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Forms, Uses, Adverse Effects, and More of Vyvanse

Medical Disclaimer

The medicines listed on this website are only there to give you knowledge. Just because they are on the list doesn’t mean that anyone will be given them; in the end, treatment decisions are up to the healthcare workers. The medicines on this list are not all of them. Doctors may recommend other drugs, even ones that don’t contain stimulants, depending on the patient’s specific health needs and circumstances. Read more

A stimulant drug called Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It may assist in controlling the signs and side effects of hyperactivity or difficulty focusing. However, how precisely do stimulant medications like Vyvanse work, and what is the proper way to utilize them? Continue reading to explore several additional features of Vyvanse and to get the solutions.

Vyvanse What Is It

Vyvanse: What Is It?

Brain stimulant medication class: Vyvanse.

Vyvanse is a stimulant of the central nervous system. It typically takes 90 minutes for people with ADHD to get any effects, and those effects may persist for up to 14 hours following delivery. Enhancing cognitive functions such as memory, impulse control, and concentration is one of its benefits. When used to treat binge eating disorder (BED), Vyvanse may take a few weeks to start showing results.

Because it is a Schedule II restricted drug, your healthcare professional should closely monitor the course of therapy.

What is the use of Vyvanse?

The most often recommended medication for ADHD in both adults and children is the stimulant Vyvanse. Among other symptoms, it helps control hyperactivity, inattention, and fidgeting. It may also be recommended as a component of a binge eating disorder treatment program.

A number of off-label applications exist as well, including treating depression that is resistant to therapy and a few other ailments. A medical professional will choose the best drug for any illness listed based on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, family history, past medication use, and other considerations.

Facts About Vyvanse You Should Know

  • prodrug composition. Since Vyvanse is a prodrug ↗, its initial form is inert. It doesn’t become active until the body has digested it, particularly when it interacts with red blood cell enzymes.
  • Not generic. In the United States, there is no generic form of Vyvanse available. This is not the case with many other ADHD drugs, which have generic substitutes.
  • inventive system. Numerous studies have focused on the distinct mode of action of Vyvanse, particularly how it affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, demonstrating the cutting-edge methods in contemporary psychopharmacology.

The Function of Vyvanse

Vyvanse reduces binge eating episodes in BED patients and enhances attention and concentration in ADHD patients by targeting particular brain circuits. The unique mechanism of this drug provides a customized treatment strategy for these different, but significant, problems.

Handling Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder

Vyvanse is a stimulant that primarily affects the central nervous system. Vyvanse may treat ADHD because it increases the levels of neurotransmitters, or chemicals, in the brain, particularly norepinephrine and dopamine.

But Vyvanse often forms a component of an intricate therapy regimen. Therefore, psychiatric therapy and other therapeutic procedures often combine with vyvanse. It should be noted that due to the high likelihood of drug misuse, only a healthcare expert can assess if a patient needs a prescription for Vyvanse.

Managing Compulsive Eating Disorders

Researchers have shown that vyvanse reduces the frequency of binge episodes in individuals with binge eating disorder. The aforementioned illness is a chronic eating disorder characterized by excessive food consumption without the ability to regulate quantities or quit. Although most sufferers of binge eating disorders are overweight or obese, it is possible for someone to have a normal weight and yet engage in binge eating. Vyvanse aids in the eradication of compulsive behavior and ideas of binge eating because of its mode of action.

How Is Vyvanse Used?

It is important to take Vyvanse precisely as directed by a medical practitioner. Although tailored to each person, the following are some broad recommendations:

  • Adhere to the recommended dose. Ensure you strictly adhere to your doctor’s instructions when taking Vyvanse. Don’t change the dose without first talking to them.
  • Take it first thing in the morning. Usually, one dose of Vyvanse is given in the morning. If you take the drug too close to bedtime or late in the day, its stimulating effects may prevent you from falling asleep. We also recommend taking Vyvanse at the same time every day to maintain consistent results.
  • ingest whole with water. Swallow the whole Vyvanse pill together with a glass of water. Because the capsule is intended to provide the drug a longer release, do not crush, chew, or open it.
  • food consumption. You may take Vyvanse with or without meals. Nonetheless, consuming it alongside food might lessen the possibility of gastrointestinal pain.
  • routine examinations. Keep up with routine follow-up visits with your healthcare provider to address any concerns or side effects, track your progress, and alter your treatment plan as needed.

To prevent unfavorable outcomes, Vyvanse also has to be used with caution about possible medication interactions and its effect on underlying medical conditions. Preventing usage and drug addiction is particularly crucial since they might have life-threatening negative effects for people with certain diseases. Thus, while choosing ADHD remedies, don’t forget to address any worries, past or present problems, and other health-related issues with your physician.

Who Is Able to Take Vyvanse and Who Is Not

Despite being widely prescribed and helpful for many people, Vyvanse should be used with care. Here are some things to think about:

  1. medical background. Selecting a different drug may be necessary for some medical situations. These include psychological problems, known hypersensitivity or idiosyncrasy to amphetamines, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), symptomatic cardiovascular disease, moderate to severe hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). The selection of therapy is also influenced by past drug misuse history.
  2. concurrent prescription drugs. Please inform your doctor about all the drugs, vitamins, and herbal remedies you are currently using. Certain pharmaceuticals, such as antihypertensive medications, certain antidepressants from other pharmacological families, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), may interact with Vyvanse. Serious adverse effects may result from these interactions.
  3. pregnancy as well as nursing. Patients who are nursing a baby, want to become pregnant, or are already pregnant should talk to their doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of Vyvanse as well as safety precautions and other options.

Patients should communicate any adverse effects or concerns to their healthcare professional since responses to medicine might vary. In order to prevent withdrawal symptoms, it’s also crucial to avoid stopping medicine suddenly without first seeing a doctor.

Dosage of Vyvanse for Adult ADHD and Binge Eating Disorder

The ailment being treated, the severity of the symptoms, the course of the therapy, and other variables all affect the dose of Vyvanse. The following are typical dosages and regimens of Vyvanse for ADHD and BED:

  • For individuals with ADHD or binge eating disorders, the starting daily dosage of Vyvanse is 30 mg.
  • You shouldn’t use more than 70 mg of vyvanse per day.
  • You must take Vyvanse once a day.
  • Taking Vyvanse in the morning is the best option. Taking a Vyvanse tablet in the evening may result in trouble falling and staying asleep.

The following are a few indicators that a patient’s recommended dosage of Vyvanse is excessive:

  • Anxiety
  • Shivers
  • High temperature
  • emesis
  • throwing up
  • quick reactions
  • rapid respiration
  • Perplexity
  • Delusions
  • seizures
  • Coma

A trained healthcare practitioner is the only one who can establish the precise dose and the right manner to use Vyvanse. It is advisable to follow up with a doctor and talk about treatment plan modifications in the event of undesirable effects.

Forms and Strengths of Vyvanse

You can purchase Vyvanse as chewable tablets or capsules in doses ranging from 10 mg to 70 mg. A doctor chooses the right shape and strength depending on a number of considerations, including

  • weight and age. lesser body weight or younger individuals usually begin with a lesser dose.
  • Acceptance. The necessary dose may need to be adjusted as the body adjusts to Vyvanse.
  • ailment under treatment. The ideal dose for binge eating disorder and ADHD may vary.
  • additional drugs. The amount of Vyvanse that is needed may change if the patient is taking other drugs.
  • choice of the patient. It’s possible that some patients prefer tablets to capsules or the other way around.
FormsChewable TabletsCapsules of Vyvanse
Strengths
  • 10 mg
  • 20 mg
  • 30 mg
  • 40 mg
  • 50 mg
  • 60 mg
  • 70 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 20 mg
  • 30 mg
  • 40 mg
  • 50 mg
  • 60 mg
  • 70 mg

Side effects of Vyvanse.

Even in cases where a patient complies with the doctor’s instructions, Vyvanse side effects are likely while treating ADHD or binge eating disorders. The table below provides an overview of the possible severity of side effects.

Vyvanse Side Effects: MildVyvanse Side Effects That Are Serious
  • Lack of sleep
  • Uncertainty
  • Constipation
  • lightheadedness
  • Loss of weight
  • mouth dryness
  • Anxiety
  • Headache
  • appetite decline
  • High blood pressure
  • a stroke
  • arrest of the heart
  • Adjacent vascular illness
  • The Raynaud Effect
  • Changes in personality
  • Serotonin syndrome
  • Dependency
  • severe allergy responses

Vyvanse suppresses appetite, which makes weight loss a typical adverse effect. However, managing obesity is not possible with this drug.

Treatment with this medication may cause cardiovascular issues, which may manifest as elevated blood pressure and heart rate and could result in life-threatening events. As a result, those who already have high blood pressure or heart problems should take Vyvanse carefully and only under a doctor’s supervision. It could be essential to regularly check blood pressure and heart rate.

Additionally, Vyvanse may exacerbate circulation issues such as peripheral vasculopathy and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Notifying a healthcare physician of any symptoms, such as numbness, coldness, or discoloration of the extremities, is advised.

People who already suffer from mental health issues, including anxiety, psychosis, or bipolar disorder, may be affected by Vyvanse. Furthermore, since it is a stimulant, people with a history of drug misuse may not be a good fit for this prescription. Finally, Vyvanse may affect a person’s attention, attentiveness, and response speed. Therefore, before operating equipment or driving, it’s crucial to evaluate how Vyvanse affects you personally.

Consult a healthcare professional about any adverse effects to make sure they are tolerable or to choose a different course of action.

Possible Hazards and Safety Measures

Like with any drugs, there are possible side effects from Vyvanse that should be considered, particularly because it is a Schedule II regulated narcotic. Patients and healthcare practitioners should consider the following safety measures:

  • Possibility of dependence. Vyvanse has the potential to be abused because of its stimulant properties, which might result in addiction or dependency. It is critical that both patients and healthcare professionals adhere to recommended doses.
  • issues related to the heart. Given that stimulant drugs may elevate blood pressure and heart rate, patients with a history of heart problems, such as arrhythmias, heart attacks, or any other cardiovascular illness, should be continuously watched while using Vyvanse.
  • effects on mental health. Vyvanse may worsen the symptoms of those who already suffer from mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder or severe anxiety. Reporting any new or worsening symptoms should happen right away.
  • circulatory issues. Vyvanse may cause circulation problems in the toes and fingers, according to reports. Pain, discoloration, or numbness are examples of symptoms that need to be reported right away.
  • relationships with other prescription drugs. You must mention any medicines you use, including over-the-counter medications and vitamins, since there may be interactions that decrease Vyvanse’s effectiveness or increase its risk of adverse effects.

Having an open line of contact with your healthcare professionals and being aware of these possible hazards can help maximize the positive effects of Vyvanse while limiting any negative ones.

Drug-Drug Interactions

Some compounds that Vyvanse may interact with include, but are not limited to:

  • Inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAOIs). If Vyvanse is used with MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping them, a hypertensive crisis may occur.
  • drugs that fight depression. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may interact with Vyvanse to alter brain chemistry levels and cause side effects known as serotonin syndrome.
  • blood pressure drugs. When using Vyvanse with antihypertensive drugs, it’s crucial to regularly check blood pressure since the drug might elevate both heart rate and blood pressure.
  • agents with acidity. Medication that raises uric acid or stomach acid might lessen Vyvanse’s efficacy.

While using Vyvanse, it’s also advised to avoid or take less of the following substances:

  • booze. While alcohol might cover up the medication’s energizing effects, Vyvanse can amplify the sedative effects of alcohol.
  • Coffee. Excessive amounts of coffee may intensify the stimulant effects of Vyvanse, which may cause adverse effects such as anxiety, restlessness, or cardiac problems.

In summary

Treatment for ADHD and binge eating disorders often involves the use of Vyvanse. Only a licensed healthcare professional should establish the medication’s dose and other recommendations, and any negative effects should be reported at once to a doctor.

FAQs

Is Vyvanse a controlled substance?

ADHD medication Due to its high potential for abuse and misuse, Vyvanse is categorized as a Schedule II medication under federal control. Drug dependence may develop as a result of prolonged Vyvanse use. Because of this, Vyvanse is only available with a prescription, and a qualified mental health practitioner should oversee the course of treatment.

How long does Vyvanse stay in your system?

The half-life of vyvanse is roughly 10 to 12 hours. Its effects peak quickly, but they also subside rather quickly. Urine samples may contain the drug for up to three days, but blood samples only show it for approximately eight hours. Be aware that individual characteristics, other medications, and other factors may have a minor impact on the half-life of Vyvanse.

What is better: Adderall or Vyvanse?

Medication selection is based on personal needs and circumstances. Prescription ADHD medications Adderall and Vyvanse each have unique benefits and disadvantages, and their efficacy varies from person to person. To find out which ADHD medication might be better for you, it is best to speak with a healthcare provider.

Is Vyvanse used for depression?

Vyvanse primarily treats binge eating disorder (BED) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The FDA has approved it for these uses. Although Vyvanse is not the first-line treatment for depression, it may be prescribed off-label in some circumstances.

What not to do while taking Vyvanse?

Patients should abstain from alcohol and excessive caffeine while taking Vyvanse. Before operating machinery or driving, it's crucial to assess each person's reaction to Vyvanse because it can alter focus and alertness. Lastly, without medical supervision, patients should not change their dosage.

What if I miss a dose of Vyvanse?

Take Vyvanse as soon as you remember if you missed a dose. On the other hand, skip the missed dose and carry on with your usual routine if your next dose is almost here. Don't take two doses to make up for the one you missed. Always take missed doses as directed by your healthcare provider.

How long does Vyvanse take to work?

Although Vyvanse begins to work within one to two hours, it may take several weeks for the full effects to become apparent in cases of binge-eating disorders. Individual factors like metabolism, dosage, and medication response can also affect the onset and duration of action.

Will I have withdrawal symptoms if I stop taking Vyvanse?

After using Vyvanse for a long time, stopping it suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Under the guidance of the clinician, it is recommended to gradually reduce the dosage in order to minimize these effects. The body can adapt, and the severity of withdrawal symptoms can be lessened with gradual tapering.

Can I be prescribed Vyvanse while on Suboxone treatment?

Only if you present a letter from your clinician attesting to the safety and appropriateness of Vyvanse can medical staff at Lillie's Friends prescribe it to you if you are taking or weaning off Suboxone.