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Lisdexamfetamine

Generic name: lisdexamfetamine [ lis-dex-am-FET-a-meen ]
Brand name: Vyvanse
Dosage forms: oral capsule (10 mg; 20 mg; 30 mg; 40 mg; 50 mg; 60 mg; 70 mg), oral tablet, chewable (10 mg; 20 mg; 30 mg; 40 mg; 50 mg; 60 mg)
Drug class: CNS stimulants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Aug 8, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is lisdexamfetamine?

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

Lisdexamfetamine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and in children who are at least 6 years old.

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

Lisdexamfetamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Lisdexamfetamine side effects

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

Lisdexamfetamine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

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.

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

Common side effects of lisdexamfetamine may include:

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 FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Lisdexamfetamine side effects (more detail)

Warnings

Lisdexamfetamine may be habit-forming, and lisdexamfetamine 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 lisdexamfetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Lisdexamfetamine 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.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking lisdexamfetamine?

You should not use lisdexamfetamine if you are allergic to it.

Do not use lisdexamfetamine 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:

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

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 this medicine will harm an unborn baby. However, taking the medicine during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, or withdrawal symptoms 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.

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

How should I take lisdexamfetamine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take lisdexamfetamine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Lisdexamfetamine may be habit-forming. Never share lisdexamfetamine 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.

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

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

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Do not crush, chew, break, or divide a lisdexamfetamine capsule. Swallow it whole.

To make swallowing easier, you may open the lisdexamfetamine capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a glass of water or orange juice, or mix it with yogurt. After the medicine has dissolved, drink or eat the mixture right away. Do not save for later use.

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. Lisdexamfetamine 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 lisdexamfetamine in a sealed container or bag. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a community pharmaceutical take back disposal program.

Lisdexamfetamine dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:

Initial dose: 30 mg orally once a day in the morning
Maintenance dose: 30 mg to 70 mg per day; may adjust dosage in increments of 10 mg or 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals.
Maximum dose: 70 mg per day

Comments: Prior to treatment, assess for the presence of cardiac disease and the risk of abuse.

Use: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Usual Adult Dose for Eating Disorder:

Initial dose: 30 mg orally once a day in the morning
Maintenance dose: 50 mg to 70 mg per day; titrate dose in increments of 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals.
Maximum dose: 70 mg per day

Comments: Discontinue this drug if binge eating does not improve.

Use: Moderate to Severe Binge Eating Disorder

Usual Pediatric Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:

Age 6 to 17 Years:
Initial dose: 30 mg orally once a day in the morning
Maintenance dose: 30 mg to 70 mg per day; may adjust dosage in increments of 10 mg or 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals.
Maximum dose: 70 mg per day

Comments: Prior to treatment, assess for the presence of cardiac disease and the risk of abuse.

Use: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Detailed Lisdexamfetamine dosage information

What happens if I miss a dose?

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 the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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 seizure or coma.

What should I avoid while taking lisdexamfetamine?

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

What other drugs will affect lisdexamfetamine?

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.

Lisdexamfetamine drug interactions (more detail)

Popular FAQ

For ADHD: In adults, Vyvanse was shown in clinical studies to improve attention at 2 hours and up to 14 hours after taking a dose. In children aged 6-12, Vyvanse was shown to start working within 1.5 hours and up to 13 hours after the morning dose. For binge eating disorder, it can take up to 12 weeks for patients to show a significant reduction in their number of binge days per week. Continue reading

More FAQ

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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