ADHD in Children
Visual Abstract
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate and Mixed Amphetamine Salts Extended-Release in Children with ADHD: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Analog Classroom Study
Clinical Trial: Vyvanse vs Adderall in Children
Joseph Biederman , Samuel W Boellner, Ann Childress, Frank A Lopez, Suma Krishnan, Yuxin Zhang
Summarized by:
June 27, 2023
study source
Biol Psychiatry
Nov 2007
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What they studied
Is Vyvanse effective in the classroom?
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What they found
Vyvanse and Adderall are both effective in improving behavior, attention, and math ability.
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What this means
Vyvanse may be a safe and effective treatment option to consider for those who can benefit from it's different dosing frequencies and pharmacokinetics.
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate and Mixed Amphetamine Salts Extended-Release in Children with ADHD: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Analog Classroom Study
Objectives
This study wanted to see whether Vyvanse, an ADHD medication similar to Adderall, was safe and effective in children.
Vyvanse is a prodrug of Adderall, meaning that your body converts it into the active ingredient of Adderall after you take it.
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"Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) is a therapeutically inactive prodrug in which d-amphetamine is covalently bonded to l-lysine. Following ingestion, therapeutically active d-amphetamine is released via biotransformation"
One of the advantages is that its effects can last much longer since it takes time for your body to convert it to amphetamine fully.
This can be convenient for those who may not want to take pills multiple times daily.
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intact LDX is cleared within 4 hours, and measurable levels of d-amphetamine persist for longer than 12 hours
It also may “feel” different to patients than Adderall because of these differences.
Study Quote
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is a therapeutically inactive prodrug in which d-amphetamine is covalently bound to l-lysine, a naturally occurring amino acid. Pharmacologically active d-amphetamine is released from lisdexamfetamine following oral ingestion.
Methods
Researchers conducted a small trial comparing Vyvanse to Adderall and a placebo control.
Researchers used a crossover study design, which tested the different treatments on the same patients.
They evaluated effectiveness by measuring classroom performance and behavior.
Study Quote
This phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled crossover study compared the efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine (LDX: 30, 50, or 70 mg) with placebo, with mixed amphetamine salts extended-release (MAS XR: 10, 20, or 30 mg) included as a reference arm of the st...
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Results
The results showed that both Adderall and Vyvanse were effective in improving behavior and attention in the classroom:
A small clinical trial found that both Adderall (MAS-XR) and Vyvanse (LDX) were effective in improving attention and behavior.
Similarly, both are also effective in improving performance on math problems in a cognitive test designed to simulate academic performance:
A small clinical trial found that both Adderall (MAS-XR) and Vyvanse (LDX) improved the number of math problems attempted and successfully completed in children with ADHD.
When researchers assessed the participants' mental health on different medications, they found that both Adderall and Vyvanse led to significant improvements compared to the control.
Vyvanse vs. Adderall: Mental Health
Reported side effects were similar across all three groups, suggesting that Adderall and Vyvanse are mostly safe.
Study Quote
LDX treatment significantly improved scores on SKAMP-deportment, SKAMP-attention, PERMP-attempted, PERMP-correct, and CGI-improvement from baseline. Adverse events were similar for both active treatments.
Conclusions
These results suggest that Adderall and Vyvanse are both safe and effective treatments for ADHD in children.
This means that for some children who have trouble taking multiple pills a day, Vyvanse may be a promising treatment option. Based on this and similar studies, Vyvanse is an approved medication for ADHD.
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"Our study indicates that LDX appears to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for school- age children with ADHD, having a duration of action that extends through the school day and into the early evening. This finding is consistent with the results from the previously reported study of LDX. Longer-term clinical studies are needed to confirm these therapeutic benefits."
Study Quote
In a laboratory classroom environment, LDX significantly improved ADHD symptoms versus placebo in school-age children with ADHD.