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Switching from Adderall to Vyvanse: Why and how to do it safely

Learn why a healthcare provider may recommend switching from Adderall to Vyvanse in certain patients
Leandra Beabout
By | Nov. 18, 2024 Medically reviewed by Karen Berger, Pharm.D.
A prescription pad and a prescription bottle: Switching from Adderall to Vyvanse

Key takeaways

  • Adderall and Vyvanse are both FDA-approved stimulants for ADHD.

  • Vyvanse has a more gradual onset and lasts longer than Adderall.

  • The benefits of switching from Adderall to Vyvanse may include convenience, a longer window of effectiveness, dual treatment for binge eating disorder, and a potentially lower risk of misuse or abuse.

  • Only a healthcare provider who knows your complete medical history and other medications and conditions can offer individualized medical advice on whether it would be beneficial to switch from Adderall to Vyvanse.

In this article:

Left untreated, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can negatively impact relationships and school and work performance. Fortunately, there are several ADHD treatment options available. Stimulants such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta are commonly prescribed to increase focus and attention while boosting impulse control. 

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) are both brand-name central nervous system (CNS) stimulants approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ADHD. Adderall is also FDA approved for narcolepsy, and Vyvanse is also FDA approved for binge eating disorder. If you’ve heard that Vyvanse may be better for ADHD, you may wonder whether it is possible to switch from Adderall to Vyvanse. The answer is yes, as long as your healthcare provider approves. However, there are some essential things to consider before switching, including differences in timing and cost. 

What are the benefits of switching from Adderall to Vyvanse for ADHD?

In a head-to-head comparison of Adderall vs. Vyvanse, Vyvanse has a higher out-of-pocket cost, although both prescription drugs are available in lower-cost generic versions. Because both ADHD medications are stimulants, they also share similar side effects and interact with the same drugs (such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors).

So then, what are the potential benefits of switching from immediate-release Adderall (Adderall IR), or extended-release Adderall (Adderall XR), to Vyvanse? Possible benefits include convenience, effectiveness, duration of action, FDA-approved uses, and decreased potential for abuse.

Convenience

Research shows ADHD patients who are consistent about taking their meds have better outcomes—improvements in ADHD symptoms—than those who aren’t. However, consistency can be challenging for people with a condition linked to inattention and forgetfulness. 

Standard immediate-release Adderall is taken one to three times daily, but Vyvanse is always taken just once per day. “Once a day in the morning is easier for clients to remember and easier for students dosing before the school day begins,” says Lisa Dorfman, LMHC, RD, a Miami-based licensed mental health counselor and dietitian. Ultimately, Vyvanse’s dosing schedule is more convenient and more likely to be remembered.

Effectiveness

Both Adderall and Vyvanse have been proven effective at improving ADHD symptoms. However, one study comparing the effects of Adderall XR and Vyvanse on children with ADHD found that Vyvanse might be slightly more effective. In the study, 32% of the Vyvanse group and only 16% of the Adderall XR group were reported to be “very much improved” after treatment. However, this particular study was small, and in the real world, individual results will vary based on many unique factors. 

Because every person’s symptoms and needs are slightly different, a healthcare provider can offer personalized medical advice on the best ADHD medication for each patient’s situation.

Duration of action

The main benefit of switching from Adderall to Vyvanse is that its effects last longer.

“Vyvanse is a really long-acting medication,” says Sid Khurana, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and cofounder of Nevada Mental Health in Las Vegas. He says Vyvanse lasts more than twice as long as regular Adderall and about two hours longer than Adderall XR. 

“Sometimes we’ll see patients with Adderall, and they will say, ‘It doesn’t work long enough,’ and those are the patients we’ll switch to Vyvanse,” he says.

Conditions treated

Unlike Adderall and Adderall XR, Vyvanse is also FDA approved for the treatment of moderate to severe binge eating disorder in adults. Binge eating disorder is characterized by episodes of out-of-control eating, followed by feelings of guilt and shame. Limited research suggests an overlap in the neurobehavioral circuits of people with binge eating disorder and ADHD, which often includes low impulse control.

That said, if a person with ADHD is also experiencing episodes of binge eating, switching from Adderall to Vyvanse might help. 

Safety

Stimulants like Adderall and Vyvanse can lead to physical and emotional dependency and addiction. But Dr. Khurana thinks Vyvanse’s more gradual onset lessens the risk of substance abuse.

Vyvanse is a prodrug, which means that it is inactive until the body metabolizes it into an active drug. This mechanism lowers its abuse potential. 

Dr. Khurana says that, although Vyvanse (like Adderall and Adderall XR) has a boxed warning that says it is a controlled substance with the potential for abuse and misuse, most people who misuse drugs don’t want to wait an hour for its effects.“Vyvanse delays that immediate euphoria sometimes people get with fast-acting stimulants,” he says.

Adderall vs. Vyvanse comparison chart
Adderall Adderall XR Vyvanse
Total daily dose for ADHD 2.5–40 mg  5–30 mg 30–70 mg
Frequency Total daily dose may be divided into 1–3 doses daily Once daily Once daily
Onset / How long it takes to work 30 minutes to 1 hour after administration 30 minutes to 1 hour after administration 1-2 hours after dosing
Duration of action 4–6 hours Up to 12 hours Up to 14 hours
Conditions treated ADHD and narcolepsy ADHD ADHD and binge eating disorder
Who can use it Adults and children 3 years and older Adults and children 6 years and older Adults and children 6 years and older
Cost without insurance $409 for 30, 20 mg tablets of brand-name Adderall $344 per 30, 30 mg capsules of brand-name Adderall XR $570 for 30, 70 mg capsules of brand-name Vyvanse
SingleCare cost* $12 for 30, 20 mg tablets (generic Adderall) $24 per 30, 30 mg capsules (generic Adderall XR) $94 per 30, 70 mg capsules (generic Vyvanse)
*Cost at time of publication. Drug prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy.

How to switch from Adderall to Vyvanse for ADHD

The process of switching from Adderall to Vyvanse for ADHD must be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional. While these drugs are similar, they have different active ingredients, so there is always potential for new side effects, adverse events, and drug interactions.

Once a healthcare provider approves the medication change, Dr. Khurana says the patient will be started on a low dose of Vyvanse before gradually tapering up to the new “just right” dose. “Let’s say somebody had to be on a high dose of Adderall,” he says. “We don’t switch them to the high dose of Vyvanse. We have to start from a lower dose and work our way up. That’s how we minimize side effects.”

It’s very important to always take ADHD meds exactly as directed before and after the switch. Not only does consistency optimize the drug’s effectiveness, but it helps patients and their caregivers understand the stimulant’s effects on physical and mental energy throughout the day, according to Dorfman. This helps prescribers optimize dosing for each individual. 

Finally, it is important to keep drug interactions in mind whenever switching medications since your new prescription might interact with more (or different) medications or supplements than your old one. The good news when switching from Adderall to Vyvanse is that they interact with many of the same drugs. Just in case, it’s a good idea to communicate a list of any medications you take to your healthcare provider before switching ADHD medications. This includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements.

Side effects from stopping Adderall and starting Vyvanse

Adderall and Vyvanse are both stimulant medications, so they share similar potential side effects. Common side effects include:

Both can also cause trouble sleeping and an increased risk of psychosis. Because the effects of Vyvanse last longer, its potential for causing side effects might also last longer. Given that, Dr. Khurana says switching drugs might result in experiencing Vyvanse side effects such as heart palpitations or increased irritability that weren’t noticeable side effects of Adderall.

It’s important for patients or their caregivers to regularly communicate with their healthcare provider about any side effects experienced while switching. It could take time for the body to adjust, and it definitely takes time to find the correct dose.

Can you take Vyvanse and Adderall together?

In some cases, both Vyvanse and Adderall may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan when a healthcare provider deems it beneficial. However, Dr. Khurana says they should never be taken at the same time. Instead, he says some ADHD patients benefit from taking one stimulant in the morning and another later in the day.

“[Vyvanse] is supposed to work for 12 hours, but for some people, it doesn’t work that long, or they work much longer shifts and need a little extra help in the evening,” he explains. They might be prescribed a short-acting Adderall at the end of the day for an extra few hours of reduced ADHD symptoms.