When Do You Know if Vyvanse Is to Strong for Your Adhd Son

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Vyvanse is a stimulant medication used to treat attention-arrears hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulants are frequently the first line of medications prescribed for this condition due to their effectiveness in treating ADHD symptoms. Vyvanse was approved by the Nutrient and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007.

What Is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse is a in one case-a-day handling for adults and children age vi to 12 with ADHD. It'due south also canonical to treat binge-eating disorder in adults. The main ingredient in Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.

The drug acts on the brain to boost the levels of two neurotransmitters: dopamine and norepinephrine. This, in plough, improves focus and attention and decreases impulsivity and hyperactive behavior.

Vyvanse for ADHD

Vyvanse is unique in that it's a prodrug (or forerunner) of the drug dextroamphetamine, an amphetamine that's i of the main ingredients in Adderall, Adderall XR, and Dexedrine Spansule.

This means Vyvanse isn't active in its ingested class; information technology must exist metabolized and converted to dextroamphetamine. That delayed activity—which can take one to two hours to accept effect versus a one-half-hour for Adderall—can stretch out how long the drug works.

In studies, Vyvanse lasted upwardly to fourteen hours, compared with other long-acting ADHD medicines that tend to terminal 10 to 12 hours.

Considering it's released at the same level over fourth dimension and produces a boring, steady therapeutic effect throughout the 24-hour interval, Vyvanse is often described as "smoother" than Adderall—there'due south no "kick" or "jolt" to the system when the medication starts to work. This smoothness potentially avoids the sudden and dramatic increases in dopamine that are associated with substance abuse.

Vyvanse may be a proficient choice if your kid'due south electric current medication isn't lasting long enough throughout the mean solar day, or if you're worried that they may become dependent on their medication.

Before Your Kid Takes Vyvanse

Before prescribing Vyvanse, your kid's md will look for signs of ADHD. They volition also make certain that your child doesn't have whatever pre-existing wellness conditions that could prevent them from taking the medication safely, similar:

• Glaucoma
• Family history of ventricular arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or sudden death
• Heart affliction or hardening of the arteries
• High country of anxiety, tension, or agitation
• Hyperthyroidism
• Moderate to severe high blood pressure

Vyvanse should not be used past kids who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have taken i within the past xiv days. Children who are sensitive to, allergic to, or have previously had a reaction to other stimulant medicines should also avoid taking Vyvanse.

Talk to your child'due south doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins that they currently take. While some drugs pose small-scale interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether the pros of treatment outweigh the cons in your kid's case.

Dosage

Vyvanse is available as oral capsules and chewable tablets, and it comes in several dosage strengths:

• 10 milligrams (mg)
• 20 mg
• 30 mg
• 40 mg
• 50 mg
• lx mg
• lxx mg (only available in oral capsules)

Although most children will first Vyvanse at the 30 mg dosage, a college starting dose may exist more appropriate if your kid is switching to Vyvanse from another ADHD stimulant. Their doctor tin can increase their dosage in 10 mg increments each week if needed.

Vyvanse is taken orally in one case daily. The get-go dose is typically taken get-go thing in the morning time, with or without nutrient, and information technology should be taken at the same fourth dimension each mean solar day for the best results. This medication can cause insomnia if it's taken after in the day, so try to avoid putting your child on an afternoon dosage schedule.

If your child missed their dose, take them take information technology as soon as yous retrieve. If it's almost time for their side by side dose, wait and administrate that ane.

If your kid doesn't like chewable drugs and has trouble swallowing the Vyvanse capsules whole, you tin open them and either sprinkle the beads onto a pocket-size amount of food or stir them into a few ounces of water or orange juice.

Like other amphetamines, Vyvanse is a controlled substance. That means it has a high potential for abuse and it could pb to dependence. Information technology should always be stored safely and securely, out of the reach of others.

Side Effects

Common

Side effects of Vyvanse are similar to other ADHD stimulants and can include:

• Abdominal hurting
• Constipation
• Coughing
• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry out oral fissure
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Respiratory irritation and congestion
• Weight loss

Severe

Vyvanse tin can likewise crusade more severe side effects, similar:

• Blood pressure increase
• Apportionment issues
• Serious allergic reactions that tin include anaphylaxis, skin swelling, welts, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Sudden decease in children with known middle problems
• Suppressed growth
• Worsened symptoms for children with mental health conditions

Warnings and Interactions

Similar other stimulants, Vyvanse tin be abused, and it is possible to overdose. If your child has had dependency issues with other stimulant medications, they shouldn't take Vyvanse.

If yous believe your child should no longer accept Vyvanse, work closely with their doctor to slowly wean them off of the medication. Withdrawal symptoms are possible with stimulants, and stopping Vyvanse abruptly can cause low and extreme fatigue.

This medication hasn't been tested in children younger than 6.

A Discussion From Verywell

Medication is just one component of ADHD treatment. Your child may also benefit from learning new behavioral strategies and social skills to aid them cope with their symptoms, and yous may benefit from a support group for parents or from training programs designed to aid yous better understand your child's condition.

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Verywell Mind uses simply high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to larn more about how nosotros fact-check and keep our content authentic, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/vyvanse-profile-pediatric-medications-2633130

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