Vyvanse was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007.
What Is Vyvanse?
Vyvanse is a once-a-day treatment for adults and children age 6 to 12 with ADHD.
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It’s also approved to treatbinge-eating disorderin adults.
The main ingredient in Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.
The drug acts on the brain to boost the levels of twoneurotransmitters: dopamine and norepinephrine.
This, in turn, improves focus and attention and decreases impulsivity and hyperactive behavior.
This means Vyvanse isn’t active in its ingested form; it must be metabolized and converted to dextroamphetamine.
This smoothness potentially avoids the sudden and dramatic increases in dopamine that are associated withsubstance abuse.
Talk to your child’s doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins that they currently take.
Their doctor can increase their dosage in 10 mg increments each week if needed.
Vyvanse is taken orally once daily.
If your child missed their dose, have them take it as soon as you remember.
If it’s almost time for their next dose, wait and administer that one.
Like other amphetamines, Vyvanse is acontrolled substance.
That means it has a high potential for abuse and it could lead to dependence.
It should always be stored safely and securely, out of the reach of others.
If your child has had dependency issues with other stimulant medications, they shouldn’t take Vyvanse.
Withdrawal symptoms are possible with stimulants, and stopping Vyvanse abruptly can cause depression and extreme fatigue.
This medication hasn’t been tested in children younger than 6.
A Word From Verywell
Medication is just one component of ADHD treatment.
Food and Drug Administration.Drug approval package: Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) NDA #021977.
Food and Drug Administration.VYVANSE (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) label.
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