The lethal dose of Vyvanse is over 1000 mg/kg.
The generic name of Vyvanse is lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX), a d-amphetamine prodrug. This means that after Vyvanse is administered, it’s metabolized into a pharmacologically active drug.
In a study on rats published by the National Library of Medicine, the lethal dose of LDX in rats was found to be more than five times higher than the lethal dose of d-amphetamine.
In the 28-day study, one rat died at 1000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), so it was determined that doses more than 1000 mg/kg are lethal.
Learn more about the fatal dose of commonly abused drugs
Determining The Lethal Dose Of Vyvanse
Vyvanse is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED).
Though it was determined that more than 1000 mg/kg can be fatal, only one out of the six rats studied died.
This suggests that the data for determining the lethal dose of a single oral dose of LDX is insufficient.
The level at which there was no observed effect was less than 30 mg/kg per day.
In the treatment of ADHD, the starting dose of Vyvanse is recommended at 30 mg and can increase in intervals of 10 mg or 20 mg to reach a maximum daily dose of 70 mg.
For treating BED, the recommended starting dose is also 30 mg per day to be increased slowly and eventually reach the recommended target dose of 50 to 70 mg per day.
How Likely Is A Fatal Overdose On Vyvanse?
Overdosing on Vyvanse alone is unlikely.
However, when it’s combined with alcohol and drugs, the potential for overdose increases greatly.
LDX is a slow-dissolving central nervous system stimulant, and alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. When taken together, the drugs are actively working against each other.
This can lead to significant stress on the central nervous system, causing consequences such as:
- stroke or heart attack
- hallucinations and confusion
- seizures
- alcohol poisoning
- alternating high and low blood pressure
- death
Recognizing The Signs Of A Vyvanse Overdose
The most important warning signs to be on the lookout for are convulsions and coma, as these symptoms usually precede fatal overdoses.
Warning signs of Vyvanse overdose include:
- restlessness
- tremors
- fever
- spasms
- nausea and vomiting
- dilated pupils
More serious Vyvanse overdose signs are:
- chest pain
- coma
- convulsions
- hyperthermia
- abdominal pain
- psychosis
- suicidal thoughts
Get Treatment For A Vyvanse Addiction Today
It’s never the wrong time to seek help for addiction. Whether you or a loved one have been prescribed Vyvanse or not, it has a high potential for abuse.
This is not an easy step, but the road to recovery starts with a phone call. Our specialists are ready to assist you, just call our helpline.
We’ll walk you through options in addiction recovery so you can start to live a healthier lifestyle.
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
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- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — Vyvanse
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208510lbl.pdf - U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed — Toxicity profile of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in three independent rat toxicology studies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17845504/
