Main Chapters:
00:00 Intro - Vyvanse
00:13 Take home message
01:55 What is Vyvanse / Elvanse? (Lisdexamfetamine)
06:13 What are Dextro and Levo Amphetamines?
09:39 Profile of Action and Dosage of Vyvanse
13:28 Differences in Efficacies of Stimulants
17:12 Vyvanse Development, Popularity, and Cost
20:40 Conclusion
Vyvanse doesn't work at all! That's because it's an inactive prodrug that an enzyme on red blood cells splits into its two parts - the amino acid lysine and the stimulant dextroamphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is a powerful reuptake inhibitor at dopamine and norepinephrine receptors in the brain, as well as forcing synaptic vesicles to release extra big doses of these neurochemicals.
The red blood cell action means that Vyvanse has a delayed onset, and is less perturbed by acidity, or intestinal absorption variation compared to other stimulants. The commonest adjective I've heard people use to describe Vyvanse is "smooth". For most people Vyvanse starts working an hour or two after consumption, and lasts for 12-14 hours.
In addition to being a well designed product, Vyvanse was heavily marketed. Both factors contributed to it being the single most widely prescribed stimulant in the US, as well as leading to over $10 billion in worldwide sales (2022). Vyvanse became a generic medication in the US in September 2023.
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Free link to my Medium article about Vyvanse:
https://medium.com/invisible-illness/why-is-vyvanse-so-popular-1dc3beb3aaf1?sk=9d0e9cedfcecff59cb08e3682937425c
Follow https://dockruse.medium.com on Medium for hundreds of full length articles on this subject and more!
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Full Chapter list:
00:00 Intro - Vyvanse
00:13 Take home message
01:15 Professional Disclosure
01:55 What is Vyvanse / Elvanse? (Lisdexamfetamine)
02:57 Forms and Absorption of Vyvanse
04:19 Effects of Vyvanse in the Body
06:13 What are Dextro and Levo Amphetamines?
07:01 Chemical Interactions of Dextro and Levo in the Body
07:54 Differences in Amphetamine Formulations
09:39 Profile of Action and Dosage of Vyvanse
11:51 Vyvanse Design for Preventing Abuse and Addiction
13:28 Differences in Efficacies of Stimulants
14:40 Vesicular Monoamine Transporter (VMAT)
16:06 Long-Term Effects of Stimulants on the Body
17:12 Vyvanse Development, Popularity, and Cost
19:13 Vyvanse Generics
20:40 Conclusion
21:49 Outro
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Psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author John Kruse, MD, PhD presents practical, actionable, well-researched information about treatment options that scientists and clinicians recommend for adult ADHD and other mental health conditions. Subscribe if you're curious about how neuro-atypical brains can optimize their functioning in our shared, and somewhat strange, world.
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