Can you take Vyvanse and Adderall together?

In this article:

• Can you take Adderall and Vyvanse together?
• How to take Vyvanse with Adderall
• Is Vyvanse or Adderall better for ADHD?
• Bottom line

In this article

• Can you take Adderall and Vyvanse together?
• How to take Vyvanse with Adderall
• Is Vyvanse or Adderall better for ADHD?
• Bottom line

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) are brand-name ADHD medications. They belong to a class of drugs called central nervous system stimulants (CNS stimulants). 

Some people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or their caregivers might have heard that there are benefits to taking both Vyvanse and Adderall. Given that, they might wonder, “Is it safe to take Vyvanse and Adderall together?” Here’s what you need to know about taking both Vyvanse and Adderall, including whether it is recommended and considerations and side effects of taking more than one ADHD drug.

Can you take Adderall and Vyvanse together?

The short answer is yes, but only when approved, prescribed, and monitored by a healthcare provider. Taking more than one stimulant drug is rarely recommended, and it should only be done when prescribed by a healthcare provider.

“In some cases, I will prescribe Vyvanse in the morning with a small lower dose of Adderall around noontime for people who need the benefit of the medication to last longer into the day,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician and the founder of  Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “In more rare cases, I will prescribe a low dose of Adderall in the morning in addition to Vyvanse for people who need more of an effect earlier on in the day.”

Sid Khurana, MD, psychiatrist and cofounder of Nevada Mental Health in Las Vegas, says he also sometimes prescribes Vyvanse and Adderall together but not to be taken “together at the same time.” He warns that dosing these drugs together increases the risk of adverse events.

The main benefit of taking both Adderall and Vyvanse is lengthening the window of time for the medications to work. The effects of Vyvanse last up to 14 hours. Immediate-release Adderall lasts for four to six hours, while a dose of extended-release Adderall (Adderall XR) lasts between eight and 12 hours. If an individual needs to control ADHD symptoms for more than 14 hours per day, it might make sense to include both these drugs in their treatment plan. However, taking these stimulants together is rarely recommended, and it can increase the risk of side effects such as trouble sleeping.

How to take Vyvanse with Adderall

Anyone interested in taking both Vyvanse and Adderall should talk to a healthcare professional about the benefits versus risks of simultaneously taking two ADHD drugs. It’s also important for your healthcare provider and pharmacist to know all the medications and supplements a person is taking before starting two prescription medications on the same day. Even if no interactions exist between the two drugs—in this case, Vyvanse and Adderall—one or both may interact with other medicines or supplements the person takes.

The most important thing to remember about taking Vyvanse with Adderall is that they should never be taken at the same time and to be aware that adverse side effects may occur. Taking Vyvanse and Adderall equates to a double dose of stimulants, which can cause dangerously high blood pressure and irregular heart rate. Consult a healthcare provider about how long to wait between taking each medication. At a minimum, you should wait until the first drug has cleared from your system—up to 14 hours for Vyvanse or six hours for Adderall.

Vyvanse and Adderall are only prescribed together on an individual, case-by-case basis, and there is not much scientific research on the use of these drugs together. It’s important to take these stimulant drugs precisely as directed. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice if you have been prescribed Vyvanse and Adderall and are unsure how to take them.

Is Vyvanse or Adderall better for ADHD?

Though Vyvanse and Adderall are sometimes prescribed together, most healthcare providers prefer to find a single best medication that will manage a patient’s ADHD symptoms, according to Dr. Dimitriu. “Simplicity is always best,” he says. 

So, which drug is better for ADHD? That depends on the patient. Vyvanse and Adderall are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ADHD and belong to the same drug class. The side effects of Adderall are nearly identical to the side effects of Vyvanse. Common side effects include decreased appetite and trouble sleeping. They also have similar drug interactions, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). That said, they are different drugs. Which one is better for ADHD may depend on a person’s lifestyle, preferences, and risk of dependency.

Vyvanse may be better for ADHD symptoms in children

Vyvanse and Adderall are both effective treatments for ADHD. However, one study comparing Adderall XR and Vyvanse use in children with ADHD found that Vyvanse might be slightly better for ADHD. In the study, 32% of Vyvanse users reported that symptoms were “very much improved,” while only 16% of Adderall XR users reported the same level of improvement.

Still, this study was limited to pediatric participants. Adults with ADHD might not experience the same results. Ultimately, patients and prescribers need to work together to determine whether Vyvanse or Adderall is more effective for them.

Vyvanse lasts longer

Vyvanse is a long-acting medication. Its effects last up to 14 hours in adults. Dr. Khurana says that in most cases, Vyvanse is effective for more than twice the number of hours as regular Adderall. He says it even lasts about two hours longer than extended-release Adderall (Adderall XR).

Of course, not everyone needs to control ADHD symptoms for 12–14 hours. For individuals who want to limit their medication window to work or school hours, a shorter-acting stimulant like Adderall might be better.

Vyvanse might pose less of an addiction risk

Both Vyvanse and Adderall are controlled substances. They have FDA black box warnings due to their high risk of abuse and misuse. However, Drs. Dimitriu and Khurana say Vyvanse is less likely to be abused. 

The effects of Adderall kick in within 30–60 minutes. Vyvanse, however, is a “prodrug,” which means the body needs to metabolize it to break it down to active medicine. It is not a fast-acting stimulant, and Dr. Dimitriu says this prevents it from “being abused by snorting or injection.” Dr. Khurana agrees, explaining that Vyvanse does not offer the same quick dopamine hit that Adderall does.

Vyvanse might be better for medication adherence

Medication adherence refers to refilling and taking medication on time and as directed. It might seem obvious, but good medication adherence leads to fewer symptoms and better outcomes.

People with ADHD struggle with inattention and impulsivity. That can make medication adherence a challenge. Vyvanse only requires one dose per day, while immediate-release Adderall is often dosed two and (rarely) three times daily. Vyvanse is also available in a chewable tablet, which some people prefer over capsules. These minor differences can improve medication adherence for people with ADHD.

Vyvanse is better for people with ADHD and binge eating disorder

Vyvanse isn’t just an ADHD drug. The FDA has also approved it for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). BED is a type of eating disorder characterized by uncontrollable urges to eat large amounts of food, even to the point of feeling sick. For individuals who have been diagnosed with both ADHD and BED, Vyvanse may be a better treatment option than Adderall.

Adderall is better for people with ADHD and narcolepsy

Adderall is a well-known ADHD med, but it is also FDA approved to treat narcolepsy. Narcolepsy, a rare neurological condition characterized by rapid-onset sleep, currently affects more than 126,000 Americans. For people with ADHD and narcolepsy, Adderall may be a better treatment option than Vyvanse.

Vyvanse vs. Adderall: Comparison chart
	Vyvanse	Adderall
Drug class	CNS stimulant	CNS stimulant
Standard dosage and forms	30 mg–70 mg capsules or chewable tablets	2.5 mg–40 mg daily tablets or long-acting capsules
Risks and restrictions to consider	Risk of substance abuse Restricted in people with renal impairment Interacts with MAOIs, SSRIs, and SNRIs	Risk of substance abuse Restricted in people with renal impairment  Interacts with MAOIs, SSRIs, and SNRIs
Side effects	Decreased appetite Weight loss Dry mouth Trouble sleeping Anxiety Gastrointestinal symptoms	Decreased appetite Weight loss Dry mouth Trouble sleeping Gastrointestinal symptoms Headache Mood swings Jitteriness
FDA-approved uses	ADHD BED	ADHD Narcolepsy
Average cost without insurance*	$570 for 30, 70 mg capsules	$409 for 30, 20 mg tablets
SingleCare cost*	Get coupon	Get coupon
Learn more	More Vyvanse details	More Adderall details

*Cost at time of publication. Drug prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location.

Bottom line

Vyvanse and Adderall are both stimulant medications commonly used in the treatment of ADHD. They should not be taken at the same time, but some healthcare professionals prescribe them together when a patient needs to lengthen the daily window of ADHD medication treatment. 

When prescribed together, one drug is taken in the morning, and the second drug is taken later in the day when the first medication has worn off. It’s very important to follow dosage instructions and take stimulant medications like Vyvanse and Adderall as directed. Always consult your healthcare provider and pharmacist about safety, side effects, and timing before combining drugs.