Adderall XR® and Vyvanse™

Abstract

Adderall XR® (MAS XR) and Vyvanse™ (LDX) are both schedule II amphetamine-based central nervous system stimulants indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Differences among the two primarily involve dosage form, pharmacokinetic profiles, and abuse potential. MAS XR and LDX are both long-acting stimulants with an approximate duration of action of 10 hours. The long-acting property of LDX is secondary to its prodrug formulation, whereas MAS XR utilizes bead filled capsules that mimic twice daily dosing upon administration. MAS XR is a substrate of CYP 2D6 while LDX does not utilize the cytochrome P450 enzymes for metabolism. There are few efficacy studies that directly compare LDX and MAS XR. There are no head to head abuse liability studies for MAS XR and LDX; however, the prodrug formulation of LDX is proposed to have lower abuse potential.