The use of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate for the treatment of ADHD

Abstract

ADHD is a common neurobehavioral disorder characterized by significant impairment in attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Symptoms begin in childhood and can persist into adulthood. Current data suggest that abnormal functioning of the prefrontal cortex, cortical and subcortical regions of the brain have roles in ADHD. All currently approved drugs used to treat ADHD enhance dopamine and norepinephrine signals in these regions. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) is a long-acting amphetamine prodrug indicated for the treatment of ADHD and has been shown to be effective in children, adolescents and adults. The prodrug properties of LDX make it a desirable treatment because of its long duration of effect, and low intrasubject and intersubject pharmacokinetic variability, and attenuated response on measures of abuse liability when compared with immediate-release amphetamine. However, LDX is still classified as a controlled substance. In this article, the pharmacokinetic parameters and efficacy and safety of LDX are reviewed.

Keywords::

• ADHD
• attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
• Vyvanse^®

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Greg Childress for his valuable help with proofreading this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

A Childress has associations with: Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc.: consultant, speaker, research support; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation: consultant, speaker, research support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: speaker, research support; Somerset Pharmaceuticals Inc.: research support; NextWave Pharmaceuticals: research support, consultant; Abbott Laboratories: research support; Lilly USA, LLC: research support; Ortho-McNeill Janssen Scientific Affairs: research support; Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical research and development, LLC: research support; GlaxoSmithKline: speaker; Sepracor Inc.: research support; and Otsuka: research support. FR Sallee is a consultant for Shire PLC, Otsuka Research and Development, Shionogi Pharma, Sunovion and Nextwave Pharma. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.