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Vyvanse Side Effects, Uses, Dosage & Abuse Warnings

Vyvanse, also known as lisdexamfetamine, is a prescribed medication used to address ADHD and moderate to severe binge eating disorder. Its effects, ranging from mild to severe, generally impact both genders. The active component delivers therapeutic effects and is available in capsule or chewable tablet forms.

This drug is classified as a central nervous system stimulant and Schedule II drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Vyvanse offers therapeutic advantages but also poses risks of abuse and dependency. Knowing its side effects can provide insights into potential symptoms of stimulant use disorder and available treatment options for Vyvanse addiction.

Side Effects

Vyvanse Side Effects

During Vyvanse treatment, individuals may encounter severe or mild side effects. Here are some of the more prevalent side effects reported by individuals using Vyvanse in studies, which can vary based on the treated condition:

Mild Side Effects Associated with Vyvanse

Vyvanse usage can prompt mild side effects, although this list doesn’t encompass all potential mild reactions linked to the drug. For a comprehensive understanding, referring to Vyvanse’s medication guide is advisable.

  • Loss or decrease in appetite.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Anxiety.
  • Abdominal (belly) pain.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • Constipation.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Irritability.
  • Dizziness.
  • Jitteriness.
  • Headache.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Weight loss.
  • Sleep problems.

These side effects might be temporary, lasting for a few days or weeks. However, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable if the side effects persist or pose concerns.

Long term Effects of Vyvanse

Although uncommon, Vyvanse usage may lead to severe side effects in specific individuals, necessitating prompt attention.

  • Blood flow issues in fingers and toes, including Raynaud’s phenomenon.
  • Heart complications such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and rarely, sudden death.
  • Mental health conditions like psychosis (loss of contact with reality) or mania (periods of extreme excitement and energy).
  • Serotonin syndrome (resulting from elevated serotonin levels).
  • Slowed growth was observed in children using the drug.
  • Depression.
  • Allergic reaction.
  • Dependence and misuse potentially cause harmful thoughts toward oneself or others.

Vyvanse Effects on Personality

Its effects on personality can vary among individuals and might include:

  1. Increased focus and attention.
  2. Improved alertness.
  3. Potential mood changes.
  4. Reduced impulsivity.
Uses

Vyvanse Uses

Consume this medication according to your doctor’s instructions, with or without food, usually once daily in the morning. Avoid taking it later in the day to prevent disrupting your sleep pattern. The prescribed dosage depends on your medical condition and response to treatment. Your doctor may adjust the dosage for optimal results. Follow your doctor’s directives closely.

Administration Instructions for Different Forms

  • Chewable Tablet: Ensure thorough chewing before swallowing.
  • Capsule Form: Swallow it whole. Open the capsule and mix the powder with water, orange juice, or yogurt if swallowing is difficult. Consume the mixture immediately. A filmy residue after ingestion is normal.

Consistent Usage and Treatment Interruptions

Maintain a consistent schedule for maximum benefit. Your doctor might suggest intermittent pauses in treatment to evaluate any behavioral changes and the necessity for continued usage.

Withdrawal Precautions and Dosage Reduction

Abruptly stopping this medication can cause withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. Gradual dosage reduction may be recommended by your doctor, especially after extended or high-dose usage. Promptly report any withdrawal symptoms to your doctor or pharmacist.

Potential for Addiction and Effectiveness Monitoring

This medication may lead to addiction, especially if you have a substance use disorder. Avoid escalating the dose or extending usage beyond prescribed guidelines. Inform your healthcare provider about any decline in effectiveness.

Risks

Vyvanse Risks

Allergy Information

Inform your doctor or pharmacist about any allergies, especially if you’re allergic to this medication or similar drugs like amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, or other substances. Note that this product might contain inactive ingredients that could trigger allergic reactions or other issues. Seek more details from your pharmacist.

Medical History Disclosure

Share your medical history, especially regarding:

  • Blood circulation problems like Raynaud’s disease.
  • Certain mental disorders, such as severe agitation or psychosis.
  • Personal/family history of mood disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
  • Heart issues, including irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease, previous heart attacks, or structural heart problems.
  • Family history of heart problems, stroke, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, glaucoma, seizures, kidney disease, or substance use disorders.

Pre-Surgical Precautions

Ensure your doctor and dentist know all the products you’re using, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements.

Special Considerations for Children

Children may be more sensitive to side effects, particularly weight loss. This medication might slow down a child’s growth. Monitor their weight and height, seeking guidance from your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Use this medication during pregnancy only if necessary after discussing potential risks and benefits with your doctor. Babies born to mothers using this medication may have low birth weight or experience withdrawal symptoms. Notify your doctor if you notice any changes in your newborn.

This medication passes into breast milk and could harm a nursing infant. Avoid breastfeeding while using this drug.

Interactions

Vyvanse Interactions

Interactions between medications can alter their efficacy or increase the risk of experiencing severe side effects. Please be aware that this document does not encompass all conceivable drug interactions. Maintain a comprehensive list of all your products, including prescription and non-prescription drugs and herbal supplements, and share this list with your doctor and pharmacist. Refrain from initiating, discontinuing, or modifying the dosage of any medications without obtaining your doctor’s approval.

Concurrently, using MAO inhibitors with this medication can lead to a critical (potentially fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors like:

  • Isocarboxazid.
  • Linezolid.
  • Metaxalone.
  • Methylene blue.
  • Moclobemide.
  • Phenelzine.
  • Procarbazine.
  • Rasagiline.
  • Safinamide.
  • Selegiline.
  • Tranylcypromine.

While undergoing treatment with this medication. In most cases, you should also abstain from using MAO inhibitors for two weeks before commencing this medication. Consult your doctor to determine when starting or stopping this medication is safe.

Certain products may contain ingredients that elevate your heart rate or blood pressure. Inform your pharmacist about your products and seek guidance on their safe use, particularly items like cough-and-cold remedies or diet aids.

The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity is heightened when taking other drugs that increase serotonin levels. Examples include street drugs like:

  • DMA or “ecstasy.”
  • St. John’s wort.
  • Certain antidepressants (such as SSRIs like fluoxetine or paroxetine, SNRIs like duloxetine or venlafaxine).

This risk may be more pronounced when initiating or adjusting the dose of these drugs.

Lisdexamfetamine closely resembles amphetamine or dextroamphetamine. Therefore, it is advised not to use medications containing amphetamine or dextroamphetamine while using lisdexamfetamine.

Imprint

Vyvanse Imprint

Here’s a table providing information about Vyvanse, including its typical dose, condition for use, color, shape, and imprint:

VyvanseTypical DoseColorShapeImprint
Vyvanse 10mg10mgPinkOblongS489 10 mg
Vyvanse 20mg20mgWhiteHexagonal20 S489
Vyvanse 30mg30mgOrange & WhiteOblongS489 30 mg
Vyvanse 40mg40mgWhite & Blue-GreenOblongS489 40 mg
Vyvanse 50mg50mgWhiteSquare50 S489
Vyvanse 60mg60mgWhiteDiamond60 S489
Vyvanse 70mg70mgOrange & BlueOblongS489 70 mg
Vyvanse’s color, shape, and imprint may vary depending on the manufacturer and country. The information provided in the table represents one typical formulation of Vyvanse, but there may be variations in appearance.

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Determining the Optimal Vyvanse Dosage for Treating ADHD Symptoms

The ideal Vyvanse dosage varies from patient to patient and is determined based on individual needs.

  • Capsules of Vyvanse available dosages:
    • 5mg.
    • 10mg.
    • 20mg.
    • 30mg.
    • 40mg.
    • 50mg.
    • 60mg.
    • 70mg.
  • Chewable tablets strengths:
    • 5mg.
    • 10mg.
    • 20mg.
    • 30mg.
    • 40mg.
    • 50mg.
    • 60mg.

This time-release formulation aims to sustain a consistent level of the medication in the body throughout the day.

Your doctor may gradually adjust the dosage, typically by increments of 10 or 20mg per week, until you or your child experiences the most favorable response—finding the lowest effective dosage that yields significant symptom improvement without accompanying side effects. Generally, the maximum daily dose of Vyvanse is 70mg.

Strict adherence to the prescribed Vyvanse instructions is crucial, taken orally once daily with or without food. The initial dose is usually administered in the morning consistently for optimal outcomes.

For capsules, swallow them whole with water or any suitable liquid. In cases where swallowing the capsule poses a challenge, opening it and blending its contents into yogurt, water, or orange juice is an alternative. The entirety of this mixture should be consumed immediately. Chewable tablets must be thoroughly chewed before swallowing, followed by water or other liquid.

Throughout treatment, your healthcare provider may intermittently recommend discontinuing Vyvanse to assess ADHD symptoms, monitor vital health statistics like blood pressure and heart rate, or evaluate growth in children. If any concerns arise, discontinuation of treatment may be advised.

Some individuals may develop tolerance to Vyvanse with prolonged usage. If you notice reduced efficacy in controlling symptoms, discussing this with your doctor is essential to plan a suitable course of action.

Side Effects of Vyvanse in Males

Different side effects may occur in males compared to females.
Different side effects may occur in males compared to females.

Side Effects of Vyvanse in Females

Different side effects may occur in females compared to males.
Different side effects may occur in females compared to males.

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Vyvanse is a prescribed medication used to address ADHD and moderate to severe binge eating disorder.
Vyvanse is a prescribed medication used to address ADHD and moderate to severe binge eating disorder.

Vyvanse and Weight Management

Using Vyvanse off-label for weight loss purposes is not recommended, as it’s not an approved usage for this medication.

Vyvanse and Heart/Blood Pressure Concerns

Inform your doctor about any cardiac-related issues or a family history of heart and blood pressure complications. Individuals with structural heart abnormalities or severe cardiac conditions have experienced adverse events like sudden death, stroke, heart attack, and elevated blood pressure while using Vyvanse. Stimulants can elevate blood pressure and heart rate, necessitating close physician monitoring during treatment. Seek immediate medical attention if warning signs like chest pain, breathlessness, or fainting occur while taking Vyvanse.

Vyvanse and Mental Health

Discuss all mental health concerns, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, or depression, with your physician. The FDA advises evaluating patients for bipolar disorder before initiating stimulant therapy. Vyvanse may induce or exacerbate behavioral issues or bipolar disorder, potentially leading to psychotic or manic symptoms in children and adolescents. Promptly contact your doctor if new or worsening mental health symptoms, such as hallucinations or sudden suspicions, arise.

Vyvanse and Circulatory Issues

Before using Vyvanse, consult your doctor about circulation problems. This medication has been associated with symptoms like numbness, coolness, or pain in fingers or toes, including Raynaud’s phenomenon. Notify your doctor of emerging blood-flow problems, skin color changes, pain, or temperature sensitivities while on Vyvanse.

Vyvanse and Substance Use Concerns

Stimulants like Vyvanse pose a significant risk of abuse and addiction, particularly among individuals without ADHD. Classified as a “Schedule II Stimulant” by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), this designation signifies drugs with a heightened potential for abuse. Other Schedule II substances include Dexedrine, Ritalin, and cocaine. Individuals with a history of substance abuse should exercise caution when considering Vyvanse. Adhering strictly to prescribed usage can help mitigate the risk of misuse.

Who Should Avoid Vyvanse?

Avoid Vyvanse if you are allergic to any of its components or if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 14 days.

For those contemplating pregnancy, consult your doctor about Vyvanse usage, as its impact on fetal health remains unknown. Vyvanse passes through breast milk; hence, nursing mothers are advised against its use.

The safety of Vyvanse in children under six years old hasn’t been established. Keep Vyvanse securely stored at room temperature, out of children’s reach. Sharing Vyvanse prescriptions, even among individuals with ADHD, is illegal and potentially harmful.

How Long Does it Take Vyvanse to Take Effect?

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) typically starts to take effect within approximately 1 to 2 hours after ingestion. After ingestion, the body metabolizes Vyvanse into its active form, dextroamphetamine, which exerts its therapeutic effects on attention, focus, and impulsivity over the next few hours. The entire duration of Vyvanse’s effects typically lasts around 10 to 12 hours.

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Taking Vyvanse in unorthodox ways can increase your risk of overdosing.
Taking Vyvanse in unorthodox ways can increase your risk of overdosing.

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