Vyvanse Approved for Adult Use

FDA approves Vyvanse for use in adults.

The pharmaceutical company Shire has announced that its stimulant medication, Vyvanse, used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, has now been approved for use by adults.

The approval by the Food and Drug Administration comes after a four-week, placebo-controlled study, in which researchers administered three different dosages — 30 mg, 50 mg, and 70 mg — to more than 400 adults between the ages of 18 and 55. Among their findings, across all doses, the ADHD symptoms experienced by the participants improved between 57 and 61 percent, and such improvements were significantly greater than with a placebo.

The most commonly reported side effects in the study included dry mouth, loss of appetite, and difficulty falling asleep. For more information, read the press release issued by Shire, on April 23, as well as the letter of approval issued by the FDA, earlier that day.