{"id":50531,"date":"2022-04-03T16:51:10","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T20:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=50531"},"modified":"2025-01-09T14:36:38","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T19:36:38","slug":"vyvanse-for-binge-eating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/vyvanse-for-binge-eating\/","title":{"rendered":"How does Vyvanse work for binge eating?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by episodes of eating large amounts of food over a short period of time. Individuals with this condition may feel as though they cannot control how much they are eating during an episode. They may overeat even when they are not hungry or are past the point of feeling full. Distress, guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression about how much they have eaten is common. <\/span>Binge eating disorder<\/span><\/a> is the most common and one of the most fatal eating disorders in the United States, according to the <\/span>National Eating Disorders Association<\/span> (NADA). Vyvanse is one treatment option to help people control binge eating behavior.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Vyvanse?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Vyvanse<\/span><\/a> is the brand name for a medication called lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. It is a <\/span>central nervous system stimulant<\/span><\/a> that has been approved by the <\/span>U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<\/span> for the treatment of <\/span>attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)<\/span><\/a> in adults and children as well as <\/span>severe binge eating disorder (BED)<\/span><\/a> in adults. Vyvanse is a prescription drug available in capsule and chewable tablet form.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How does Vyvanse work for binge eating?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Vyvanse is the only FDA-approved medication to treat binge eating disorder. The use of Vyvanse can help control the impulsivity associated with binge eating. Vyvanse<\/span> works by slowly increasing the levels of <\/span>dopamine<\/span> and norepinephrine in your brain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CNS stimulants like Vyvanse improve the processing speed and cognitive function of the brain. This can help with the decision-making process to stop eating and to only eat when hungry. In evidence from a <\/span>systematic review and meta-analysis<\/span><\/a> of all relevant clinical studies, lisdexamfetamine has been shown to reduce obsessions, compulsions, and the number of binge days per week, leading to weight loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Individuals should be aware that lisdexamfetamine can cause a decreased appetite. Depending on an individual\u2019s treatment goals and propensity toward food restriction, this side effect may be helpful or harmful, so should be monitored by a healthcare provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other classes of stimulant amphetamines that are used to treat ADHD are not used in the treatment of binge eating disorder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How effective is Vyvanse for binge eating?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cVyvanse has been quite beneficial in treating binge eating disorder in my experience,\u201d says <\/span>Jared Heathman<\/span><\/a>, MD, a psychiatrist based in Houston. Vyvanse is widely recognized in the field of psychiatry as an effective treatment for reducing symptoms of impulsivity and inattention that occur in ADHD as well as during overeating. When compared to placebo, Vyvanse has also repeatedly demonstrated clinically meaningful short-term reductions in binge eating frequency and obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors around binge eating. Additionally, in <\/span>a clinical trial published in <\/span>JAMA Psychiatry<\/span><\/i><\/a>, individuals taking Vyvanse were less likely to relapse six months after discontinuing the medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vyvanse dosage for binge eating<\/span><\/h2>\n

Vyvanse is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe BED in adults only. Stimulant medications like Vyvanse typically have a rapid onset of action and begin working in the brain quickly. Lisdexamfetamine is a pro-drug of dextroamphetamine. After taking the medication, lisdexamfetamine is rapidly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and converted to dextroamphetamine, which is the active form of the drug. According to <\/span>pharmacokinetic data<\/span><\/a>, peak concentrations of the medication can typically be found in serum after two to four hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Can you make Vyvanse last longer?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Vyvanse is available in the following forms and strengths:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n