Lisdexamfetamine is used to treat the symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Learn how to use the medication, its common side effects, special precautions to watch out for, and more.

What is this medication for?

Lisdexamfetamine can be used to treat the symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), alongside educational, social and psychological methods.

ADHD is associated with:

• Severe inattention (unable to focus or concentrate),
• Hyperactivity (unusually active), and
• Impulsivity (acting without self control)

which may interfere with an individual’s ability to function in school, at work, or in social settings.

Lisdexamfetamine may be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label.
• Lisdexamfetamine may be taken with or without food
• The capsule should be swallowed whole. 
• You may also open up the capsule to mix the powder with water, yogurt or orange juice. 
  • Use a spoon to break up any powder that is stuck together. Mix well and consume the mixture right away. Do not store this for later use. 
  • A film containing the inactive contents may remain in the glass or container after the mixture has been consumed.
• Do not take it too late in the afternoon or evening as it may cause trouble sleeping.
• Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor. 
• Do check with your doctor on how long you will have to be on this medication.
• If you have been taking Lisdexamfetamine in high doses and/or for a long time, your doctor may want to gradually reduce the dose before stopping completely in order to reduce unwanted side effects such as fatigue and low mood.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you realized the missed dose by afternoon or evening, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your usual timing. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if: 

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
• You are taking any other medications (including those that can be bought without a prescription), supplements,  traditional medications and herbal remedies. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
• You are taking, or have stopped taking in the last 14 days, a class of medication called Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g Moclobemide, Selegiline and Rasagiline)
• You have or have ever had: 
  • Kidney or heart disease 
  • Irregular heartbeat or high blood pressure
  • Blood circulation problems 
  • Heart attack or stroke 
  • Mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, history of suicide or drug/alcohol addiction
  • Tourette's or tics (sudden uncontrollable muscle movements or speech)

If Lisdexamfetamine is given to a child/teen, the child’s growth rate may be slowed down. Discuss with your doctor to monitor the height and weight of the child/ teen regularly.

IMPORTANT: 

Lisdexamfetamine may become habit-forming or abused by some people. However, this can be prevented by taking it as instructed by your doctor. As Lisdexamfetamine is a controlled substance, it should be kept safely and handled responsibly, do not sell or give it to other people.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

• Nausea or vomiting or stomach discomfort
  • Take the medication with or after food
  • Take small but more frequent meals, and avoid fatty or spicy food
• Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss may occur during the treatment, speak to your doctor if this may be a problem
• Difficulty sleeping
  • Discuss with your doctor if you can take your medication at a different time of the day
  • Listen to relaxing music at bedtime
  • Avoid eating or drinking too much before bedtime
  • Limit caffeine intake (such as coffee, tea or energy drinks) at least 8 hours before bedtime
• Dizziness
  • Get up slowly from sitting or lying down position
  • Avoid driving or taking part in activities that require concentration
• Dry mouth
  • Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free hard candies or ice chips, sip water regularly
• Headache or irritability 
• Mild nervousness 
  • May occur at the start of the treatment and improve over time. 

Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if any of them continues, worsens or affects your daily life.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Rarely this medication may cause:

• Shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, sudden dizziness, chest discomfort, or pain that spreads from one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach (symptoms of acute myocardial infarction)
• Fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
• Seizures (fits)
• Uncontrolled speech and/or uncontrolled and repeated body movements (tics)
• Blurred vision
• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms or legs, and speech or vision problems (signs and symptoms of stroke)
• Unexplained fever, confusion, severe weakness, uncontrolled movements or twitching of the muscles (signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome)
• Unexplained wounds, numbness, pain, skin colour changes or sensitivity to temperature in fingers or toes (signs and symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon)
• Feelings of agitation, extreme changes in mood or behaviour; thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
• New or worsening signs of abnormal beliefs and thoughts (delusions); or seeing or hearing things that are not present (hallucinations)

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Lisdexamfetamine as it may cause increased side effects.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Proper disposal of controlled drugs is essential to prevent misuse, abuse and accidental consumption. Pack this medication into a bag and return it to the pharmacy for disposal.

Disclaimer

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on Feb 2025