Lisdexamfetamine

Uses of Lisdexamfetamine

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children 6 years of age and older. This medicine is also used to treat moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED). It belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants.

Precautions and Warnings

Lisdexamfetamine may be habit-forming, and lisdexamfetamine is a drug of abuse. Tell your doctor if you have had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect.

Do not use lisdexamfetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Lisdexamfetamine may cause new or worsening psychosis (unusual thoughts or behavior), especially if you have a history of depression, mental illness, or bipolar disorder.

You may have blood circulation problems that can cause numbness, pain, or discoloration in your fingers or toes.

Call your doctor right away if you have: signs of heart problems–chest pain, feeling light-headed or short of breath; signs of psychosis–paranoia, aggression, new behavior problems, seeing or hearing things that are not real; signs of circulation problems–unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes.

Some medicines can interact with lisdexamfetamine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. However, taking the medicine during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Lisdexamfetamine can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Lisdexamfetamine is not approved to treat ADHD in a child younger than 6 years old. Lisdexamfetamine is not approved to treat binge eating disorder in anyone younger than 18 years old.

Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:

Initial dose: 30 mg orally once a day in the morning
Maintenance dose: 30 mg to 70 mg per day; may adjust dosage in increments of 10 mg or 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals.
Maximum dose: 70 mg per day

Usual Adult Dose for Eating Disorder:

Initial dose: 30 mg orally once a day in the morning
Maintenance dose: 50 mg to 70 mg per day; titrate dose in increments of 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals.
Maximum dose: 70 mg per day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:

Age 6 to 17 Years:
Initial dose: 30 mg orally once a day in the morning
Maintenance dose: 30 mg to 70 mg per day; may adjust dosage in increments of 10 mg or 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals.
Maximum dose: 70 mg per day

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• dry mouth, loss of appetite, weight loss;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• fast heart rate, feeling jittery;
• dizziness, feeling anxious or irritable; or
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation.