Vyvanse

Generic Name: lisdexamfetamine (lis dex am FET a meen)
Brand Names: Vyvanse

What is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

Vyvanse is FDA-approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and in children who are at least 6 years old.

Vyvanse is also used to treat moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. This medicine is not to be used for obesity or weight loss.

Important information

Vyvanse may be habit-forming, and this medicine is a drug of abuse. Tell your doctor if you have had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

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 a 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.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Vyvanse if you are allergic to 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.

It is not known whether Vyvanse will harm an unborn baby. However, taking the medicine during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, withdrawal symptoms, and possible toxic effects in the newborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Lisdexamfetamine can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using 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.

What should I avoid while taking Vyvanse?

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

Vyvanse 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.

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.

Common Vyvanse side effects may include:

dry mouth, loss of appetite, weight loss;
sleep problems (insomnia);
fast heart rate, feeling jittery;
dizziness, feeling anxious or irritable; or
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

What other drugs will affect Vyvanse?

Ask your doctor before using a stomach acid medicine (including Alka-Seltzer or sodium bicarbonate). Some of these medicines can change the way your body absorbs lisdexamfetamine, and may increase side effects.

Other drugs may interact with lisdexamfetamine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

In Summary

Common side effects of Vyvanse include: insomnia and irritability. Other side effects include: dizziness, weight loss, and xerostomia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

For the Consumer

Applies to lisdexamfetamine: oral capsule, oral tablet chewable

Warning

Oral route (Capsule)

Use of CNS stimulants (amphetamines and methylphenidate-containing products), including lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, have a high potential for abuse and dependence. Assess the risk of abuse before prescribing and monitor for signs of abuse and dependence during therapy.

Along with its needed effects, lisdexamfetamine (the active ingredient contained in Vyvanse) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking lisdexamfetamine:

Less common

Uncontrolled vocal outbursts or tics (uncontrolled repeated body movements)

Incidence not known

Agitation
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
chest discomfort or pain
chills
confusion
cough
diarrhea
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with swallowing
discouragement
dizziness
faintness
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
feeling sad or empty
fever
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
irritability
joint or muscle pain
lack of appetite
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss of interest or pleasure
overreactive reflexes
poor coordination
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
redness of the skin
shivering
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
sweating
swelling of the feet or lower legs
talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
tightness in the chest
trembling or shaking
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking lisdexamfetamine:

Symptoms of overdose

Abdominal or stomach cramps
blurred vision
change in consciousness
confusion
dark-colored urine
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fast breathing
loss of consciousness
muscle cramps or spasms
muscle pain or stiffness
nervousness
overactive reflexes
panic states
physical attempt to injure yourself
pounding in the ears
restlessness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
seizures
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
sweating
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
violent actions

Some side effects of lisdexamfetamine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Decreased appetite
headache
nausea
upper abdominal or stomach pain
vomiting
weight decreased

Less common

Crying
depersonalization
dry mouth
dysphoria
euphoria
paranoia
quick to react or overreact emotionally
rapidly changing moods
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

A total of 145 drugs are known to interact with Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine).

36 major drug interactions
101 moderate drug interactions
8 minor drug interactions

Most frequently checked interactions

View interaction reports for Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) and the medicines listed below.

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) alcohol/food interactions

There are 2 alcohol/food interactions with Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) disease interactions

There are 7 disease interactions with Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) which include: