Vyvanse

Medically Reviewed by HaVy Ngo, Pharm.D.

Last Reviewed: Jun 07, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)?

Vyvanse can cause some serious health issues that are even higher for certain groups. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options if you have any worries or concerns.

Misuse and dependence: Vyvanse is a schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for physical and mental dependence. Risk factors include a history of drug or alcohol abuse. To reduce the risk of misuse and dependence, take Vyvanse exactly as prescribed by your doctor. People with a history of drug or alcohol abuse should not take this medication.
Severe, life-threatening heart problems: Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) can cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. There have been reports of patients who experience a heart attack, stroke, or even death. People with a history of serious heart problems, severe high blood pressure should not take Vyvanse. Risk factors include a history of heart disease. Call your doctor if you experience irregular or fluttered heartbeat, fainting, or chest pain.
Psychosis and aggression: Hallucinations, aggression, mania, and worsening of psychiatric disease can occur to adults and children even if there is no history of these symptoms before. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Long-term growth delay for children: Risk factor increases for children between the age of 6 and 12. Vyvanse can cause weight loss and slow growth in children. The pediatrician will monitor your child closely at each visit during ADHD treatment with Vyvanse. Also, it is important to keep a close watch on height and weight at home. Call the pediatrician if you see anything unusual with your child.

What should I tell my doctor before starting Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)?

You should not take Vyvanse if you are allergic to lisdexamfetamine. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of your lips, tongue, face, and throat. This is a medical emergency - Call 911 and seek medical care at the nearest hospital.

MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors are a class of medication that treats depression. Do not take Vyvanse if you take or have taken an MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitor within the past 14 days. Examples of MAO (monoamine oxidase) are isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Emsam), methylene blue injection, tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others. Inform your doctor if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor in the past 14 days. Interaction between Vyvanse and MAO inhibitors can lead to serotonin syndrome, which can potentially be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fever, sweating, agitation, hallucinations, fast heart rate, twitching, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You should seek medical care immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Before starting a new medication, it is important to inform your doctor if you have any changes in your medication list or health history. Best practice is to print out your most updated medication list and bring it to every doctor appointment.

Vyvanse is a stimulant. Stimulants can cause heart attack, stroke, and sudden death in people with certain medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have:

Heart problems, known congenital heart defects, or arrhythmia;
High blood pressure or a family history of heart disease or sudden cardiac death.

To ensure that Vyvanse is a safe option for you, inform your doctor if you or anyone in your family ever had any of the following conditions:

Drug and/or alcohol addiction;
Mental health conditions such as depression, self-harm thoughts or actions, psychosis, bipolar disorder;
Poor circulation in the extremities;
Kidney disease;
Coronary artery disease.

Lisdexamfetamine can have serious drug interactions with certain medications and result in serotonin syndromes. Make sure that your doctor knows about all of the medication you are taking, including other stimulants, opioid medicine, any over-the-counter herbal products or supplements, medications for mental health disorders, Parkinson's disease, and migraine therapy.

What precautions should I take while on Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)?

Vyvanse can cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate - monitor your blood pressure and heart rate regularly, especially at the beginning of therapy and during dose titration.
Psychiatric adverse reactions can occur. Vyvanse may cause psychotic or manic symptoms in patients with no prior history of psychiatric disorder. Vyvanse can also lead to exacerbation of pre-existing psychosis - Monitor for psychosis and evaluate for bipolar disorder before using stimulant medicines.
Vyvanse can cause a suppression of growth in children - Monitor height and weight in pediatric patients during treatment with Vyvanse.
Vyvanse can cause peripheral vasculopathy (disease of blood vessels), including Raynaud’s syndrome - Monitor for any change in your toes and finger; watch for any signs of tingling, numbing feeling, or pain.
Vyvanse can impair your thinking or slow down your reaction - Be careful while driving or performing any activity that requires alertness.

What drugs can interact with Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)?

For the safety and efficacy of Vyvanse, provide your doctor or pharmacist with a complete list of medication that you are currently taking, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter (OTC) products, herbal or dietary supplements.

Vyvanse can interact with acidifying and alkalinizing agents, i.e., medicines that alter the urine pH can alter blood levels of Vyvanse. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start using any type of stomach acid medicines (OTC or prescription heartburn or GERD medicines).

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