What Is Vyvanse Used For?

Are you curious about the drug Vyvanse? This drug is one of the commonly prescribed stimulant drugs in the United States. Vyvanse is the brand name of an amphetamine-based generic drug lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. Other brand names include Tyvense, Venvanse, Elvanse, and Samexid. To get Vyvanse, you would need a prescription from a doctor. You cannot just buy Vyvanse over the counter or in your local drugstore if your doctor hasn’t prescribed it.

Vyvanse can be an effective mode of treatment when prescribed to people with legitimate conditions the drug can treat. But what exactly are these conditions? What is Vyvanse used for? Below are some of the conditions Vyvanse is being used for.

1. ADHD

The primary condition that Vyvanse is used for is to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD in adults, adolescents, and children. It was approved in the United States by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD in 2007.

Many patients who are suffering from ADHD are prescribed Vyvanse as it is believed to have a lower potential for abuse compared to other stimulant drugs. When a patient takes the drug, it is supposed to help lower impulsiveness and hyperactivity as well as improve alertness, attention, and memory.

2. Binge Eating Disorder

In 2015, Vyvanse was the first and only drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of binge eating disorder.  In a 12-week study, it has been found that Vyvanse was effective in reducing weekly binge days in people who have been diagnosed with binge eating disorder.

The doctors in the study concluded that the patients who took Vyvanse improved compared to patients who took a placebo drug.

3. Weight Loss

Loss of appetite and weight loss are some of the known side effects of Vyvanse. Because of this, many people who want to lose weight take Vyvanse even if they are not suffering from ADHD or binge eating disorder. Their main goal is to lose weight.

The FDA and the manufacturer of Vyvanse, however, have warned that Vyvanse should not be used as a weight loss drug. Using Vyvanse for weight loss could lead to more serious conditions and side effects.

4. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Vyvanse has also been used as an off-label medication to treat excessive daytime sleepiness. An off-label drug is a drug that may not be approved by the FDA to treat a particular condition but it is being prescribed by a doctor when there is scientific evidence that it is safe for use. Because Vyvanse can improve alertness, there are doctors who prescribed the drug to their patients who experience excessive daytime sleepiness.

5. Depression

Another off-label use for Vyvanse is to treat depression. There have been studies that showed that adding Vyvanse to the treatment program of patients suffering from depression symptoms resulted in positive effects. However, there are also accounts that Vyvanse may worsen these depression symptoms.

6. Schizophrenia

Doctors may also prescribe Vyvanse as an off-label drug to patients with schizophrenia. It has been used as an add-on medication for the current medications being prescribed. However, there are studies that support that Vyvanse may increase psychosis symptoms which could worsen schizophrenia.

7. Performance Enhancer

Many people who use Vyvanse illicitly do so to enhance their performance. Because Vyvanse is said to improve focus and alertness, many people want to benefit from the drug’s effects. Vyvanse is a famous alternative to another ADHD drug Adderall, which is popularly called the “study drug”. Many students use ADHD drugs to be able to focus more on their studies or to get ahead. Video gamers are also using these stimulants to improve their focus when playing online games. Even athletes are known to use Vyvanse and Adderall to enhance their performance even if these are banned by sports organizations.

Why you should avoid using Vyvanse without prescription

If you are interested in taking Vyvanse, you should not do so without a legitimate prescription from a doctor. Do not use Vyvanse to self-treat any of the conditions listed above. A with any other drugs, there are side effects that could result in taking Vyvanse.

Some of the serious side effects of Vyvanse include sudden deaths in people with heart conditions, stroke, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting. Taking Vyvanse could also worsen mental conditions and their symptoms.

It is also possible to be addicted to Vyvanse. It has a high potential for abuse especially for users who do not have ADHD or are not using the drug as prescribed. Taking too much Vyvanse and mixing it with other substances like alcohol or opioids could also lead to overdose.

If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse, help is available.

Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.