{"id":60665,"date":"2023-10-04T09:30:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T13:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60665"},"modified":"2024-11-11T18:10:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T23:10:12","slug":"vyvanse-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/vyvanse-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you take Vyvanse for weight loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Managing your weight can be challenging, which is why many people look for relatively quick and easy ways to drop some pounds. That\u2019s why you may have seen people talk about a medication called<\/span> Vyvanse,<\/span><\/a> which is<\/span> FDA approved<\/span><\/a> to treat ADHD and binge eating disorder, as a good option for weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The reality, though, is that while weight loss can be a side effect of taking Vyvanse, the drug should not be used for the sole purpose of losing weight. This is because Vyvanse can cause serious side effects\u2014beyond weight loss\u2014and has the potential to be addictive. It should only be used under the strict supervision of a medical provider and only for its approved purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to learn more about Vyvanse, including what it\u2019s used for and why it shouldn\u2019t be used for weight loss, as well as safer options for weight loss, including lifestyle changes and FDA-approved<\/span> weight-loss medications<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does Vyvanse cause weight loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Vyvanse<\/span><\/a> (lisdexamfetamine) is a type of<\/span> long-acting amphetamine<\/span><\/a>. Amphetamines are<\/span> central nervous system (CNS) stimulants<\/span><\/a> that increase the levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in your body.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, Vyvanse \u201cimproves attention span, controls hyperactivity, and improves mood,\u201d says<\/span> Yusra Jamal, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified endocrinologist at Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in New York City. <\/span>This is why it\u2019s prescribed to treat CNS disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, she explains. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, <\/span>in studies, Vyvanse was found<\/span><\/a> to reduce the number of binge eating episodes in people who have binge eating disorder due to <\/span>the <\/span>increase in dopamine<\/span><\/a> levels in the brain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, <\/span>Ana Maria Kausel, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified endocrinologist in Miami, says stimulants like Vyvanse \u201cput the body in a fight or flight response, hence suppressing appetite and increasing the metabolism.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2015, the <\/span>FDA approved Vyvanse<\/span><\/a> to be used in the treatment of binge eating disorder. As of now, Vyvanse (<\/span>lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is<\/span> the only <\/span>FDA-approved drug<\/span><\/a> to treat this health condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minisha Sood, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified <\/span>endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, doesn\u2019t recommend Vyvanse for the sole purpose of weight loss, but she says weight loss is sometimes an unintentional side effect of the medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe typical weight loss is up to five pounds but can vary across individuals,\u201d Dr. Sood says. In <\/span>clinical trials<\/span><\/a> of Vyvanse, adults <\/span>lost an average<\/span><\/a> of 2.8 to 4.3 pounds over the course of four weeks, children 13 to 17 lost an average of 2.7 to 4.8 pounds, and children 6 to 12 lost an average of .9 to 2.5 pounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Do other ADHD medications cause weight loss?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Vyvanse isn\u2019t the only<\/span> ADHD medication<\/span><\/a> that\u2019s known to cause weight loss as a side effect. According to Dr. Jamal, the following CNS stimulants\/ADHD medications may also cause weight loss by suppressing your appetite:<\/span><\/p>\n