Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) (2023)

What is Elvanse used for?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)in children over the age of six.

Lisdexamfetamine is reserved for the treatment of ADHD in children for whom another stimulant called methylphenidate is unsuitable or ineffective.

Stimulants are not used for all children with ADHD. This drug is used as part of a comprehensive treatment program for ADHD that includes psychotherapy and behavior management techniques. It is used only in children for whom these techniques alone have proven insufficient. This medicine should only be used under the supervision of a specialist in childhood behavioral disorders and only after careful assessment of the severity of the child's symptoms.

Medication can be continued into adolescence and adulthood if ADHD symptoms persist and you continue to benefit from the medication.

How does Elvanse work?

Elvanse capsules contain the active ingredient lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, which is a type of medicine called a stimulant. It is used to treat ADHD.

Lisdexamfetamine is known as a prodrug. It is an inactive form of dexamphetamine that is gradually converted to dexamphetamine in the body.

Lisdexamfetamine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children six years and older. This may seem like an odd treatment for hyperactive kids since stimulants usually make people more active. However, stimulants at the doses used for ADHD have the opposite effect.

Lisdexamfetamine is converted into dexamfetamine, which works by affecting some of the natural chemicals in the brain. Specifically, it increases the activity of chemicals called dopamine and norepinephrine in areas of the brain that play a role in controlling attention and behavior. These areas appear to be underactive in children with ADHD. Increased activity of these chemicals is believed to improve the functioning of these underactive parts of the brain. We still don't fully understand how stimulants work in children with ADHD, and they don't work for everyone. But they can be very helpful in helping some children control their behavior.

How do I take Elvanse?

Elvanse capsules should be taken once a day in the morning.
The usual starting dose of Elvanse is one 30 mg capsule a day. Your doctor may increase this to one 50 mg or 70 mg capsule daily depending on your response to the medication.
Elvanse capsules can be taken with or without food.
The capsule can be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Alternatively, the capsule can be opened and the entire contents mixed with soft foods such as yoghurt or in a glass of water or orange juice. Use a spoon to break up powder particles and stir well to disperse. The entire mixture should be consumed immediately and should not be saved for future use. You may notice that after drinking the mixture, a film remains on the glass or container; These are the inactive ingredients in the capsules and nothing to worry about.
If you forgot to take your capsule in the morning, you should not take it in the afternoon as this can make it difficult to sleep at night. Instead, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as usual the next morning. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If symptoms have not improved after one month of taking this medicine, your doctor may decide to stop treatment. Once symptoms have improved, the drug should be stopped periodically, usually at least once a year, to assess the condition and determine if the drug is still needed. In either case, however, this drug should not be stopped suddenly without your doctor's advice. When you stop treatment, the medicine should be gradually withdrawn as instructed by your doctor.

Important information about Elvanse

This drug can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and blurred vision. If you are affected, you should avoid activities that could be potentially dangerous, such as B. climbing trees, riding a bicycle or horse, driving a car or operating machinery.
You are not allowed to drink alcoholwhile taking this medicine.
In March 2015, a new “driving under the influence” law came into effect, criminalizing driving with certain drugs or prescription medications that are above certain limits in your body. The list includes amphetamine-based substances, which meansIt may be a criminal offense to drive while taking this medicine. The new law will allow police to conduct roadside drug tests to check for the presence of prohibited drugs in drivers' saliva. There are very low limits for illegal drugs, but higher limits for prescription drugs. This should mean that most people taking Elvanse as directed are not breaking the law as long as they are not driving dangerously. If you are found to be over the amphetamine limit, there is a medical defense if you take the drug as directed, so long as it does not affect your ability to drive. Therefore, if you are taking Elvanse, it may be useful to have your prescription with you when you drive in case the police ask you to take a test. However, if you drive dangerously while taking this drug, you are breaking the law. You should not drive if you think this medicine will affect your ability to drive, e.g. B. if it makes you sleepy or dizzy, if you can't concentrate or make decisions, or if your vision is blurry or double.
Children should be checked for height, weight and appetite before starting treatment with this medicine and then periodically every six months while treatment is continued. If your child is not growing satisfactorily or gaining weight, your doctor may suggest stopping the medication to allow growth to recover.
blood pressureand heart rate (pulse) should also be checked before starting treatment and at least every six months thereafter and after any dose change, especially if your child has high blood pressure.
If your child experiences a rapid heartbeat, chest pain on exertion, or shortness of breath or fainting for no apparent reason while taking this medicine, they should tell their doctor immediately.
You should also let your doctor know if you experience any other symptoms or side effects during treatment. In particular, children and adolescents taking this drug should tell their doctor if they have new or worsening troublesome thoughts or feelings, anxiety, agitation, irritability, aggression, hostility, depression, mood swings, or any other unusual behavioral changes after starting the drug. . If at any point you are concerned about your child, it's important to talk to your doctor right away.

Elvanse should be used with caution

People with impaired kidney function.
people with easyElevated blood pressure.
People with a history of seizures or convulsions, e.g.Epilepsy.
People with a personal or family history of involuntary muscle spasms (twitches or tics).
People with a personal or family history of Tourette's syndrome (involving involuntary repetition of language, especially obscene or vulgar words).
People with a personal or family history of psychotic illness, which may include symptoms such as seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations), believing things that are not true (delusions), unusual suspiciousness (paranoia). ), agitation, anxious or tense, or feeling depressed or guilty.
People with a personal or family history ofbipolar affective disorder (manic depression).
people withanorexia.
people with historysubstance abuse.

Elvanse should not be used by

children under the age of six.
Individuals allergic to other amphetamine derivatives.
People with structural abnormalities in the heart.
advanced peoplehardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).
People with hardening of the heart arteries (cardiovascular disease) that has caused symptoms such as chest pain or a previous heart attack.
people withheart failureo einsArrhythmia.
People with moderate to severehigh blood pressure (hypertension).
People in unusually excitable, hyperactive, or agitated states.
people with aOveractive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
people withGlaucoma.
women who arepregnantÖbreastfeeding.
People with inherited blood disorders called porphyrias.
people who have taken oneMonoaminooxidase-Hemmer (MAOI) Antidepressivumin the last 14 days.

This medication should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have ever had such an allergy. If you think you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and tell your doctor or pharmacist straight away.

pregnancy and breast feeding period

Certain medications should not be taken during this timethe pregnancyÖbreastfeeding. However, other medicines can be safely used during pregnancy or breast-feeding as long as the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the fetus. Always tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before taking any medication.

This drug can be harmful to a developing baby and should not be used during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Seek more medical advice from your doctor.
When you have sex, it's important to use an effective methodcontraceptionto avoid pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, it is important to speak to your doctor right away.
Significant amounts of the active form of this medicine can pass into breast milk. Since this can cause side effects in breastfed infants, this medicine should not be used by mothers who are breastfeeding. Seek more medical advice from your doctor.

Possible side effects of Elvanse

Medications and their potential side effects can affect individuals differently. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medication. Just because a side effect is mentioned here does not mean that everyone using this drug will experience that side effect or any side effect.

Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people)

Decreased appetite.
Weight loss (less common in adults).
Sleep disorders (insomnia).
Headache.
Dry mouth (less common in children and adolescents).

Common (affects between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)

Irritability.
Issue.
Muscle spasms, tremors or convulsions.
humor changes.
Appetitverlust
Feeling sick or being sick.
diarrhea or constipation.
Stomach pain.
Dizziness.
High temperature (fever) in children from 6 to 12 years old. This is uncommon in adults and adolescents.
drowsiness or tiredness. Drowsiness is uncommon in adults.
Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations). This is uncommon in children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Increased heart rate or blood pressure. This is uncommon in children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Excessive sweating in adults. This is uncommon in children and adolescents.
Decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction in adults.

Uncommon (affects between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000 people)

blurred vision
Dilated pupils.
Excessive, uncontrolled, or incoherent talking.
Depression.
fear or excitement. This is more common in adults.
Attack. This is most common in children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Sudden and repetitive involuntary movements (twitches or tics). These are most common in children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Compulsive urge to scratch skin.
itching, rash or raised, red, itchy rash (hives).
Feeling overly happy or excited (euphoria).
Mania.
hallucinations.

unknown frequency

seizures or convulsions.
Signs of heart muscle disease such as shortness of breath or swelling of the legs.
Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock).
Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
Severe swelling of the lips, face or tongue (angioedema).
Severe allergic skin reaction to ampoules (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).

The side effects listed above may not include all side effects reported by the drug manufacturer. For more information about other possible risks with this medicine, read the information that comes with the medicine or ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you think you have experienced an adverse reaction from a drug or vaccine, you should consult the package leaflet. Known side effects and what to do if you have them are listed here. You can also ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice. If they think it's necessary, they'll report it for you.

You can also report side effects yourself via the Yellow Card website:www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

How can Elvanse affect other medicines?

You should tell your doctor what medicines your child is taking before you start treatment with this medicine. This includes medicines bought over the counter and herbal medicines. Also, after starting treatment, you should always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medicine to make sure this is the caseThe combination is safe.

Other medicines that contain the same active substance

There are currently no other medicines in the UK that contain lisdexamfetamine as the active substance.

DexanfetaminaIt is available in tablet and oral solution form.