Why vyvanse is better

While both types can help treat ADHD, people also use immediate-release Adderall to treat narcolepsy , which is a sleep disorder. The following table lists the available dosages for Adderall and Adderall XR in milligrams mg. If someone has difficulty swallowing Adderall XR, they can open the capsule and sprinkle the beads on applesauce. A doctor may prescribe immediate-release Adderall to a preschool-aged child starting at a dose of 2.

For this dose, people can split a 5 mg tablet in half. The starting dose of Adderall XR for children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years old is 10 mg once a day in the morning.

Doctors will start adults at a higher dose of 20 mg once daily. The active ingredient in Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine. Lisdexamfetamine is an inactive drug that the body breaks down into dextroamphetamine in the bloodstream.

Dextroamphetamine is one of the same active ingredients that Adderall contains. Vyvanse is available in a capsule or in a chewable form.

If someone has difficulty swallowing, they can open the capsule and dissolve the contents in water. The following table lists the dosages of both forms of Vyvanse. The starting dose of Vyvanse to treat ADHD in people 6 years and older is 30 mg once daily in the morning.

The doctor can increase the dose by 10 to 20 mg every week until the medication achieves the desired effect. Some adults take Vyvanse for moderate to severe binge eating disorder.

Doctors can prescribe immediate-release Adderall in people over 6 years old to treat narcolepsy. Both Vyvanse and Adderall are stimulants of the central nervous system and are among the first choices of medications that doctors will prescribe for treating ADHD. The drugs differ in their length of action :. Sometimes, people who take Adderall XR need a short-acting amphetamine at the end of the effect to extend the control of their symptoms.

Since the body converts Vyvanse into dextroamphetamine, both Vyvanse and Adderall have the same drug interactions. As with other stimulants, people should avoid using certain types of antidepressants — namely monoamine oxidase inhibitors — with Vyvanse, Adderall, or Adderall XR.

A person must stop taking these drugs 14 days before starting Vyvanse or Adderall XR. For binge eating disorder , doctors can prescribe Vyvanse because researchers have demonstrated its efficacy through clinical studies.

One of the most significant differences between Vyvanse and Adderall is that Vyvanse remains inactive until the body breaks it down in the bloodstream. The effect of Vyvanse can last longer than that of Adderall XR. Vyvanse provides a maximum of 12 hours of symptom control.

Asking your doctor about changing to another drug to save costs may require dosage changes and adjustments, which can also affect costs in the end. These prices can change depending on the manufacturer that your pharmacy uses. Considering your other medications may help you decide which ADHD drug is right for you. Adderall and Vyvanse can both interact with certain other medications or chemicals. A few examples include:. Peripheral vasculopathy can cause vascular issues with symptoms that include fatigue and leg cramping.

Proton pump inhibitors can also have a negative effect on Adderall and increase the amount the body absorbs. Talk with your doctor about other interactions with Adderall specifically, including those that can commonly occur. The biggest differences between the two drugs are:. Work with your healthcare professional to choose the medication that works best for you or your child.

Picking the right ADHD drug is sometimes a matter of trial and error. Adderall is a powerful medication. Learn how to cope…. If you're wondering about your options for AFib medications, consult our explanatory list of AFib drugs to help yourself control your condition.

Living with ADHD can make things like concentration, organization, and impulse control difficult to manage. The drugs that treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have become a standard feature of American education. A new study argues behavioral…. Learn how neurofeedback training might help your child cope with this condition. These medications should be taken exactly as directed, and patients must be monitored closely by their healthcare providers while on these medications.

Sudden death, stroke, and cardiac arrest have been reported in patients taking CNS stimulants, even at recommended doses. Sudden death has occurred in children and adolescents with cardiac abnormalities. For this reason, the use of Vyvanse and Ritalin should be avoided in patients with a history of coronary artery disease or with known cardiac abnormalities.

CNS stimulants can exacerbate behavior disturbances in patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorders. These patients should be monitored closely if CNS stimulants are necessary. Bipolar patients may experience mixed or manic episodes while on CNS stimulants. Vyvanse is a prescription medication used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as binge-eating disorder.

Vyvanse is a central nervous system stimulant and is a schedule II controlled substance as classified by the DEA. It is available as a capsule or chewable tablet in strengths ranging from 10 mg to 70 mg. Ritalin is a prescription medication used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as narcolepsy. Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant and is a schedule II controlled substance as classified by the DEA. It is available as an immediate-release tablet in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg strengths.

It is also available as a long-acting formulation in oral capsules ranging from 10 mg to 60 mg. Vyvanse works to increase catecholamines in the neuronal synapse by stimulating their release, while Ritalin blocks reuptake of the catecholamines to effectively leave more free catecholamines in the neuronal synapse.

Studies show that Vyvanse may show a greater improvement in symptomatology, but Ritalin is more cost-effective and leads to a lower rate of side effects. This means there have not been adequate human studies to determine safety.

The use of amphetamines during pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

Newborns may experience symptoms of withdrawal. These drugs should only be used when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. Alcohol use could increase the serum blood concentrations of amphetamine-related drugs, and therefore alcohol should be avoided when on these medications. Vyvanse is converted in the body to its active metabolite, dexmethylphenidate. Dexmethylphenidate is the active ingredient in Focalin formulations.

Jornay is a new delayed-release formulation of methylphenidate. It is unique in that you take it at night before bed, and with the delayed release, the active drug is released in the gut in the morning. It has been shown to cause less insomnia than the older methylphenidate formulations.

Lisdexamfetamine, the active ingredient in Vyvanse, is converted in the body to dextroamphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is the active ingredient in Adderall formulations. Adderall XR formulations, as well as their generics, are typically once daily dosing similar to Vyvanse. Focalin and Focalin XR are the active metabolites of Vyvanse and have generic formulations on the market. These are generally covered well by insurance.

SingleCare also offers savings cards for these formulations. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Vyvanse vs. Ritalin: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you. By Kristi C. Torres, Pharm. Updated on May.