How Long Does Vyvanse Stay in Your System?

The Half-Life and Detection Window of Vyvanse in Your Body

How long does Vyvanse stay in your system? If you or a loved one abuse Vyvance, an Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication, you might want the answer to this question. People subject to random drug tests at work need to ensure that no controlled substances are present.

Purpose Healing Center is a Joint Commission-accredited drug treatment facility. Our evidence-based practices can address Vyvanse addiction (or addictions to other prescription stimulants.)

Those taking prescription Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an eating disorder sometimes begin using the stimulant drug abusively.

We invite you to read to understand how long Vyvanse detection is possible and the treatment options if you’ve become addicted.

Understanding Vyvanse Abuse and Addiction

Vyvanse is a prescription medication that doctors use to help people manage ADHD and severe Binge Eating Disorder.

Vyvanse is a potential drug for misuse. Still, it has a lower potential for misuse compared to other prescription stimulant drugs.

While it is generally safe to take this controlled substance under a physician’s guidance, abusing Vyvanse can cause many health challenges.

Because it affects the central nervous system, Vyvanse can lead to drug abuse and other health problems when not used under the care of a qualified health professional.

How Long Does Vyvanse Stay in Your System?

Vyvanse half-life is approximately 12 hours. The half-life of Vyvanse is a general guideline for its drug test detection time. Half-life is the time it takes from the drug’s concentration in your bloodstream to decrease by one-half.

It’s a measurement of how long the drug will stay in your system. A doctor prescribing Vyvanse also uses the half-life to determine dosage and frequency.

The active ingredient of Vyvanse itself, Lisdexamfetamine, has a brief half-life – less than one hour. It then metabolizes into dextroamphetamine, the active medication. Once it has been converted, it lasts about 12 hours.

What Factors Affect How Long Vyvanse Stays in Your System?

How long Vyvanse stays active in a person’s system can vary, with drug elimination starting in less than 12 hours or more than that for some people.

Here are some of the factors that can impact how long it may stay in your system after the last dose:

• Dosing Amount: Higher doses usually mean the drug remains in the system longer.
• Individual Metabolism: The speed with which Vyranse is naturally metabolized differs based on an individual’s metabolic rate. Some people have a faster metabolism, so Vyvanse breaks down faster for them; others process Vyvanse and other drugs slower.
• Weight and Body Fat: People who weigh more or with a higher body fat percentage may store and release Vyvanse metabolites differently than those with lower body weight or stored body fat
• Male or Female: Drug metabolism usually also varies between men and women. These differences occur because of hormonal levels and body composition variations.
• Other Drugs: Using other substances or drugs while taking Vyvanse (whether prescriptions or substance abuse) can also impact the drug’s half-life.

After Vyvanse is metabolized in the system, its remnants can test positive for up to three days for some people, similar to the length of time meth stays in your system, for example.

The Drug Test Administered for Vyvanse Detection

Urine or saliva drug tests are the most often administered in workplace settings for their convenience and quick, accurate results. Here’s a little more about how long the various testing methods may detect Vyvanse after the last dose:

• Saliva tests can detect Vyvanse for up to 2 – 3 days.
• Urine tests may detect Vyvanse for up to 3 days.
• Blood tests may detect it for 1 day.
• Hair follicle tests may pick up the presence of Vyvanse for up to 90 days. (Hair tests are usually only used in legal or forensic settings).

The short half-life of Vyvanse means that it appears in drug test results for a short time. However, someone taking a daily prescription must mention it to the testing center.

Proving Prescription Drug Use Before Drug Tests

When your employer asks you to submit for a drug test, list any medications you take before drug screenings.

This guideline applies to all drugs, whether Vyvanse, sleep medications, pain relief, or anything else under the advice of a medical professional.

How to Prove You Have a Prescription

You will have the opportunity to prove that you’re taking the medicine under a doctor’s orders rather than participating in recreational substance abuse. They’ll usually accept a letter or note from the prescribing physician or your original medication bottle as proof for most drugs.

Can Vyvanse Cause a False Positive Drug Test?

Vyvanse can cause a false positive drug test because it metabolizes into an amphetamine. False-positive drug test results can occur for stimulants like Vyvanse because they share similar chemical structures with others, like Adderall.

These include several illicit or street drugs, including amphetamines and methamphetamines.

Vyvanse and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Vyvanse is an FDA-approved stimulant medication. It’s used to treat ADHD in children and adults with great success but can also become habit-forming.

The drug is a central nervous system stimulant, which increases dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.

As a result, it helps:

• Improve focus
• Reduce hyperactivity
• Can counteract lethargy
• Increases impulse control

It was previously a Schedule II controlled substance because of potential drug abuse.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Vyvanse

Vyvanse helps treat Binge Eating Disorder in adults. Because of its stimulant effects, it helps:

• Lower the number of binge episodes
• Improves control over eating habits and urges
• Reduces obsessive food-related thoughts

Vyvanse was the first drug approved to help stop binge eating, while other medications help people maintain a healthy weight.

The Most Common Signs of Vyvanse Addiction

Vyvanse addiction signs can vary from one person to the next, but these are frequent signs:

• Increased tolerance, leading to more frequent use or higher doses.
• Physical dependence of the drug to function.
• Withdrawal symptoms as it leaves the person’s system, making it uncomfortable to stop.
• Loss of interest in activities that someone used to enjoy.
• Difficulty controlling Vyvanse use or mixing it with other stimulants.

Vyvanse abuse or addiction can be challenging to overcome. It requires professional care to stop using it safely.

The Long-Term Effects of Vyvanse Abuse

If you take Vyvanse absent of proper medical oversight, you leave yourself open to several long-term health impacts.

• Blood Pressure: Using Vyvanse without monitoring by a doctor can cause high blood pressure. Because it’s a stimulant medication, it can lead to an increase in your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
• Kidney Function: Vyvanse itself doesn’t harm the kidneys. However, several factors, such as dry mouth and decreased appetite, can lead to dehydration. Over time, abuse could impair the kidneys.
• Unhealthy Weight Loss: Like most stimulants, Vyvanse can suppress the appetite, which could mean nutritional deficiency or unwanted weight loss.
• Mixing Vyvanse With Other Drugs: Do you also take diabetes medication, ginkgo, or any other herbal supplement, ecstasy, or any other medications or drugs? If so, you may experience serotonin syndrome, blood sugar fluctuations, or other unintended consequences.

Call Purpose Healing for Vyvanse Treatment Options

Did you find this resource because you wondered: How long does Vyvanse last? Then you, or a loved one, might be struggling with Vyvanse abuse. Please consider calling Purpose Healing Center for help.

We will provide medical detox in a professional setting and use evidence-based therapies and interventions to learn the underlying cause of drug dependence and provide effective addiction treatment services.

Because we address the cause of the addiction rather than just ending your use, our clients find improved success in achieving lasting sobriety.

All calls are confidential, so please reach out now to learn about treatment options.