What is lisdexamfetamine?
Lisdexamfetamine is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and
nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.
Lisdexamfetamine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and
in children who are 6 to 12 years old.
Lisdexamfetamine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lisdexamfetamine?
Do not use lisdexamfetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl,
Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take
lisdexamfetamine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to lisdexamfetamine or if you have:
-
heart disease or moderate to severe high blood pressure
(hypertension);
-
arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
-
overactive thyroid;
-
glaucoma;
-
severe anxiety, tension, or agitation; or
-
if you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
Some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents
with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use
this medication. Before taking lisdexamfetamine, tell your doctor if you have:
-
a congenital heart defect;
-
high blood pressure;
-
heart failure, heart rhythm disorder, or recent heart attack;
-
a personal or family history of mental illness, psychotic
disorder, bipolar illness, depression, or suicide attempt;
-
epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
-
tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is
harmful to an unborn baby. However, it could cause premature birth, low birth weight, or withdrawal
symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes lisdexamfetamine during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Lisdexamfetamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Long-term use of lisdexamfetamine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child using
this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 6 years old without the advice of a
doctor.
Lisdexamfetamine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was
prescribed for.
Lisdexamfetamine should never be shared with another person,
especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Keep the medication
in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Using this medication improperly can
cause death or serious side effects on the heart.
How should I take lisdexamfetamine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication. You may also be asked to not use the medication for a day or two and watch for any
differences in behavior off the medication.
Take this medication with a full glass of water.
It is best to take this medication in the morning. Do not take lisdexamfetamine in the afternoon
or evening because it may cause sleep problems (insomnia).
You may take lisdexamfetamine with or without food.
The capsule should be swallowed whole. You may also open the lisdexamfetamine capsule and
sprinkle the medicine into a glass of water. After the medicine has dissolved, drink this mixture right
away. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your doctor will need to see you on a
regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any
doctor who treats you that you are using lisdexamfetamine.
Store lisdexamfetamine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Keep track of how many capsules have been used from each new bottle of this medicine.
Lisdexamfetamine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using
this medicine improperly or without a prescription.
What happens if I miss a dose of lisdexamfetamine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, or if it is
already evening, skip the missed dose and take the medicine the next morning. Taking this medicine
late in the day can cause sleep problems.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
Where can I get more information about lisdexamfetamine?
Your pharmacist has information about lisdexamfetamine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of lisdexamfetamine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using lisdexamfetamine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects:
-
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
-
decreased blood pressure (feeling light-headed, fainting);
-
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred
vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven
heartbeats, seizure).
-
tremor, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or
motor tics (muscle twitches).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, weight loss;
-
blurred vision;
-
skin rash;
-
feeling irritable;
-
sleep problems (insomnia); or
-
dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about lisdexamfetamine?
Do not use lisdexamfetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
(Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl,
Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take
lisdexamfetamine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to lisdexamfetamine, or if you have hardened
arteries (arteriosclerosis), heart disease, moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension),
overactive thyroid, glaucoma, severe anxiety or agitation, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
Some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart
problems or congenital heart defects. Before taking lisdexamfetamine, tell your doctor if you have any
type of heart problems.
Lisdexamfetamine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was
prescribed for.
Lisdexamfetamine should never be shared with another person,
especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Keep the medication
in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
Using this medication improperly can
cause death or serious side effects on the heart.
What should I avoid while taking lisdexamfetamine?
Lisdexamfetamine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking fruit juices or taking vitamin C at the same time you take lisdexamfetamine.
These can make your body absorb less of the medicine.
What other drugs will affect lisdexamfetamine?
Before taking lisdexamfetamine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
ammonium chloride, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), K-Phos;
-
blood pressure medications;
-
a diuretic (water pill);
-
cold or allergy medicines (antihistamines);
-
chlorpromazine (Thorazine);
-
ethosuximide (Zarontin);
-
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
-
methenamine (Hiprex, Mandelamine, Urex);
-
phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
-
pain medication such as meperidine (Demerol) or
propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); or
-
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine
(Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or
nortriptyline (Pamelor).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
lisdexamfetamine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you
use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of lisdexamfetamine?
