Vyvanse is a stimulant medication that treats ADHD. It contains the active ingredient dextroamphetamine. It is available in dosages from 30 mg to 70 mg a day. It is typically prescribed as a long-term treatment.
It is important to know about the side effects of this medication. Talk to your doctor about them.
Dosage
Vyvanse is a stimulant drug that’s used to treat ADHD in adults and children ages 6 years and older. It’s also used to treat binge eating disorder (BED) in adults and teens ages 13 years and older. It’s prescribed in capsule and chewable tablet forms. The dosage depends on your medical condition and other medications you take. Your doctor may start you on a low dose and increase it by 10 to 20 mg at weekly intervals until you get the best results for managing your ADHD symptoms or treating BED.
The main ingredient in Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, which’s converted to the amphetamine dextroamphetamine inside your body. The medication can cause side effects like high blood pressure and heart problems, so your doctor will monitor you closely for them while you’re taking it. It also has a boxed warning for the risk of misuse and addiction. That’s why you should keep it in a safe place where others can’t reach it.
Administration
Vyvanse is usually taken once per day in the morning. Your doctor will start you on 30 milligrams (mg) and may slowly increase your dose until it is right for you.
The drug is swallowed as a capsule or liquid. If you have trouble opening the capsule, ask your pharmacist for tips that can help make it easier to open. Once Vyvanse is swallowed, it’s absorbed in the digestive system and enters the bloodstream. Red blood cells then cleave the lisdexamfetamine into its two components. The dextroamphetamine component reaches peak concentration in the body within about an hour.
Because of the potential for misuse and addiction, Vyvanse has a boxed warning, which is the most serious type of warning from the FDA. Your doctor will evaluate your risk for misuse and addiction when you first start taking this medication. Never share Vyvanse with another person, even someone who has the same symptoms. Vyvanse is a controlled substance and abuse can lead to severe psychological and physical dependence.
Side effects
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Read all patient information, medication guides and instruction sheets. This medication may be habit-forming and should not be shared with others. Keep it in a safe place where children cannot reach it. Properly dispose of unused or expired Vyvanse as directed by your doctor.
Stimulants work well for many people with ADHD, but they are not for everyone. The side effects of 30 mg vyvanse can include suppressed appetite, sweating, dry mouth, an increased heart rate and high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, hallucinations, depression and mood changes and other symptoms that can be life-threatening.
Lisdexamfetamine interacts with certain medicines, including acid-reducing agents such as antacids, and antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). This combination can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome, a rare but serious condition that affects the brain and nervous system and can cause fever, sweating, agitation, vomiting and seizures. You should not take MAOIs within 14 days of taking Vyvanse.
Overdose
While Vyvanse has less of a drug abuse potential than other stimulant ADHD medications, it can still be habit-forming if someone takes more of the medication than prescribed. Unsafe methods of ingesting the medication such as chewing, snorting or injecting it can also change the way the body responds to the drug and increase the risk of serious toxic reactions and overdose.
Like other stimulant medications, misuse and addiction are possible with 30 mg vyvanse. Misuse includes taking the medication more often or in higher doses than prescribed and using the drug to get high. Addiction means developing a physical or psychological dependence on the medication and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when it’s taken away.
Symptoms of an overdose with Vyvanse include restlessness, tremor, muscle twitches, anxiety, hostility and depression. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should seek emergency medical help immediately. People who have a history of substance abuse or mental health issues are more likely to experience complications when taking this medication.