Friday, August 21, 2020

Vyvanse for Treating ADHD in Children

Vyvanse for Treating ADHD in Children ADHD Treatment Print Vyvanse for Treating ADHD in Children It works longer and has less potential for abuse than other stimulants By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial policy Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Updated on February 16, 2020 ADHD Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Living With In Children Nick David / Getty Images Vyvanse is a stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulants (also known as psychostimulants) are the first line of medications due to their effectiveness in treating  ADHD symptoms. Vyvanse was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July 2007. Vyvanse for ADHD Vyvanse is a once-a-day treatment for adults and children who are six to 12 years old with ADHD. Its also approved to treat binge-eating disorder in adults. The main ingredient in Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. The drug acts on the central nervous system to boost the levels of two brain chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine.?? This, in turn, improves focus and attention and decreases impulsivity and hyperactive behavior. Advantages of Vyvanse Vyvanse is unique in that its a prodrug or forerunner of the drug dextroamphetamine, an amphetamine thats one of the main ingredients in Adderall, Adderall XR, and Dexedrine Spansules. This means Vyvanse isnt active in its ingested form but must be metabolized by the bodys enzymes to become converted to dextroamphetamine and become an active drug. That delayed actionâ€"it can take one to two hours to take effect versus a half hour for Adderallâ€"can stretch out how long the drug works. In studies, Vyvanse lasted up to 14 hours, compared with other long-acting ADHD medicines that tend to last 10 to 12 hours.?? That delay also means Vyvanse is much less likely to be abused  since the drug cant be snorted, smoked, or injected like conventional ADHD medicines. Research shows that up to 10 percent of high school students and up to 35 percent of college students misuse or divert ADHD stimulant medication.?? Because its released at the same levels over time and produces a slow, steady therapeutic effect throughout the day, Vyvanse is often described as smoother than Adderallâ€"theres no kick or jolt to the system when the medication starts to work. An analysis of studies on Vyvanse reported that this smoothness potentially avoids the large and fast increases in dopamine that are associated with the reinforcing effects of drug abuse.?? Dosage Vyvanse is available in seven dosage strengths: 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg. Although most children will start Vyvanse at the 30 mg dosage, a higher starting dose may be more appropriate if your child is switching to Vyvanse from another ADHD stimulant. Vyvanse is taken orally once daily. The first dose is typically taken first thing in the morning; it should be taken at the same time each day for best results. Vyvanse can be taken either with or without food. If your child doesnt like chewable drugs and has trouble swallowing the Vyvanse capsules whole, you can open them and either sprinkle the beads onto a small amount of food or stir them into a few ounces of water or orange juice. This is another benefit over other beaded ADHD stimulant medicines, which dont dissolve in liquids. Side Effects Side effects of Vyvanse are similar to other ADHD stimulants and most commonly include??: Abdominal painVomitingWeight lossDecreased appetiteHeadachesInsomniaIrritability Precautions Like other stimulant medications, Vyvanse should not be used by children with certain conditions,?? including the following: Heart disease or hardening of the arteriesModerate to severe high blood pressureHyperthyroidismGlaucomaHigh state of anxiety, tension, or agitation Vyvanse should also not be used by kids who have a history of drug abuse, who are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine (monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI), or who are sensitive to, allergic to, or had a reaction to other stimulant medicines. Should Your Child Try Vyvanse? Vyvanse may be an especially good option if your childs current medication isnt lasting long enough throughout the day, or if youre worried your child may be abusing his or her medicine.

No comments:

Post a Comment