Vyvanse Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others

Introduction

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a prescription drug used to treat:

• binge eating disorder in adults
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and some children

Like other drugs, Vyvanse may have interactions.

Some interactions occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. For example, sometimes alcohol, another drug, or a supplement can affect how a drug acts in your body. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.

Keep reading to learn about Vyvanse’s possible interactions. And for more information about Vyvanse, including details about its uses, see this article.

When should I avoid Vyvanse?

Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Vyvanse. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Vyvanse for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below describes contraindications of Vyvanse.

If you take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken an MAOI in the last 14 days. Taking an MAOI with Vyvanse may increase the risk of severely high blood pressure that could be life threatening. If you’re taking an MAOI or have taken one in the last 14 days, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Vyvanse. They’ll recommend waiting at least 14 days after you stop taking the MAOI before starting Vyvanse treatment.

MAOIs are usually used to treat depression. Examples include:

• tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• phenelzine (Nardil)
• methylene blue (ProvayBlue)
• selegiline (Emsam)

If you’ve had an allergic reaction. If you have had an allergic reaction to Vyvanse or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Vyvanse. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better options for you.

Before you start taking Vyvanse, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Vyvanse is safe for you to take.

Does Vyvanse interact with alcohol?

The manufacturer of Vyvanse doesn’t specify if you should avoid alcohol while taking Vyvanse. But it’s possible for alcohol to interact with Vyvanse.

Vyvanse belongs to a group of medications called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. Alcohol is considered a depressant. A stimulant can make a person feel more alert or awake. But a depressant can have the opposite effect on the body, reducing mood or alertness. If you drink alcohol while taking Vyvanse, you may not notice the effects of either Vyvanse or alcohol on your body.

In addition, alcohol and Vyvanse can increase your blood pressure. So combining them may increase your blood pressure even more.

If you would like to drink alcohol while you’re taking Vyvanse, talk with your doctor. They can help determine how much alcohol, if any, may be safe for you.

Vyvanse and medications containing alcohol

Keep in mind that certain medications contain alcohol and may interact with Vyvanse as a result.

An example is the cold medication Nyquil, which contains dextromethorphan, doxylamine, acetaminophen, and alcohol. To avoid the possibility of Nyquil interacting with Vyvanse, your doctor may recommend taking Dayquil instead. Dayquil also treats cold symptoms but doesn’t contain alcohol.

If you take any prescription or over-the-counter medications, let your doctor know. They’ll discuss with you whether the medications are safe to take with Vyvanse.

Does Vyvanse interact with other drugs?

Before you start taking Vyvanse, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The chart below lists drugs that may interact with Vyvanse. Keep in mind that this chart does not include all drugs that may interact with Vyvanse. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.

* For more information about this interaction, see the “When to avoid Vyvanse” section above.

Drug interactions explained

Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Vyvanse.

Interaction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat certain mental health conditions, such as depression. Vyvanse can interact with SSRIs as described below.

Interaction with antacids

Vyvanse can interact with antacids, as described below. Antacids can help ease heartburn and upset stomach.

Interaction with phentermine (Adipex-P)

Phentermine (Adipex-P) is used with a low calorie diet and exercise to treat obesity. Vyvanse can interact with phentermine as described below.

Are there other interactions with Vyvanse?

Vyvanse may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements or foods. See below for details.

Does Vyvanse interact with supplements?

Before you start taking Vyvanse, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Vyvanse interactions with supplements

Vyvanse can interact with caffeine, including caffeine supplements. For more information, see the “Does Vyvanse interact with food?” section below.

Vyvanse interactions with herbs

Vyvanse may interact with an herbal product called St. John’s wort. This supplement is thought to ease depression. Taking St. John’s wort together with Vyvanse may increase your risk of serious side effects from Vyvanse. An example is serotonin syndrome, which is a serious condition caused by serotonin buildup in the body.

Before starting treatment with Vyvanse, talk with your doctor about any herbal supplements that you’re taking. They’ll discuss with you whether it’s safe to take your supplement with Vyvanse.

Vyvanse interactions with vitamins

Vyvanse may interact with vitamin C. This vitamin may decrease the amount of Vyvanse your body absorbs, which can decrease the effectiveness of Vyvanse.

If you take Vitamin C, your doctor may recommend that you take the vitamin at a different time than your Vyvanse dose.

Before you start Vyvanse treatment, tell your doctor about any vitamins that you’re taking. They can let you know if it’s safe to take them with Vyvanse.

Does Vyvanse interact with food?

Vyvanse can interact with caffeine. This is because both caffeine and Vyvanse are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. Caffeine and Vyvanse can cause similar side effects, and the combination can worsen these side effects.

Note that certain medications, such as migraine treatments, contain caffeine. An example is Excedrin Migraine, which contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.

Depending on the amount of caffeine you consume, your doctor may recommend reducing how much caffeine you take during Vyvanse treatment. They may also recommend you avoid caffeine completely if you continue to have side effects while taking Vyvanse. These side effects may include nervousness, trouble sleeping, or tremor.

Though many drugs can interact with grapefruit, Vyvanse does not.

If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Vyvanse, talk with your doctor.

Does Vyvanse interact with vaccines?

There are no known interactions between Vyvanse and vaccines. If you need more information on which vaccines you may need, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Vyvanse interact with lab tests?

Vyvanse isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you need to have a lab test done, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They’ll check to make sure your medications don’t interact with your lab test.

Does Vyvanse interact with cannabis or CBD?

Cannabis (marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Vyvanse.

Before you start treatment with Vyvanse, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Does my health history affect whether I should take Vyvanse?

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Vyvanse. Before taking Vyvanse, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Vyvanse is right for you.

Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Vyvanse include:

Heart problems. Vyvanse can increase the risk of heart problems, such as high blood pressure. If you already have a heart condition, taking Vyvanse may worsen your condition. Before starting Vyvanse, tell your doctor about any heart problems that you have. This can help them determine if it may be safe for you to take Vyvanse.

Certain mood problems. Vyvanse may increase the risk of psychosis or mood changes. If you already have a mood condition, such as bipolar disorder, taking the drug may make your condition worse. Before starting Vyvanse, tell your doctor about any mood problems you have. They’ll discuss with you whether Vyvanse is a safe treatment option for you.

Blood flow problems, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon. This medication can worsen blood flow. If you have any conditions that affect your blood flow, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, tell your doctor before taking Vyvanse. They may monitor your condition more often or recommend a different treatment option for you.

Recent use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Taking Vyvanse with an MAOI may cause severely high blood pressure, which can even be life threatening. And Vyvanse can cause this side effect within 14 days of stopping treatment with an MAOI.

If you’ve taken an MAOI within 14 days of starting Vyvanse, tell your doctor. They will recommend that you wait 14 days after stopping the MAOI before starting treatment with Vyvanse.

Kidney problems. Before starting treatment with Vyvanse, tell your doctor about any kidney problems that you have. Your doctor may need to decrease your dosage of Vyvanse.

Drug misuse or dependence. Vyvanse may increase the risk of drug misuse and dependence. In fact, this drug has a boxed warning for this risk. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For more information about this boxed warning, see the “Boxed warning: Risk of misuse and dependence” section at the top of this article.

If you have a history of drug misuse or dependence, tell your doctor before starting Vyvanse treatment. They may monitor you more often for these side effects, or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Pregnancy. Vyvanse may cause harm to a developing fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor to see what the best treatment option is for you.

Breastfeeding. Vyvanse passes into breastmilk. As a result, it’s not recommended to breastfeed while you’re taking Vyvanse. Ask your doctor about the best ways to feed your child during Vyvanse treatment.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vyvanse or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vyvanse. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Common questions about Vyvanse and interactions

Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Vyvanse and possible interactions.

Can I take my allergy medications together with Vyvanse?

Yes, you should be able to take your allergy medications together with Vyvanse. There aren’t any known interactions between Vyvanse and most allergy medications. Examples of these medications include:

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• loratadine (Claritin)
• cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• fexofenadine (Allegra)

But be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medications that you take before starting Vyvanse treatment. They can check for interactions between the drugs you take and Vyvanse.

Does prednisone interact with Vyvanse?

No, prednisone isn’t known to interact with Vyvanse. If your doctor prescribes prednisone to you, it should be safe to take with Vyvanse.

If you start any new medications and are concerned about interactions occurring, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can check for any interactions between your medications.

Can I take over-the-counter pain medications, such as naproxen (Aleve), while I’m taking Vyvanse?

Yes, you should be able to take Vyvanse together with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, such as:

• naproxen (Aleve)
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• aspirin

These medications aren’t known to interact with Vyvanse.

Note that some OTC pain medications contain several active ingredients that may interact with Vyvanse. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) For example, Excedrin Migraine contains caffeine as one of its active ingredients. Caffeine can interact with Vyvanse. (For more information, see the “Can Vyvanse interact with food?” section above.)

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any OTC pain medications that you want to take during Vyvanse treatment. They can check for any drug interactions.

How can I prevent interactions?

Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Vyvanse. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:

• Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
• What to do if you start taking a new drug during your Vyvanse treatment.

It’s also important to read Vyvanse’s label and other paperwork that comes with the drug. You may see colored stickers on the label that describe interactions. And the paperwork (sometimes called the prescribing information) may have other details about interactions. If you need help understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.

Taking Vyvanse exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

What should I ask my doctor?

If you still have questions about Vyvanse and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor.

Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:

• Is it safe for me to take Vyvanse if I’m taking another medication that can interact with it?
• Does Vyvanse interact with any of my health conditions?
• Do I need to tell you when I start taking a new medication or supplement during treatment with Vyvanse?

If you’re taking Vyvanse to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), subscribe to Healthline’s ADHD newsletter for advice about managing your condition.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.