am feeling not so hopeful and scared of how it will make me feel. Any positive experiences for someone like me who can’t handle taking stimulants?

Is this a common side effect? Does taking magnesium or potassium help? Or just staying hydrated?

I've been on for a week or two. Seems to help with focus.

I stand by my idea that proves God’s existence one hundred percent! I want nothing to do with religion. I am spiritual but not religious. The FBI is trying to frame me! I will NEVER agree to anything that suppresses my idea that proves God’s existence!

I took 100mg for FOUR days. My last dose was Sunday and I still have a headache that is not as severe as some have mentioned here but bad enough to disrupt life 4 days later. I'm just wondering how long it took for the headaches to go away. I keep thinking I'll wake up in the morning and be back to "normal" and quickly assess that's not the case.

EDIT TO ADD: I'm a week past my last dose and I'm FINALLY (mostly) headache free.

Hello, long time reader on this sub. I’ve been on Qelbree for about 8 months now. I’ve adjusted dosage from 200 to 400 and eventually 600 before I underwent steroid psychosis in January when I had a med interaction with the qelbree and the steroid methylprednisolone. (Story for another day)

From that point on I’ve stuck to 200mg sometimes going to 400mg. But lately I’ve noticed increased heart rate. Normally I wouldn’t think much of it because my health app or Apple Watch will be like “you’ve shown an increase in resting heart rate”. I just happened to notice it last night without referring to the watch after about 30 minutes after taking qelbree I felt like my heart was racing a little bit and just standing up during that time I noticed it was higher than normal once I started referring to the heart rate app on the Apple Watch.

Just wanted to see if there was anyone with any similar other experiences with it.

I just started this med, and am curious about other’s experiences on it for people also with bipolar disorder. I tried Strattera in the past, and it induced mania at 40mg, almost immediately. For one reason or another, my psych decided to try this, a similar medication. I’m starting on 100mg, and am recording in my journal each day to keep an eye out for a possible episode. Any reactions others have had with similar circumstances I should look out for would be appreciated.

2 months in and I'm not really getting any positive benefit, which is a bummer because my side effects have been very mild (increased GERD manageable with meds) I was on 200 mg and I do realize I could try increasing dose. Unfortunately, insurance is being very problematic and wants to require step therapy before covering Qelbree. I decided just to quit and perhaps start with something cheaper (I am a 42 y o male with a late diagnosis).

I went three 3 days taking 150 mg, and then 2 more days taking 100 mg. This morning was the first time I really had the headache of doom creeping in, but luckily it did not get as bad as the time I missed a dose. Going to do 2 more days of 100 mg, then finish off my remaining pill with 4 days of 50 mg. Hopefully that makes this easier!

Hi! I’ve been taking Qelbree (200 mg) for about two years, but it’s definitely run its course. I no longer feel any benefits from it, but I kept taking it because I hated the headaches that came with stopping. I also have anxiety, and Qelbree helped counteract some of those symptoms, but I haven’t felt focused in so long.

I’ve been off it for about a week now. The withdrawals sucked, but I anticipated them and pushed through. I was considering staying unmedicated, but with a new, detail-oriented job, that’s just not a realistic option for me.

Do you guys have any recommendations for similar medications? I’m traumatized by Adderall, so I’d rather avoid stimulants—especially since I have anxiety. Ideally, I’m looking for another non-stimulant option.

For context, I’m a 22-year-old female and was diagnosed with ADHD about four years ago. I could really use some guidance! 🙏

I am so done right now. Strattera worked well but I couldn't sh!t . Same with this med.

I have homework and that's the main reason I'm on it. But fuck. I can't battle between a bowl movement or passing my class.

I'm trying Adderall next. I'm over the bullshit meds!

Fuck the opioid crisis and fuck this shit capitalism health "care" system.

I just want cognitive function. I just want to feel relief.

I'm on the brink of tears guys and It's been only one week on qelbree.

Hello all. My 9 yr old daughter started this medication over a week ago at 100 mg. We didn't see anything bad like when she tried stimulants so the psychiatrist said do 200 mg. So I said ok. She's been on that for about 3 days now. Today she was in good spirits but she just kept talking. Which she normally talks but she talked a lot more today and seemed more hyperactive. Her biological father (not in the picture) was diagnosed bi polar. I'm not 100% sure he is though as he's an addict and probably lied to the psychiatrist he saw. Her psychiatrist is aware of this. She sees her again Saturday and I'm going to mention this to her also. I just hope she isn't bi polar and having hypomania. Any guidance is appreciated.

I was on 200mg for 5 days. Then 400 mg for 10 days. Back down to 200 mg for 5 days and last night was my first night of taking zero. I had anxiety all night and couldn’t sleep. Ended up having a very mild panic attack around 1-2am and took some quick acting anxiety meds for that.

How many days can this last? No headaches yet. Just anxiety.

I noticed right away after taking the initial dose that I enjoyed the effects. But i was still under a lot of mental stress. After a month I went from 200mg to 400mg. It's been about a month since then and things are slowly getting better by the day! Each day feels a little less stressful than the last. I do feel that my circumstances changing positively somewhat influenced the situation as well, but in many ways medication is like the other half of the battle, so, I'm grateful for Qelbree.

I've been on Strattera for a couple of years and wanted to try something more effective. I'm on 60 mg currently and was wondering what the doses looked like for people who have been on both.

Hi all. 31 year old female here. Qelbree is now my 3rd ADHD medication that I'm trying after just being diagnosed back in September. I tried Vyvanse first and couldn't handle the constant racing heart. Then I was on Straterra for about 3 months until my doctor noticed an increase in my blood pressure so I was told to stop Straterra. I have now been on Qelbree for about a week. My mind feels a bit quieter but the physical side effects have been terrible. Constant nausea to to point of almost vomiting and a constant headache. Anyone else experience this? If so, how long did it take to subside?

We have new insurance this year and were excited they were willing to cover Qelbree so we thought we would give it a try as my daughter has had a lot of side effects with other stuff. We have a HSA so really being covered means we get a discount until we hit a really high deductible. We gave the pharmacy the Qelbree manufacturer discount card. The first 2 Months were $19.99. This third month the cost went up to $307. Our price according to the insurance is $727. According to their records, that is what we paid the last two months. After digging in on it, I discovered that the pharmacy, Walgreens, had never actually used the manufacturer discount card I gave them and was using a "Evoucher." Neither the pharmacy or the person I called from the number on the prescription card could tell me who the evoucher came from or what the terms were. According to the representative for the discount card, the card is only good for up to $200. So if this mysterious "Evoucher" disappears we will have to pay $527 every month. A lot more than what we thought when we picked up the first prescription. Has anyone had any experience with "Evouchers" for this med? How long it will last or how much it will pay going forward? We never would have tried this medication if we knew the final cost was going to be $527 per month. We feel very deceived. We can't really afford it, but I don't want my daughter to stop taking it partly because it is helping and also I don't want her to have to go through side effects of stopping. She already feels crummy if she is late or misses a dose.

Let me start by saying Qelbree has been absolutely incredible for my ADHD. As in, life changing.

But the sleep keeps getting worse. I sleep an average of 5 hours a night. I wake up early, I can't go to bed early. The lack of sleep is catching up with me, and I can't function correctly...I have brain fog all day and can no longer think clearly.

I've given this medicine two months. I want to believe sleep will get better, but it appears to be getting worse. Should I give up?

My 7 yo ASD/adhd child started this 10 days ago. Not only has it significantly reduced their appetite, it’s made them pretty agitated and aggressive. I mean, they always have been a highly moody, quick to anger child who is very self directed and inflexible. But this seems amplified, like they can’t tolerate their sibling being in the room with them. Has anyone experienced this and then it eventually got better once you got used to the med? Wondering if we should give it more time or stop it. Doctor said it’s up to us 🥺

So I started 100 mg of Qelbree 1 week ago. I was on Strattera for 4 weeks. I felt the best I have ever felt, other than the heart palpitations. So we stopped it.

I’m on day 6 of Qelbree and I feel so depressed, anxious and irritable. I’m thinking of stopping it. I feel dull and blue.

Should this get better? Anyone experienced? I meet with my Dr tomorrow.

besides stomach discomfort everyday this medicine made me evil legit the minute I lowered my dose (few months ago) I felt myself get less angry and irritated almost 2 weeks ago I decided not to pick up my prescription so I guess cold turkey and I feel way better mentally 🙂‍↕️

Can you help with a quick survey? Are you still on it and how were the side effects?

So I have been on Qelbree for almost two months. I started on 200mg, and I'm currently taking 300mg.

All my life, I've struggled to read books. I would pick up a book and read it for maybe two or three hours before getting really sleepy or distracted by something. I have only read three complete books in my life—I'm 43M. One of them is The Hobbit, and it took me about a year to finish the whole thing.

Yesterday, for the first time since I can remember, I went to bed, picked up a book I had bought a few months ago, and only read about 4 pages, and I read 40 whole pages or 10% of the book. I didn't get distracted or put the book down at all. I am very surprised by this, since even on my best reading days I wasn't able to read too much.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you're having a positive experience with this medication.

I’m only seeing a lot of questions about side effects and I was one of those. I’m hanging in there to see how helpful it’ll be once the side effects wear off.

Those who still take it, how has it helped you with ADHD?

I’ve been taking qelbree for about 1 month now. Adjusted to most side effects around week 3. I still deal with some insomnia issues, waking up in the middle of the night for about 2 hours. The strangest thing now though is I’m concerned that I may be having memory blackouts. Last week I threw away a brand new salad dressing because I swear I never used it but the safety cap thing was off. A few days later I remembered opening it for my kids. A few days ago, my husband told me I “went off on him” when we were traveling- which I didn’t believe him because it’s not like me and he was so confused that I had no idea what he was talking about. What is happening!?!