VYVANSE

 

Vyvanse, is the brand name for Lisdexamfetamine, a new attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug. It received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 23, 2007.

Vyvanse Potential for Abuse?

Vyvanse is intended to provide an option of lower abuse potential. However, 50mg of Vyvanse contains 20mg of the stimulant d-amphetamine, the well-known abusable Schedule II option. But because the key ingredient in Vyvanse is bound to L-Lysine, the amphetamine is released at a slower rate in the digestive system – as compared to Ritalin and Adderall. Therefore, Vyvanse produced less "likeability", less euphoric effect and a later peak time than amphetamine alone in clinical trials, suggesting that lisdexamfetamine may be appropriate for use with patients with history of stimulant abuse. Nevertheless, Vyvanse is currently up for designation as Schedule II.

Schedule II drugs are known for their high abuse potential.  Whether Vyvanse users will be able to find other ways to abuse the drug, remains to be seen.

Vyvanse Side Effects

The most common side effects in studies of VYVANSE include: decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, stomachache, and irritability.

According to the Vyvanse patent application, “These compounds [found in Vyvanse] and compositions find particular use in providing an abuse-resistant alternative treatment for certain disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADD, narcolepsy, and obesity. Oral bioavailability of amphetamine is maintained at therapeutically useful doses. At higher doses bioavailability is substantially reduced, thereby providing a method of reducing oral abuse liability. Further, compounds and compositions of the invention decrease the bioavailability of amphetamine by parenteral routes, such as intravenous or intranasal administration, further limiting their abuse liability.”