Vyvanse

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children 6 years and older, and moderate or severe binge eating disorder in adults.

Vyvanse is not for weight loss. It is not known if Vyvanse is safe and effective for the treatment of obesity.

Vyvanse works by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, improving focus, impulse control, and executive function in ADHD and increasing the number of binge-free days in BED.

Vyvanse is a prodrug, meaning it is inactive when it is swallowed, and then once in your body, it is converted to the active ingredient dextroamphetamine. This results in a smoother onset and more gradual effect compared to immediate-release amphetamines, and makes it harder to misuse by snorting or injecting.

Vyvanse is taken once daily with or without food. It is best taken in the morning to reduce the risk of insomnia. Chewable tablets should be chewed thoroughly before swallowing. Capsules should be swallowed whole or opened, and the contents mixed with yoghurt or water and taken immediately.

Vyvanse's generic name is lisdexamfetamine. For more information, see Generic Vyvanse Availability.

Yes. Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a Schedule II controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. This is the most restrictive category for medications with an accepted medical use. This means prescriptions cannot be refilled; a new written prescription is required each time.Vyvyanse is a schedule II controlled substance as it has a high potential for abuse and abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Vyvanse lasts up to 13 hours in children and 14 hours in adults. In controlled pediatric studies, effects were maintained from as early as 1.5 hours through to 13 hours post-dose. In adults assessed in a workplace-like setting, the duration of effect extended to 14 hours.

Take Vyvanse with or without food, first thing in the morning.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

The capsule can be swallowed whole, or the capsules may be opened, and the entire contents can be mixed with yogurt, water, or orange juice. After the medicine has dissolved, drink or eat the mixture right away. Do not save for later use.

If you are taking the oral solution, measure your dose carefully with the provided measuring device. Throw away (discard) any remaining oral solution 30 days after first opening the bottle.

Take Vyvanse exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

This medicine may be habit-forming. Never share Vyvanse with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

While using this medicine, your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep track of your medicine. Vyvanse is a drug of abuse, and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Throw away unused or expired Vyvanse in a sealed container or bag. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a community pharmaceutical take-back disposal program.

Boxed warning

Vyvanse has a boxed warning for abuse, misuse, and addiction (the strongest safety-related warning issued by the FDA).

Vyvanse has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Misusing Vyvanse, including taking higher doses than prescribed or using it in unapproved ways such as snorting or injecting, increases the risk of overdose and death.

• Tell your doctor if you have had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

Other warnings

• Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect.
• Do not use Vyvanse if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.
• Vyvanse may cause new or worsening psychosis (unusual thoughts or behavior), especially if you have a history of depression, mental illness, or bipolar disorder.
• You may have blood circulation problems that can cause numbness, pain, or discoloration in your fingers or toes.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Signs of heart problems - chest pain, feeling light-headed or short of breath
• Signs of psychosis - paranoia, aggression, new behavior problems, seeing or hearing things that are not real
• Signs of circulation problems - unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes

You should not use Vyvanse if you are allergic to amphetamine products, lisdexamfetamine, or any component of the formulation.

Do not use Vyvanse if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in certain people. Tell your doctor if you have:

• heart problems or a congenital heart defect
• high blood pressure; or
• a family history of heart disease or sudden death.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has ever had:

• depression, mental illness, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts or actions;
• kidney disease;
• coronary artery disease (clogged arteries);
• blood circulation problems in the hands or feet; or
• drug or alcohol addiction.

Some medicines can interact with lisdexamfetamine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.

Tell your healthcare provider if:

• You or your child has or had repeated movements or sounds (tics) or Tourette's syndrome, or has a family history of tics or Tourette's syndrome.
• You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as Vyvanse may harm the unborn baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who are exposed to this medicine during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Psychostimulants at 1-866-961-2388.
• You are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, as this medicine passes into breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment with Vyvanse. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed the baby during treatment with this medicine.

Vyvanse is not FDA-approved to treat ADHD in a child younger than 6 years old. Vyvanse is not FDA-approved to treat binge eating disorder in anyone younger than 18 years old.

Tell your doctor if you are scheduled to have any imaging tests. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking Vyvanse for a short time before the procedure because it can affect the results of some tests.

Common side effects

Common Vyvanse side effects may include:

• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Anxiety
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Fast heart rate or increased blood pressure
• Feeling anxious or irritable or mood changes
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation.

Serious side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Vyvanse: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of heart problems - chest pain, trouble breathing, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest, feeling like you might pass out;
• signs of psychosis - hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia, or
• signs of circulation problems - numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes (pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes.
• onset or worsening of motor and verbal tics.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Vyvanse can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but not late in the day. Skip the missed dose if it is almost evening. Do not take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of lisdexamfetamine can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, tremor, muscle twitches, rapid breathing, hostility, violence, panic, muscle pain or weakness, and dark colored urine. These symptoms may be followed by depression and tiredness. Overdose may also cause seizures or coma.

Vyvanse may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take before starting Vyvanse. Some medications can interact with Vyvanse and cause serious side effects.

Do not take Vyvanse with:

• MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) - taking Vyvanse during or within 14 days of an MAOI can cause headaches and other signs of hypertensive crisis, toxic neurological effects, and malignant hyperpyrexia, sometimes with fatal results. MAOIs include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Tell your doctor if you take:

• Serotonergic drugs (SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, or St. John's Wort) - taking these with Vyvanse increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Vyvanse should be started at a lower dose and monitored closely, particularly during initiation or dose increases.
• CYP2D6 inhibitors - these may increase the exposure of dextroamphetamine, the active metabolite of Vyvanse, and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.
• Alkalinizing agents (such as sodium bicarbonate) - these can increase amphetamine blood levels and potentiate its action. Co-administration should be avoided.
• Acidifying agents (such as ascorbic acid) - these can lower amphetamine blood levels and reduce its effectiveness.
• Tricyclic antidepressants - may enhance the activity of amphetamine, causing striking and sustained increases in dextroamphetamine levels in the brain; cardiovascular effects can be potentiated.

This is not a complete list of drug interactions, and others may occur.