HWN Suggests

A week on Elvanse (Vyvanse)

My story is not so uncommon — diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (at the age of 39) and newly figuring out how to incorporate that information into my sense of self. I also decided to try medication. I wanted to know if it would work, although I didn’t have especially high hopes that it would do very much. I’ve spent years figuring out my shortcuts, workarounds, and tricks to manage my unhelpful brain, so what could meds do? Turns out, a lot!

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 Nationwide Recall Alert: ADHD Drug May Not Dissolve Correctly

The reason for the recall is a failure in laboratory testing. The FDA said the affected lots of medication did not dissolve as expected during tests. This problem could affect how well the drug works in the body, potentially resulting in patients not getting the intended dose and the full therapeutic benefit.

Articles of Interest

Why is there a Vyvanse shortage? Generic ADHD are still in short supply

Frustrated patients who require critical medication to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder continue to have a hard time filling prescriptions.

Amphetamine of the Year

Some doctors are afraid Vyvanse, originally prescribed for ADHD, will be abused now that it's also being used to treat binge eating disorder.

Dealing With The Dark Side Of Vyvanse: Male Anger

Anger is a common side effect of Vyvanse, especially in males. While it is not clear why males are more susceptible to anger while taking Vyvanse, it is believed to be related to the medication's effects on the brain's dopamine and norepinephrine systems.

FDA Approves Vyvanse Generics Amid ADHD Medication Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced it had approved generic versions of Vyvanse, an increasingly popular alternative to Adderall. Commonly prescribed to treat both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder, more than one million Americans regularly take Vyvanse.

FDA Approves Vyvanse Generics Amid ADHD Medication Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced it had approved generic versions of Vyvanse, an increasingly popular alternative to Adderall. Commonly prescribed to treat both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder, more than one million Americans regularly take Vyvanse.

Generic Vyvanse? Here’s what to expect.

Since first hitting the market in 2007, Vyvanse, a stimulant medication used primarily to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a unique and increasingly sought after drug. While expensive, it’s one of the most prescribed and effective alternatives to the widely known Adderall.

How a drug for ADHD is being used to fight binge eating

The US Food and Drug Administration has just approved the use of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate for the treatment of binge eating disorder. Licensed under the brand name Vyvanse, lisdexamfetamine is the first and only FDA-approved medication for this condition. But Vyvanse has already been on the market since 2007 as a daily treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. So how does this drug act on two seemingly distinct conditions? Although amphetamines have long been known to suppress appetite, Vyvanse’s action on the brain’s self-control, motivation, and reward systems makes it particularly useful for combating binge eating disorder.

Is it Possible to Abuse Vyvanse?

The short answer: yes. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice fined the manufacturer of Vyvanse $56.6 million after a study proved the drug to have the same abusive characteristics as other amphetamines. According to revised 2017 FDA guidelines, Vyvanse does indeed hold potential for addiction. It is so important for doctors, psychiatrists, and parents to talk to their children about the dangers of overusing this medication.

Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate (Vyvanse), A Prodrug Stimulant for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

As the first chemically formulated prodrug stimulant, LDX represents a new class of long-acting agents for the treatment of ADHD. The concept of prodrugs was proposed by Albert in 1958, who described the alteration of the physiochemical properties of drugs to make them pharmacologically inactive until metabolized in the body to an active drug element.

Pros and Cons of Vyvanse for ADHD

While it remains a go-to treatment for ADHD, Goodman explained it is often because of insurance companies preferences that it does not always get prescribed to patients due to cost concerns.

Shire, Maker of Binge-Eating Drug Vyvanse, First Marketed the Disease

A spokeswoman for the F.D.A. said Vyvanse was granted priority approval because there was no other drug treatment available for the disorder. And it did not ask an advisory committee to review the issue because Vyvanse is already sold as an A.D.H.D. drug and its safety profile is well known.

Vyvanse: Pure Amphetamine for ADHD

While most people are familiar with ADHD prescription stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin, fewer patients are knowledgeable about Vyvanse, another prescription-only amphetamine. While marketed as a safer alternative to other medications with higher potential for abuse, there are still some significant concerns about Vyvanse that you should be aware of.

Vyvanse: What you need to know

Vyvanse is fairly new compared to some other ADHD stimulant medications, but it’s well-studied.

Why is it so hard to get my ADHD medication in the US?

I was prescribed a medication called Vyvanse, which I’ve been taking daily since. It’s proven immensely helpful, allowing me to settle into a reasonably steady routine of writing and working. The days when I just can’t get anything done have been further and further separated by periods of unprecedented productivity. In other words, everything has been going pretty damn well on the ADHD front. Or at least, it had until July this year, when I moved to the US.

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