Quick summary
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a Schedule II central nervous system stimulant approved for ADHD and, in adults, moderate to severe binge eating disorder. The FDA warns it has a high potential for abuse and misuse. Prescribed use is not the same as misuse, and there is no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder.
Vyvanse is the brand name for lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, a central nervous system stimulant that the FDA classifies as a Schedule II controlled substance. It is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults and children aged 6 and older, and moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. Like other stimulants, it helps many people function, and it also carries a real risk of misuse.
Prescribed use versus misuse
These are different things, and the distinction matters. Taken as prescribed for a diagnosed condition, Vyvanse is medical treatment. Misuse is taking the medicine in a way other than prescribed, taking someone else's prescription, or using higher doses or unapproved routes.
The FDA requires a boxed warning on Vyvanse because it has a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to a substance use disorder, including addiction. The agency notes that misuse and abuse of CNS stimulants can result in overdose and death, and that the risk increases with higher doses or unapproved methods such as snorting or injecting. Vyvanse can also be diverted for non-medical use.
Common side effects reported in the label include decreased appetite, insomnia, dry mouth, and anxiety. More serious risks include increased heart rate and blood pressure, and psychiatric symptoms such as new or worsening psychosis or mania. The label advises against use in people with certain heart conditions.
How common is stimulant misuse
NIDA reports that in 2021 about 3.7 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription stimulants in the past year, and about 1.5 million had a prescription stimulant use disorder. Stimulants affect the same brain systems as illicit stimulants such as cocaine, which is part of why they carry dependence risk.
Physical dependence can develop with continued use. The FDA label lists withdrawal signs after abrupt discontinuation or dose reduction following prolonged use: dysphoric mood, depression, fatigue, vivid unpleasant dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite, and psychomotor retardation or agitation. This is the crash people describe after stopping a stimulant.
Treatment for stimulant use disorder
There are no FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant use disorder, including dependence on prescription stimulants. NIDA says treatment relies on behavioral therapies:
- Contingency management gives tangible rewards, such as vouchers, for confirmed drug-free test results and is described by NIDA as especially effective for stimulants.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people change the thinking and situations that drive use.
- The Matrix Model is a structured outpatient approach developed for stimulant dependence.
For some people, a clinician may taper the dose to ease withdrawal before behavioral treatment begins. That is a clinical decision and should not be improvised at home. Do not stop a prescribed stimulant without talking with your prescriber.
Getting help
If you are concerned about your own use or someone else's, use SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov locator to find care, or call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), free and confidential, 24/7.
Call or text (800) 653-9376 or use the form below to talk through options.
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers. In a medical emergency, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Last updated: Sun Oct 04 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
What is Vyvanse approved to treat?
The FDA label lists attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults and children aged 6 and older, and moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. Vyvanse is not indicated for weight loss.
Is Vyvanse addictive?
The FDA requires a boxed warning stating that Vyvanse has a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to a substance use disorder, including addiction. It is a Schedule II controlled substance.
How is medical use different from misuse?
Taken as prescribed for a diagnosed condition, the medicine is medical use. Misuse means taking it in a way other than prescribed, taking someone else's, or using higher doses or unapproved routes such as snorting or injecting, which the FDA says raises the risk of overdose and death.
What does Vyvanse withdrawal feel like?
The FDA label lists withdrawal signs after abrupt discontinuation or dose reduction following prolonged use: dysphoric mood, depression, fatigue, vivid unpleasant dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite, and psychomotor retardation or agitation.
What should I do in an emergency?
Call 911 for chest pain, severe agitation, psychosis, or a suspected overdose. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.