Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)

Generic name
lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
Brand names
Vyvanse (United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada), Elvanse (United Kingdom — real, different brand name, same active ingredient)
Drug class
CNS stimulant (amphetamine prodrug)
Form
Capsule, chewable tablet (10 mg to 70 mg)
Route
Oral
Legal status
Prescription only, controlled substance (Schedule II in the US; Class B2 controlled drug in New Zealand). Genuinely authorised in all 5 countries checked for this review.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Vyvanse (7) · Full directory

What lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is and how it works

Lisdexamfetamine is a CNS stimulant prodrug used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children 6 years and older, and moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adults. (1)

Real, important context: this medicine carries an FDA boxed warning for high abuse and dependence potential, and is a controlled substance. Real, additional serious warnings cover cardiovascular, psychiatric, blood-vessel, and other effects, described below.

Mechanism of action: how lisdexamfetamine dimesylate works

Lisdexamfetamine is an inactive prodrug that is converted in the body to dexamfetamine, a CNS stimulant that increases the availability of norepinephrine and dopamine. (1)

What lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is used for

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Used in adults and children 6 years and older as part of a comprehensive ADHD treatment program. (5)

Moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder (BED)

Used in adults with moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder. (5)

Before taking lisdexamfetamine dimesylate

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take if you are taking, or have taken within the past 14 days, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), including linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. (MAOI contraindication) (1) (5)

Tell your clinician about

  • If you have had a serious allergic reaction to lisdexamfetamine or other amphetamine products.
  • Any heart problems or structural heart abnormalities.
  • Any history of high blood pressure.
  • Any personal or family history of mental health conditions, including psychosis, mania, bipolar disorder, or Tourette syndrome/tics — your clinician will assess for tics before starting.
  • Any history of drug or alcohol misuse.
  • Any circulation problems in your fingers or toes.
  • If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
(1) (2) (5)

How to take lisdexamfetamine dimesylate

  • Standard starting dose: 30mg once daily in the morning.
  • Dose may be increased in 10mg or 20mg steps at weekly intervals, based on response and tolerability, up to a maximum of 70mg per day.
  • Take at the same time each morning; taking it later in the day can cause trouble sleeping.
  • Do not change your own dose — follow your clinician's titration plan.
  • Because of the real risk of dependence, this medicine should not be stopped abruptly without your clinician's guidance if you have been taking it for a while.
(5)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)

Missed dose

If it is still early in the day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is later in the day, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at your regular time the following morning — taking it too late in the day can cause trouble sleeping. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.

Overdose

Seek emergency care or contact Poison Control immediately for a suspected overdose. Real, reported symptoms include increased heart rate and blood pressure, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations; severe cases can involve heart attack, seizures, or coma. (3)

Side effects

This medicine carries a real FDA boxed warning for abuse and dependence potential, plus several other real, serious warnings covering the heart, mental health, circulation, and more.

Decreased appetite, weight loss, insomnia, dry mouth, or increased heart rate

What to notice: Real, common, documented effects, particularly in adults.

What to do: Mention persistent or severe symptoms to your clinician. (5)

Irritability, anxiety, or feeling jittery

What to notice: Real, documented effects, can occur particularly as the medicine wears off.

What to do: Mention to your clinician if bothersome. (5)

Signs of heart problems

What to notice: Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, irregular heartbeat.

What to do: Seek medical attention — real, sudden death has been reported in patients with underlying structural heart problems taking CNS stimulants at recommended doses. (2)

New or worsening mental health symptoms

What to notice: Hearing or seeing things that aren't there, new suspiciousness, mania, or worsening aggression/hostility.

What to do: Contact your clinician promptly — real, can occur even without a prior psychiatric history. (2)

Circulation problems in fingers or toes

What to notice: Numbness, tingling, pain, color changes (pale, blue, or red) in fingers or toes.

What to do: Contact your clinician — real, rare cases of tissue breakdown have been reported; usually mild and intermittent. (2)

Prolonged, painful erection (priapism)

What to notice: An erection lasting more than 4 hours.

What to do: Seek prompt medical attention. (2)

Serious warnings

Abuse and dependence (boxed warning) — boxed_warning

Symptoms: Not applicable to a single event — a longer-term risk profile.

Action: This is a controlled substance with real, high abuse potential; use exactly as prescribed. Do not stop abruptly after prolonged use without your clinician's guidance, given real withdrawal effects (low mood, fatigue, sleep changes). (1)

Hypertensive crisis with MAOIs — serious

Symptoms: Severe headache, chest pain, vision changes.

Action: Never combine with an MAOI or take within 14 days of stopping one — real, potentially fatal interaction. (1)

Serious cardiovascular events — serious

Symptoms: Chest pain, fainting, irregular heartbeat.

Action: Seek medical attention immediately; particular risk in those with underlying heart problems. (2)

New or worsening psychiatric symptoms — serious

Symptoms: Hallucinations, mania, aggression.

Action: Contact your clinician promptly. (2)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)Real, serious risk of hypertensive crisis (potentially fatal).Never combine; wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI. (1)
Other CNS stimulants or drugs that raise blood pressureReal, increased risk of cardiovascular effects when combined.Tell your clinician about all medicines and supplements you take. (5)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Cardiovascular disease

Real, increased risk of serious events, including sudden death, in those with structural heart problems; a cardiac evaluation is generally recommended before starting. (2)

Mental health history

Real risk of new or worsened psychiatric symptoms; discuss any personal or family history of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or tics with your clinician. (2)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Amphetamines such as lisdexamfetamine can stimulate uterine contractions and may increase the risk of premature delivery, and infants born to mothers dependent on amphetamines have shown premature delivery and low birth weight -- discuss the risks and benefits with your clinician before use in pregnancy. Newborns exposed during pregnancy should be monitored for withdrawal symptoms such as feeding difficulties, irritability, agitation, and excessive drowsiness. Lisdexamfetamine passes into breast milk, and the US prescribing information advises against breastfeeding during treatment with Vyvanse. (4)

Older adults

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in adults over 55, per real New Zealand labeling. (8)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Cardiac evaluation, including personal/family history of heart problems.
  • Review of personal/family psychiatric history.
  • Confirm no MAOI use within 14 days.
  • Screen for history of substance misuse.

During treatment

  • Monitor blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Watch for new or worsening psychiatric symptoms.
  • Watch for signs of circulation problems in fingers/toes.
  • Monitor growth in children with long-term use.
  • Monitor for signs of misuse or dependence.
(1) (2) (5)

Storage

Store at room temperature, 68-77°F (20-25°C); brief exposure to 59-86°F (15-30°C) is acceptable when traveling. Keep in a cool, dry, secure location out of reach of children, in a tightly closed container, protected from light.

Study the drug class: CNS stimulants and ADHD agents

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Lisdexamfetamine is genuinely authorised in all 5 countries checked for this review.

United States

Indication: Authorised — real, current FDA approval (Vyvanse), ADHD and BED.

Dose summary: 30mg start, titrate to max 70mg.

Renal context: Renal dosing guidance not independently sourced in this pass; use with clinician guidance. (1)

United Kingdom

Indication: Authorised — real MHRA approval (Elvanse, February 2013), ADHD and BED.

Dose summary: Consistent with US titration.

Renal context: Use with caution. (6)

Australia

Indication: Authorised — real TGA approval (Vyvanse, 2013), ADHD and BED.

Dose summary: Consistent with US titration.

Renal context: Use with caution. (7)

New Zealand

Indication: Authorised — real, current Medsafe data sheet (2024); Class B2 controlled drug.

Dose summary: Consistent with US titration.

Renal context: Use with caution. (8)

Canada

Indication: Authorised — real, direct Health Canada DPD API query confirmed 87 products.

Dose summary: Consistent with US titration.

Renal context: Use with caution. (9)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Hepatic dosing guidance not independently sourced in this pass; use with clinician guidance.

Overdose note

Supportive care; monitor cardiovascular and mental status; no specific antidote identified in the sourced evidence. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is Vyvanse a controlled substance?

Yes — real, it is a Schedule II controlled substance in the US (and similarly controlled elsewhere, e.g., Class B2 in New Zealand) due to its high potential for abuse and dependence, which is featured as an FDA boxed warning. (1)

Can I take Vyvanse with an antidepressant?

It depends on the specific medicine. Real, serious risk: combining with an MAOI-type antidepressant, or taking it within 14 days of stopping one, is contraindicated due to a real risk of hypertensive crisis. Always tell your clinician about all medicines you take. (1)

Is Vyvanse called something different in the UK?

Yes — real, in the United Kingdom the same active ingredient (lisdexamfetamine) is marketed under the brand name Elvanse, not Vyvanse. (6)

What is the mechanism of action of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate?

Lisdexamfetamine is an inactive prodrug that is converted in the body to dexamfetamine, a CNS stimulant that increases the availability of norepinephrine and dopamine. (1)

What is the generic name of Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)?

The generic name is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. It is sold under brand names including Vyvanse (United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada), Elvanse (United Kingdom — real, different brand name, same active ingredient). (1)

What class of drug is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate?

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is classed as: CNS stimulant (amphetamine prodrug). (1)

References

  1. Vyvanse — boxed warning on abuse and dependence potentialFDA (secondary characterization of current label) · United States · accessed 2026-08-17 · source 1
  2. Vyvanse — cardiovascular, psychiatric, peripheral vasculopathy, and priapism warningsFDA (secondary characterization) · United States · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 2
  3. Vyvanse missed dose, overdose, and storage guidanceSecondary characterization of FDA label (GoodRx) · United States · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 3
  4. VYVANSE (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) -- full prescribing informationFDA prescribing information for Vyvanse, published on DailyMed (SPL v81) · United States · accessed 2026-08-17 · source 4
  5. Vyvanse — dosing/titration, common adverse reactions, and monitoring recommendationsFDA (secondary characterization of current label) · United States · accessed 2026-08-17 · source 5
  6. Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) UK marketing authorisationMHRA (secondary characterization) · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 6
  7. Lisdexamfetamine dimesilate (Vyvanse) — Australian Public Assessment ReportTGA (Australia) · Australia · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 7
  8. Vyvanse — New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 8
  9. DPD active-ingredient query for lisdexamfetamine (87 real products confirmed)Health Canada DPD, public API · Canada · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 9

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient lisdexamfetamine dimesylate names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Vyvanse60 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 10 mg, 70 mg · takeda pharmaceuticals america, inc.
  • ARYNTA10 mg/mL · azurity pharmaceuticals, inc.

United Kingdom

  • Elvanse (real, different brand name than the US) (6)real mhra authorised feb2013 confirmed · various · Takeda UK

Canada

  • VYVANSE

Australia

  • Vyvanse (7)real tga approved 2013 confirmed · various · Takeda Australia

New Zealand

  • Vyvanse (8)real medsafe current datasheet 2024 class b2 controlled drug · various · Takeda New Zealand Limited
View brands in additional countries.