Vyvanse: What Is the Half-Life of Vyvanse, a Popular ADHD Medication?

Unlocking focus, amplifying productivity, and harnessing the power of the mind, Vyvanse stands as a pharmaceutical marvel, transforming the lives of those who navigate the challenges of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Vyvanse is a prescription medication containing the active ingredient lisdexamfetamine, which belongs to a class of drugs known as central nervous system stimulants. When Vyvanse is ingested, it is metabolized by the body into dextroamphetamine, which is the active form of the drug. This process occurs gradually, releasing the medication over an extended period.

As a result, Vyvanse provides sustained symptom relief for individuals with ADHD.

However, understanding how long Vyvanse stays in the system is crucial, whether you are taking it as prescribed or concerned about its presence for drug screenings or other reasons.

In this article, we will delve into the specifics of Vyvanse's elimination from the body, exploring factors that influence its duration in your system and shedding light on important considerations for its safe and responsible use.

What Is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is an FDA-approved stimulant medicine to treat mild to severe ADHD and BED. ADHD and BED patients over 18 can use the drug. Vyvanse, unlike most nervous system stimulants, is not approved for weight control, obesity treatment, or weight reduction. However, it is used in this way by a minority of consumers.

It is only available with authorization from a medical professional. To combat lethargy, treat hypoactive confusion, or even aid in enhancing focus for patients who have neurological disorders leading to cognitive impairments, physicians may frequently utilize stimulants like Vyvanse for reasons that are not explicitly approved for their use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, the likelihood of Vyvanse being used for these objectives may be lower than other drugs. This is due to the method that Vyvanse breaks down in the body.

How Does Vyvanse Work?

Vyvanse works by targeting the parts of your brain that control hyperactivity and impulse control. It increases the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine and norepinephrine. This helps to improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and lessen hyperactivity.

It is important to note that Vyvanse does not cure ADHD, but rather helps to manage its symptoms. It does this by providing a more balanced amount of the neurotransmitters that are responsible for controlling behavior and attention.

While Vyvanse is effective in managing ADHD symptoms, it may take some time before you notice an improvement. In most cases, it can take up to 8 weeks before the full effects of Vyvanse are realized. Additionally, the dosage may need to be adjusted over time in order to achieve the best results.

Vyvanse is typically taken once a day and should be taken with food.

Vyvanse Half-Life: What Is the Half-Life of Vyvanse?

A medication's half-life is the time it takes to remove half of the substance from the body. It measures how long it takes for the medication to lose its effectiveness in your body.

Vyvanse is a drug used to treat diseases such as ADHD. It contains the chemical lisdexamfetamine. When you take Vyvanse, your body converts lisdexamfetamine into dextroamphetamine, which helps with ADHD symptoms.

The half-life of lisdexamfetamine, the active ingredient in Vyvanse, is approximately 1 hour. This means that after one hour, your body will have removed half of the lisdexamfetamine.

It's worth noting, however, that the converted chemical, dextroamphetamine, has a longer half-life. Dextroamphetamine has a half-life of about 9 to 11 hours. This means that it takes 9 to 11 hours for half of the dextroamphetamine in your body to be removed.

As a result, while the original ingredient in Vyvanse is swiftly cleared, the transformed chemical remains in your system for longer, delivering the desired therapeutic effects for ADHD.

Remember that this is a basic explanation, and the actual half-life of Vyvanse can vary depending on factors such as age and metabolism. If you have any specific queries regarding Vyvanse or any other medicine, always seek the advice of a healthcare expert or pharmacist for precise and individualized answers. 

How Long Is Vyvanse Effective?

Vyvanse is a prescription medication used to effectively treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge eating disorder (BED) once daily. It has a prolonged effect on the body. This means that once-daily dosing is all that is required.

Patients with ADHD who took Vyvanse reported better focus two and fourteen hours later.

A "binge day" was defined as any day the participant engaged in at least one binge session during the Vyvanse clinical trials. Therefore, it may take people with BED as long as 12 weeks of therapy before they notice a significant reduction in the number of binge days they encounter each week.

Vyvanse was found to be beneficial in treating symptoms of binge eating disorder for at least seven months in longer-term studies.

Guidelines for Vyvanse Dosage

Vyvanse is an ADHD medication that is also effective in treating binge eating disorder. The Vyvanse dose varies not only by the individual's age and weight but also by the severity of the condition being treated. A doctor or other medical professional will consider all of these considerations when deciding on the proper dosage for an individual patient.

Vyvanse is an oral medication that should only be used once daily, in the morning. Taking a dosage in the late afternoon or evening could cause sleeplessness. Depending on how well it works, Vyvanse can be taken empty stomach or with food.

It is common practice when treating with Vyvanse, to start with a smaller dose and gradually increase it as your body adjusts to the drug.

A health practitioner may temporarily suspend your treatment with Vyvanse to evaluate your symptoms and overall health. Additionally, if you've got a kidney illness, your dosage may need to be adjusted by your physician.

What Kind of Drug Is Vyvanse?

Vyvanse is categorized as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug. It is a controlled substance. You may abuse it or get hooked on drugs. As a result, before prescribing Vyvanse, your doctor will assess whether or not there is a risk of abuse and monitor you for signs of dependence or abuse.

Dosage should be taken precisely as a medical expert prescribes, and any changes should be discussed with the prescribing doctor. They will consider your situation and closely monitor your response to the drug to guarantee its efficacy and lessen the likelihood of any unwanted side effects.

Should Some People Avoid Taking Vyvanse?

Avoid Vyvanse if any of the following apply: 

• You or your children took an MAOI antidepressant within 14 days

• Vyvanse or any of its components may cause allergic reactions

• If you have previously experienced an adverse reaction to another stimulant medicine

It would help if you told your doctor all they need to know about your health, from preexisting problems to the prescriptions you use. They are best positioned to evaluate your needs and advise whether Vyvanse is the right choice.

How Long Does Vyvanse Typically Remain in the Body?

Vyvanse has a half-life of around 9-11 hours, about the active ingredient dextroamphetamine. This means it takes 9-11 hours for 50% of the initial concentration of dextroamphetamine to be eliminated from the body.

It's vital to remember that Vyvanse's complete removal from the system may take longer. Vyvanse is converted to dextroamphetamine in the body after consumption. While dextroamphetamine's concentration in the body may fall slower (as measured by its elimination half-life), the drug's metabolites and by-products may linger in the system afterward.

The elimination rate can also be affected by factors such as the patient's metabolism, age, liver and kidney function, and concurrent pharmaceutical use. The amount of time Vyvanse stays in a person's system can differ depending on several factors.

How Long Does Vyvanse Show Up on Drug Tests?

A positive result for Vyvanse is possible in a drug test. Stimulants like Vyvanse can be detected through drug screenings conducted by employers, or a drug test can be mandated by the law. Moreover, suppose your doctor prescribes Vyvanse to you.

In that case, they may ask you to submit the drug test result to confirm you are careful about taking the medication.

In most cases, amphetamine will be detected in one's urine or blood when Vyvanse has been used.

Urine Test for Vyvanse

Vyvanse can be detected in the urine for up to five days following the previous dose.

Blood Test for Vyvanse

Vyvanse can be detected in your blood anywhere from seven to thirty-four hours after your last dose.

Saliva Test for Vyvanse

Vyvanse can be detected in the saliva for up to two days after the previous dose.

Hair Test for Vyvanse

A Vyvanse user's use status can be determined from a 90-day window by analyzing a 1.5-inch hair sample.

How Long Is Vyvanse Effective?

Vyvanse's active ingredient, lisdexamfetamine, is metabolized in the body into the stimulant dextroamphetamine. Lisdexamfetamine has an extremely short detection window, typically just a few hours. However, dextroamphetamine would be detectable for a longer time due to its long half-life of about 12 hours.

The body will take about 5.5 of a drug's half-life to flush it out. For many purposes, this data is invaluable. However, the metabolism rate is affected by several variables, including the individual's body mass index and gender, other drug use, the amount of drug consumed, and the presence or absence of concomitant drug use.

Again, several factors determine whether or not the body will show signs of having the drug present. Take the hypothetical case of someone splitting their Vyvanse doses up by several hours. In that situation, the detection window should be determined when the patient started taking the medication and when they last took it. This is so because the probability of a higher drug concentration in the body increases. Vyvanse's adverse effects could stick around for as long as fourteen hours.

Factors That Affect How Long Vyvanse Stays in Your System

Many factors determine how long Vyvanse stays in the system, including:

Age

The body's metabolism decreases with age, so Vyvanse may stay in the system for longer periods of time in older people than it would in younger people.

Metabolism

A person's metabolic rate affects how quickly a drug is broken down and processed by the body. People with faster metabolisms may process Vyvanse faster than those with slower metabolisms.

Diet

Your diet can impact how long Vyvanse stays in your system. Eating high-fat meals can slow the rate of absorption, meaning that the medication may stay in your system for a longer period of time.

Hydration

Proper hydration is essential to helping process and remove medications from your body. If you are dehydrated, Vyvanse may stay in your system longer.

Genetics

People with certain genetic mutations may have difficulty processing Vyvanse and other ADHD medications, meaning they may stay in the system for longer periods of time.

It is important to discuss any concerns you have about how long Vyvanse stays in your system with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can help to determine the best dosage and treatment plan for you.

What Are the Side Effects of Vyvanse?

The most common side effects associated with Vyvanse include headaches, stomach pain, insomnia, decreased appetite, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, and irritability. In rare cases, Vyvanse can also cause more serious complications including heart palpitations and increased blood pressure.

If you experience any of these side effects or notice other unusual changes in mood or behavior, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider right away.

It is also important to note that, while Vyvanse helps manage the symptoms of ADHD, it is not a cure for the disorder. Therefore, it is important to continue working with your healthcare provider and possibly other medical professionals in order to best manage your condition.

Finally, while Vyvanse can be effective in treating ADHD symptoms, it should not be used as a replacement for healthy lifestyle habits such as getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet. These habits are essential to ensuring overall health and wellness, and should not be overlooked.

Vyvanse can be an effective treatment for managing ADHD symptoms, but it is important to understand how it works in order to use it safely and effectively. Working with your healthcare provider and understanding the potential side effects of Vyvanse are key to achieving the best results.

Do You Feel Like You’re No Longer in Control of Vyvanse Use? The Forge Recovery Center Can Help

How long does Vyvanse stay in your system? Long enough to cause damage.

Being addicted to amphetamines like Vyvanse can make you feel like you’re alone. You’re not. There’s no reason to go through addiction treatment alone. At The Forge Recovery Center, you’ll join a community of people who support each other as they work towards the same goal.

Guided by a trauma-informed philosophy, our addiction center is the ideal place to recover from Vyvanse abuse. Our drug rehab is a welcoming, safe place where the roots of substance abuse can be explored, examined, and treated. With us, we’ll help you develop every resource and tool you need to leave Vyvanse addiction behind permanently.

If you’d like to learn more about our successful ADHD medication program, please reach out to The Forge Recovery Center today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

November 2, 2023