*An off-label use of a medication is a use that is not FDA-approved. Prescribers can decide to use a medication off-label because, in their professional judgment, they believe it may offer a benefit to someone.
Vyvanse stays in the body for 8 hours in children and 12 hours in adults. Various factors may affect how long Vyvanse stays in someone’s body including the dosage, how long a person has been taking the medication, and whether they use other substances.
If you’re your current prescription with a provider or are considering a prescription for Vyvanse, you will be limited in your options for obtaining an assessment and prescription online. Talkiatry is an online psychiatry platform that can and will prescribe stimulant medications, which are controlled substances. They offer psychiatric assessments and prescription consultation, and can answer any questions you have about taking Vyvanse.
Boxed Warning: Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) – Risk of medication misuse or abuse
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, the active ingredient in Vyvanse, has a black box warning. These are the most serious types of warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate has a risk of misuse (abuse) which can lead to dependence on the medication.
Vyvanse is a controlled substance, which means that it’s more likely to be misused or cause dependence. There are federal and state laws that limit the amount of medication that can be prescribed or dispensed within a certain period of time.
ADHD Diagnosis & Treatment at Talkiatry Talkiatry can match you with a psychiatrist who takes your insurance. Their clinicians can evaluate you for ADHD and prescribe medication. This can include controlled substances if they’re right for you and allowed by your state. Get started with a short online assessment.
What Is Vyvanse?
Vyvanse is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) in people ages 6-65 and binge eating disorder in adults.1 A drug that is FDA-approved means it has been proven in many large randomized controlled clinical trials to be safe and effective for a certain use. It acts as a stimulant by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The result is improved symptoms for people who have ADHD or binge eating disorder.
How Long Does Vyvanse Stay in Your System?
Vyvanse is metabolized in the blood to its active form dextroamphetamine.1 The time a drug stays in your system depends on its half-life. Half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug’s concentration to be reduced. Also, it takes about five half-lives for a drug to be fully eliminated from the body.
the 1/2 life is 8-10 hrs for children, 10-11 hours for adults, and it is dosed 1 time per day in the morning for children and adults so it will have intended action during the day and won’t interfere with sleep. Also, stimulants may show up on drug tests for employment, so if you take this medication you may need to be aware of this. Employers and schools may ask for proof that you are prescribed this medication.
How Long Does Vyvanse Stay In Your Urine?
Vyvanse can be detected in the urine for five days.1 Out of urine, blood, hair, and saliva tests, the detection window for a urine test is the 2nd longest and is the only federally mandated drug test.2
How Long Does Vyvanse Stay in Your Blood?
Vyvanse can be detected in blood for up to two and a half days. This is due to Vyvanse being converted to dextroamphetamine in the blood, with a half-life of about 12 hours.1 The detection window for a blood test has a median length of time, similar to saliva testing. The advantages are that results are available almost immediately and can be confirmed.
Vyvanse in Your Hair
Vyvanse can be detected in the hair for 90 days.3 The advantage is that hair testing has by far the longest window of detection. Disadvantages include that it can be costly and take a while to receive results.
Vyvanse in Your Saliva
Saliva drug tests can detect drugs taken within the past 2 days.4 Also, saliva tests have a median amount of time for detection. They have the advantage of being supervised while taking the test to ensure it wasn’t tampered with.
Factors That Affect How Long Vyvanse Stays in the Body
Factors that affect how long Vyvanse stays in someone’s body include the dosage, how long you’ve been on the medication, and if you take other substances. Other factors include your age, food intake, your amount of body fat and fitness level, and if you have kidney impairment.1 Some factors can be controlled while others cannot.
Factors affecting how long Vyvanse stays in your body include:
- Dosage and how often you take it: If you take a higher Vyvanse dose for longer periods, it may last longer. Low to moderate doses include 20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg, while higher doses include 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg.
- The presence of other substances in your body: Other substances like medications and alcohol can increase the time Vyvanse stays in your system. It is not safe to take Vyvanse with alcohol or medications that can interact with it.
- Age: Children may eliminate Vyvanse faster than adults.
- Kidney impairment: If you take Vyvanse and have kidney impairment, your dose could have a larger impact and stay in your body longer.
- Food intake: If you take Vyvanse with food, the effects may or may not increase its duration, depending on the dosage form you take.
- The dosage forms you take: If you take the chewable tablet, Vyvanse will be readily absorbed. The capsules may take a little longer to absorb.
Online Psychiatry Covered by Insurance Work with a psychiatrist online. Insurance accepted, and new patients welcome. Get personalized mental care including medication. If allowed in your state and right for you, this can include controlled substances. Start with a short online assessment.
How to Increase Vyvanse Effectiveness
The recommended treatment for mental health, including ADHD, is therapy with medication. You can enhance these outcomes by incorporating healthy and natural lifestyle habits. Some habits include a healthy diet and exercise, finding the right dose of Vyvanse, and pursuing your hobbies regularly. You shouldn’t rely on just the positive effects of taking stimulants. It is also important to know what your goals are so you can make an attainable plan.
Some ways to improve ADHD symptom management while taking Vyvanse include:
- Find the right Vyvanse dose: Finding the right dose can help improve your memory, thought processing, and focus.
- Exercising: The mental health benefits of exercise are great for your overall health and ADHD. Exercise can help ADHD symptoms by improving memory, helping with focus, and relieving pent-up energy.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Another strategy may be CBT for ADHD, which may be beneficial for managing symptoms by helping you become aware of your thoughts. It can also help you form a plan for relieving those symptoms naturally.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy: Another way to relieve your symptoms naturally is DBT. It can help you manage and form a plan for the emotions you feel when having symptoms.
- Eating healthy: A healthy diet provides the nutrition your mind and body need. It can also help sustain energy.
- Pursuing hobbies regularly: Hobbies can also help relieve pent-up energy and are a natural way to increase dopamine in the brain.
- Interacting socially: Relationships can be impacted by ADHD and create school and work barriers. Socializing can help overcome these by practicing focusing in conversation.
- Yoga: Besides many other health benefits, yoga can help ADHD. It uses the mind-body connection to result in regulated attention and emotions.
When to Seek Professional Help
You should seek professional help for ADHD when the symptoms impair your quality of life, such as your functioning at work or in relationships. It is also important to learn how to find a therapist that fits your needs. Also, finding an online psychiatry service may be helpful, especially if attending in-person appointments is challenging.
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Team About How Long Vyvanse Lasts
If you want to know how long Vyvanse stays in your system, you may ask your doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist. You can also ask them how to enhance its action or duration safely. If you are concerned about drug testing, ask them if they would provide you with a doctor’s note or if proof of prescription is enough.
Questions to ask your care team about Vyvanse alternatives include:
- Is it safe to take ADHD medication with my other medications?
- Am I at risk for side effects from ADHD medications or supplements if I am already taking other medications, such as antidepressants or anxiety medications?
- What ADHD medications should I consider for fewer side effects?
- Will my ADHD symptoms get better without medication?
- How can I naturally reduce my ADHD symptoms?
- What side effects can I expect with Vyvanse?
- Will these side effects go away over time?
- How can I prevent experiencing side effects?
- What supplements are available for ADHD?
- What other medications for ADHD are available?
- When should I consider other options for ADHD?
- How long do I need to take ADHD medication for?
- When should I reach out if I’m having side effects?
- Can ADHD supplements cause side effects?
In My Experience
In my experience, patients successfully manage their ADHD symptoms with Vyvanse. It’s important to talk to your doctor about this topic and follow their guidance because Vyvanse can have dangerous side effects and drug interactions.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
-
Daily Med. (2022, March). LABEL: VYVANSE- lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsule VYVANSE- lisdexamfetamine dimesylate tablet, chewable. National Institute of Health National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm
-
Clean Fleet. The Benefits of Urine Testing. Clackamas, OR: Clean Fleet. Retrieved from https://www.cleanfleet.org/benefits-of-urine-testing/
-
Gryczynski, J., Schwartz, R. P., Mitchell, S. G., O’Grady, K. E., & Ondersma, S. J. (2014). Hair drug testing results and self-reported drug use among primary care patients with moderate-risk illicit drug use. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 141, 44–50. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.05.001
-
Cansford Laboratories. Oral Fluid (Saliva) Testing. Cardiff, Wales: Cansford Laboratories. Retrieved from https://www.cansfordlabs.co.uk/contact-us/
Your Voice Matters
Can't find what you're looking for?
Request an article! Tell ChoosingTherapy.com’s editorial team what questions you have about mental health, emotional wellness, relationships, and parenting. Our licensed therapists are just waiting to cover new topics you care about!
Leave your feedback for our editors.
Share your feedback on this article with our editors. If there’s something we missed or something we could improve on, we’d love to hear it.
Our writers and editors love compliments, too. :)
To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, ChoosingTherapy.com has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. ChoosingTherapy.com is compensated for marketing by the companies included below. ADHD Diagnosis & Treatment at Talkiatry Talkiatry – can match you with a psychiatrist who takes your insurance. Their clinicians can evaluate you for ADHD and prescribe medication. This can include controlled substances if they’re right for you and allowed by your state. Get started with a short online assessment. Online Psychiatry Circle Medical – ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment. Affordable and accessible ADHD evaluations and treatment, including possible controlled substances medication if clinically appropriate. Diagnosis and prescription over video. Insurance accepted. Same & next day appointments available. Visit Circle Medical ADHD Medication Management + Therapy Brightside Health – Different people experience ADHD in different ways. That’s why Brightside Health develops personalized plans that are unique to you and offers 1-on-1 support from start to finish. Brightside Health accepts United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, and Aetna. No controlled substances. Appointments in as little as 24 hours. Start your free assessment. ADHD Management Tools Inflow App – Inflow is the #1 science-based app to help you manage your ADHD. Their support system helps you understand your neurodiverse brain, and build lifelong skills. Free TrialAdditional Resources
Do you think you have ADHD? Answer an evidence-based questionnaire for Circles Medical to learn more. Takes 45 seconds.
Best Online Psychiatry Services Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.
