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Vyvanse is a stimulant medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulants are often the first line of medications prescribed for this condition due to their effectiveness in treating ADHD symptoms. Vyvanse was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007.

What Is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse is a once-a-day treatment for adults and children age 6 to 12 with ADHD. It’s also approved to treat binge-eating disorder in adults. The main ingredient in Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.

The drug acts on the brain to boost the levels of two neurotransmitters: dopamine and norepinephrine. This, in turn, improves focus and attention and decreases impulsivity and hyperactive behavior.

Vyvanse for ADHD

Vyvanse is unique in that it’s a prodrug (or forerunner) of the drug dextroamphetamine, an amphetamine that’s one of the main ingredients in Adderall, Adderall XR, and Dexedrine Spansule.

This means Vyvanse isn’t active in its ingested form; it must be metabolized and converted to dextroamphetamine. That delayed action—which can take one to two hours to take effect versus a half-hour for Adderall—can stretch out how long the drug works.

In studies, Vyvanse lasted up to 14 hours, compared with other long-acting ADHD medicines that tend to last 10 to 12 hours.

Because it’s released at the same level over time and produces a slow, steady therapeutic effect throughout the day, Vyvanse is often described as “smoother” than Adderall—there’s no “kick” or “jolt” to the system when the medication starts to work. This smoothness potentially avoids the sudden and dramatic increases in dopamine that are associated with substance abuse.

Vyvanse may be a good option if your child’s current medication isn’t lasting long enough throughout the day, or if you’re worried that they may become dependent on their medication.

Before Your Child Takes Vyvanse

Before prescribing Vyvanse, your child’s doctor will look for signs of ADHD. They will also make sure that your child doesn’t have any pre-existing health conditions that could prevent them from taking the medication safely, like:

• Glaucoma
• Family history of ventricular arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or sudden death
• Heart disease or hardening of the arteries
• High state of anxiety, tension, or agitation
• Hyperthyroidism
• Moderate to severe high blood pressure

Vyvanse should not be used by kids who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have taken one within the past 14 days. Children who are sensitive to, allergic to, or have previously had a reaction to other stimulant medicines should also avoid taking Vyvanse.

Dosage

Vyvanse is available as oral capsules and chewable tablets, and it comes in several dosage strengths:

• 10 milligrams (mg)
• 20 mg
• 30 mg
• 40 mg
• 50 mg
• 60 mg
• 70 mg (only available in oral capsules)

Although most children will start Vyvanse at the 30 mg dosage, a higher starting dose may be more appropriate if your child is switching to Vyvanse from another ADHD stimulant. Their doctor can increase their dosage in 10 mg increments each week if needed.

Vyvanse is taken orally once daily. The first dose is typically taken first thing in the morning, with or without food, and it should be taken at the same time each day for the best results. This medication can cause insomnia if it’s taken later in the day, so try to avoid putting your child on an afternoon dosage schedule.

If your child missed their dose, have them take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for their next dose, wait and administer that one.

If your child doesn’t like chewable drugs and has trouble swallowing the Vyvanse capsules whole, you can open them and either sprinkle the beads onto a small amount of food or stir them into a few ounces of water or orange juice.

Like other amphetamines, Vyvanse is a controlled substance. That means it has a high potential for abuse and it could lead to dependence. It should always be stored safely and securely, out of the reach of others.

Side Effects

Common

Side effects of Vyvanse are similar to other ADHD stimulants and can include:

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Respiratory irritation and congestion
• Weight loss

Severe

Vyvanse can also cause more severe side effects, like:

• Blood pressure increase
• Circulation problems
• Serious allergic reactions that can include anaphylaxis, skin swelling, welts, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Sudden death in children with known heart problems
• Suppressed growth
• Worsened symptoms for children with mental health conditions

Warnings and Interactions

Like other stimulants, Vyvanse can be abused, and it is possible to overdose. If your child has had dependency issues with other stimulant medications, they shouldn’t take Vyvanse.

If you believe your child should no longer take Vyvanse, work closely with their doctor to slowly wean them off of the medication. Withdrawal symptoms are possible with stimulants, and stopping Vyvanse abruptly can cause depression and extreme fatigue.

This medication hasn’t been tested in children younger than 6.

Workplace bullying is persistent mistreatment that occurs in the workplace. It can include behaviors such as verbal criticism, personal attacks, humiliation, belittling, and exclusion. It’s important to note that anyone can be a bully or be bullied, regardless of the role they have in the workplace.

Unfortunately, bullying in the workplace is far from uncommon. According to a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 30% of workers have directly experienced bullying while at work. People who work remotely were more likely to report such bullying, with 43.2% responding that they had been bullied on the job. 

Workplace bullying hurts the health and well-being of employees. It can also damage workplace productivity and performance. “Bullying’s pernicious nature creates long-lasting scars that have an effect on the victim’s sense of self-worth, self-assurance, and general mental health,” says Azizi Marshall, LCPC, a licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of the Mental Health at Work Summit and Center for Creative Arts Therapy.

This article discusses some of the signs and effects of workplace bullying. It also covers its impact on the workplace and what people can do to help prevent this type of behavior.

Signs of Workplace Bullying

If you’re a target of bullies in the workplace, you probably start each week with a pit of anxiety in your stomach. Then, you count down the days until the weekend or next vacation. Inappropriate behavior by adult bullies may include:

• Berating people
• Coercing people to do things they don’t want to do
• Dismissing someone’s efforts
• Embarrassing people in front of their employer, co-workers, or clients
• Excluding others
• Intimidating people
• Lying to others
• Making snide remarks
• Minimizing others’ concerns
• Taking credit for other people’s work
• Threatening others
• Criticizing others unfairly

Workplace bullying is not always overt or openly hostile. It can also take more subtle forms, including gaslighting, where the bully engages in abusive behaviors but then denies the abuse. The goal of gaslighting is to make the victim of bullying doubt their reality and experiences.

According to Marshall, some of these more subtle types of workplace bullying can include:

• Deliberately excluding people from conversations, decision-making, or work-related events
• Purposely ignoring, disregarding, or avoiding someone, such as by “forgetting” to invite them to work meetings
• Concealing or distorting information to achieve personal goals
• Feigning ignorance, changing the subject, or canceling meetings to divert attention from an issue
• Emotionally manipulating people by using shame or guilt to cause feelings of inadequacy, undue responsibility, or unworthiness
• Undermining someone’s work to hamper their progress or ability to succeed
• Pitting people against one another to create a competitive, divisive environment
• Changing someone’s responsibilities to disrupt their work and interfere with their sense of purpose
• Creating unrealistic or unattainable expectations or constantly shifting expectations to ensure failure
• Unfairly criticizing people’s work to hurt the other person’s self-esteem

Effects of Workplace Bullying

Workplace bullying can have a range of negative effects. Research on bullying in the workplace quantifies the personal consequences for the victim and the fiscal consequences that affect the company’s bottom line.

Health Risks

The effects of workplace bullying don’t end when you leave the office. Experiencing bullying can cause physical and psychological health problems, including high blood pressure, mood changes, panic attacks, stress, and ulcers.

People who are bullied at work may also experience physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and changes in appetite. Bullying can impact sleep quality and duration as well.

Researchers have found that the coworkers of those who are bullied also experience negative effects, even when they themselves are not bullied. One study showed that victims of bullying and those who witness it are more likely to receive a prescription for psychotropic medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills.

Effect on Job Performance

“Bullying at work has a negative impact on a person’s ability to do their job. Due to the mental discomfort brought on by the bullying, victims frequently exhibit decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and difficulties concentrating,” explains Marshall.

Bullied workers cannot perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Performance issues include:

• Inability to work or concentrate
• Loss of self-esteem
• Trouble making decisions
• Lower productivity

Bullied workers not only lose motivation, they lose time because they are preoccupied with:

• Avoiding the bully
• Networking for support
• Making plans to deal with the situation
• Ruminating about the situation
• Trying to defend themselves

Targets of bullying feel a sense of isolation. Workplace bullying can leave the victim so traumatized that they feel powerless, disoriented, confused and helpless.

Changes in the Workplace

Workplace bullying has detrimental effects on employers, not just the victim and their co-workers who witness it. In addition to disrupting the work environment and impacting worker morale, it can also:

• Create a hostile work environment
• Impact workers compensation claims
• Promote absenteeism
• Reduce productivity
• Result in costly, and possibly embarrassing legal issues​

Other effects on the employer include:

• Additional costs to recruit and train new employees
• Erosion of employee loyalty and commitment
• Increased use of sick leave, health care claims, and staff turnover
• Increased risk of legal action
• Poor public image and negative publicity

Coping With Bullying in the Workplace

“To effectively respond to workplace bullying, it’s important to adopt an assertive and direct approach. Confronting the issue head-on and establishing clear consequences for unacceptable behavior is a must,” explains Avigail Lev, PsyD, founder and director of the Bay Area CBT Center.

If you are being bullied at work, there are strategies that you can use to cope. Being proactive may help you feel better.

Set Boundaries

When a bully engages in abusive behavior, tell them what they have done and that it is unacceptable. Let them know that their behavior will not be tolerated and that if it occurs again, you will take action. Setting boundaries lets others know what type of behavior you are willing to accept. 

Marshall says that setting these boundaries to establish what is acceptable and improper can help you defend your rights and protect against future abuse.

Confront the Behavior

Once you establish a boundary, following through with the consequences is essential. Marshall suggests always remaining professional, avoiding retaliation, and utilizing “I” statements to assertively voice your concerns and address the specific behaviors that upset you.

If the abuse continues, call out the behavior the next time it happens. Ask them to leave until they can behave in a professional, work-appropriate manner. 

Keep Track of the Abuse

Whenever you feel that you have been bullied at work, document the details including the time and exactly what happened. Write down any witnesses who were present and save any documents or records that can corroborate the abuse.

Talk to Management or Human Resources

If you’ve tried resolving the bullying on your own without success, it is time to involve your employer. Check with your workplace employee handbook to learn more about what steps you will need to take to file a complaint.

Marshall notes, however, that not all companies are great at addressing bullying. In such instances, it may be helpful to get outside assistance from legal counsel or an employee assistance program.

Care for Yourself

In addition to taking decisive action to protect yourself from bullying, it is also important to take steps to care for yourself. Seek out social support, practice relaxation strategies for stress, and consider talking to a mental health professional if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or distress.

What Can Employers Do?

It’s always in your best interest to confront workplace bullying and maintain a bullying-free workplace because prevention is more cost-effective than intervention or mediation. It’s also the right thing to do if you care about your employees.

Employers must offer education opportunities for managers, supervisors, and other authority figures, because the majority of workplace bullying comes from bosses. Strive to create a workplace environment that cultivates teamwork, cooperation, and positive interaction instead.

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an antidepressant sometimes prescribed off-label for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although stimulants are a typical first-line treatment, taking Wellbutrin for ADHD has been found to improve symptoms without exposing patients to stimulants’ adverse effects, also providing an alternative for the one in five people who don’t respond to that category of drugs.

In certain instances, people may be prescribed both a stimulant and Wellbutrin for ADHD. If a person with ADHD also has depression, for example, a clinician might prescribe Wellbutrin in conjunction with a stimulant such as Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) or Ritalin (methylphenidate) to treat both conditions at the same time.

Keep reading to learn more about how Wellbutrin may help people manage some characteristics of ADHD. Also, find out more about the efficacy, potential side effects, and typical dosages in treating ADHD.

How Wellbutrin Works for ADHD

Wellbutrin is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). It helps improve concentration and focus by keeping the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine available to the brain’s neurons for a longer time. Wellbutrin does not influence serotonin, so it works differently than many other types of antidepressants.

Effectiveness for ADHD

Studies of Wellbutrin’s effectiveness are ongoing but generally positive about ADHD. One review of the research found that Wellbutrin showed potential benefits for treating adult ADHD.

One review of recent research found that Wellbutrin decreased the severity of ADHD better than a placebo. Other studies have been promising, too, with many indicating that Wellbutrin works as well for some people as stimulants.

For this reason, many clinicians continue to prescribe Wellbutrin as an off-label treatment for ADHD.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

In contrast to stimulant medication, which starts to work in about an hour, like other antidepressants, Wellbutrin can take several days to produce noticeable benefits and up to six weeks to reach full effect. This means it can take several weeks to find the most effective therapeutic dose.

Why Take Wellbutrin for ADHD?

Although stimulants are the most effective treatment for ADHD, your doctor might prescribe a non-stimulant, second-line medication like Wellbutrin for a few reasons:

• Effectiveness: Not everyone who takes stimulant medication experiences changes in their ADHD traits.
• History of medical conditions: Sometimes, an underlying medical condition makes the use of stimulant medications problematic. Such conditions include heart problems, sleep disorders, and psychiatric conditions such as substance use disorder and bipolar disorder.
• Tolerance: Some people do not tolerate stimulant medications and experience severe side effects.

Other non-stimulant medications for ADHD include Strattera (atomoxetine) and Catapres (clonidine).

How to Take Wellbutrin for ADHD

Wellbutrin is available as a tablet that you can take with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole, without crushing or breaking it.

Don’t take more than your prescribed dose; doing so raises your risk of seizures and other side effects. If you have trouble remembering when to take Wellbutrin, set an alarm on your phone or clock, use a pillbox, or ask a friend or family member to remind you.

Forms of Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin comes in three formulations, all in tablet form:

• Wellbutrin (buproprion): Immediate release, taken two to three times daily
• Wellbutrin SR (buproprion SR): 12-hour extended release, taken twice per day
• Wellbutrin XL (buproprion XL): 24-hour extended release, taken once per day

Wellbutrin SR and Wellbutrin XL are time-release formulations. This means the drug is slowly released into the body over many hours and stays at a consistent level in the blood. The SR formulation lasts 12 hours and is taken twice a day, while the XL version lasts 24 hours and is taken once a day. Taking the XL version can help a person comply with the dosing regimen because there is less opportunity to miss a dose.

Doctors most commonly prescribe Wellbutrin XL so that it’s most effective throughout the day and the possibility of side effects is reduced. Generic versions are available and cost less than Wellbutrin.

Wellbutrin Dosages for ADHD

A typical daily dose is around 150 mg per day, although the starting dose is often lower. 

For ADHD, clinical trials suggest that a dose of between 150 mg and 450 mg per day can be helpful. Your doctor will start you at a low dose and gradually increase it over time until the maximum efficacy has been achieved. 

For smoking cessation or depression, the typical dose is 300 mg daily, split into 100 mg doses taken three times daily. The sustained-release formulation is usually taken as a 150 mg dose once or twice daily. The extended-release formulation is taken as a 300 mg dose once per day.

Wellbutrin Side Effects

People taking Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL have reported:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Excitement
• Headaches
• Increased motor activity
• Insomnia
• Joint aches
• Nausea
• Tics
• Tremors

There is also a risk of seizures in people who are susceptible to them or who have a history of eating disorders.

Notably, Wellbutrin is much less apt to cause sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction and decreased libido than other antidepressants.

Wellbutrin Warnings and Interactions

All drugs have risks, which clinicians weigh against benefits when they prescribe them. Wellbutrin is no exception.

Warnings

Like other antidepressants, Wellbutrin carries the FDA’s black-box warning for the increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in children, teens, and young adults.

Wellbutrin hasn’t been tested adequately in children or adolescents, so the FDA has not formally approved it for pediatric use; however, existing research indicates it’s safe, effective, and well-tolerated in these groups, so clinicians frequently prescribe it.

Studies on Wellbutrin’s effects on human pregnancy are lacking, but animal studies suggest that this drug may affect fetal development. Wellbutrin is passed into breast milk, but current research, although limited, suggests it’s not harmful to nursing babies. 

As a result, Wellbutrin is generally not contraindicated if you’re nursing, but as with any medication, you and your doctor must weigh possible risks against benefits. If you’re pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with a healthcare provider about your options.

Wellbutrin has not been found to worsen ADHD, but you should talk to your doctor if you begin to notice any concerning changes.

Interactions

Wellbutrin is known to interact with about 100 other drugs, so make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other drugs you take. For example, you risk severe effects if you take Wellbutrin with:

• Cerdelga (eliglustat)
• Marplan (isocarboxazid)
• Nardil (phenelzine)
• Orap (pimozide)
• Azilect (rasagiline)
• Zelapar (selegiline)
• Emsam (selegiline transdermal)
• Parnate (tranylcypromine)

Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you are currently taking any other medication that also contains bupropion to avoid overdose. This includes the smoking cessation medication Zyban and Contrave, a weight-loss medication containing bupropion and naltrexone.

Other Treatments for ADHD

Wellbutrin is not the only treatment for ADHD. ADHD traits are most often managed using medications, therapy, accommodations, and other forms of support. Stimulant medications are often prescribed, which may include:

Non-stimulant medications may also be prescribed, such as:

Different types of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy, can also be helpful. 

Mass hysteria (mass psychosis) is a social phenomenon where a group of people develop similar symptoms that do not have an identifiable physical cause (such as an illness). Instead, the symptoms stem from psychological causes. In mass hysteria events, the symptoms occur in two or more people who also share a common belief about what might cause the illness.

This article will go over what mass hysteria is, what causes it, and examples of mass hysteria.

What Is Mass Hysteria?

Mass hysteria is also called epidemic hysteria, mass psychogenic illness, and mass sociogenic illness. Even though mass hysteria starts in the mind, it can produce real physical symptoms and lead to severe psychological distress.

Several factors are thought to contribute to the phenomenon, including groupthink, stress, and social pressure. Some psychologists believe that mass hysteria is a form of groupthink. In cases of mass hysteria, group members all develop a common fear that can spiral into a panic.

Signs of Mass Hysteria

Mass hysteria occurs in groups of people. Signs of mass hysteria include:

• Symptoms are relatively benign and include dizziness, muscle twitches, headaches, or stomachaches
• Symptoms begin and end suddenly
• Symptoms appear to occur among specific social groups
• Symptoms have no clear medical explanation after extensive investigation

People may show symptoms after spending time together in a single location, which can lead them to suspect that the symptoms are from a contagious illness or environmental contaminant.

Mass hysteria is difficult to identify as it is happening. In most cases, it is only determined after an investigation and testing reveals there was no underlying illness or cause for the symptoms.

Causes of Mass Hysteria

While the exact causes of mass hysteria are not entirely understood, several factors might play a role.

Groupthink

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a group forms a quick opinion that matches the group consensus rather than critically evaluating the information. Groupthink seems to occur most often when a respected or persuasive leader is present, inspiring members to agree with their opinions.

While it can be positive at times, groupthink is more often seen in a negative light, particularly in the United States and other countries that value individual opinion.

Stress

Experiencing extreme stress or trauma may also play a role in causing mass hysteria. When people are dealing with stressful or overwhelming situations, they may mistakenly attribute feelings related to stress as having a physical or environmental cause. When people are subjected to collective trauma, they may begin to experience psychogenic symptoms.

Social Pressure

Social pressure may also play a part in feeling symptoms related to mass hysteria. When many people are exhibiting similar symptoms, they may either feel consciously or unconsciously pressured to also exhibit those same symptoms.

Fearing that others are sick can make people pay more attention to their bodily sensations, which they might attribute to mass illness. Some reports suggest that social media-induced illnesses, which are a form of mass hysteria, are becoming more common, particularly among teens.

Examples of Mass Hysteria

Mass hysteria events have occurred throughout history. Here are a few examples:

Dancing Plagues

In the Middle Ages, “dancing plagues” spread in Europe. A well-known one was in Strasbourg in 1518. After one woman in town began to dance, hundreds of residents followed her lead and danced for days without stopping—not even to eat or sleep. Some people danced themselves to death.

Witch Trials

Witch trials throughout history, such as the Salem Witch Trials, are prime examples of mass hysteria related to groupthink and extremism. In these instances, people in communities became convinced that individuals were responsible for causing symptoms, illnesses, and other misfortune through the use of witchcraft.

War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast

The panic over the War of the Worlds radio broadcast is another example of mass hysteria related to groupthink.

In 1938, a play by Orson Welles about a Martian invasion of Earth was played nationwide on the radio. People did not realize it was fiction, and soon people panicked because they believed that an alien invasion was taking place.

Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic

In 1962, a student in Tanzania (back then known as Tanganyika), East Africa, started to laugh and cry—and couldn’t stop. Soon, the emotions spread to at least 1,000 people and went on for over a year. Schools even had to close because the students were laughing and crying nonstop for days on end.

9/11 Skin Rashes

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, groups of elementary school children reportedly experienced skin rashes, but only when they were at school. The phenomenon was later described as a psychosomatic reaction to collective trauma.

Twitching Disorders

A widely publicized case of possible mass hysteria occurred in 2011 in upstate New York when teenage girls from the same high school developed an unexplained twitching disorder.

They were later diagnosed with conversion disorder, but the diagnosis was met with opposition and anger from parents and the affected students.

An article published in American Ethnologist criticized the diagnosis as well. The article’s authors suggested that the mass hysteria diagnosis dismissed the students’ symptoms without adequately investigating environmental factors that could have played a role.

Effects of Mass Hysteria

While mass hysteria is often a controversial diagnosis, the phenomenon is concerning because it can contribute to other problems, including:

• Public health problems
• Missed work or school
• Financial costs associated with missed work
• Expenses connected to the attempted removal of non-existent environmental toxins

Mass hysteria can lead people to seek medical treatments they don’t need or dubious treatments that could be harmful. It can also create disruptions in people’s lives or prompt attempts to remove non-existent poisons or toxins.

Mass hysteria can also cause psychological distress. It can be extremely upsetting to have unexplained symptoms, particularly when no underlying cause can be found. However, it is also essential not to dismiss symptoms as a sign of a mass psychogenic illness without truly looking for an environmental or pathogenic cause.

How to Reduce Mass Hysteria

Mass hysteria needs to be treated as a serious potential public health issue. The source of the symptoms must be investigated, and people need to be treated for their unexplained symptoms.

There are a few tactics that can help people avoid getting caught up in mass hysteria:

• Separation: Separating people showing unusual or unexplained symptoms from the general public can help prevent their behavior from influencing others.
• Stress reduction techniques: Stress management strategies such as deep breathing, meditation, visualization, or progressive muscle relaxation might help people who are distressed by unexplained symptoms that they or others are experiencing.
• Psychotherapy: Talking to a therapist can be helpful for people experiencing or witnessing mass hysteria. Therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce negative or anxious thoughts that contribute to mass hysteria.