Lisdexamfetamine mesilate (usually just lisdexamfetamine, Elvanse® or Elvanse Adult®) is a stimulant that is similar to dexamfetamine that can be used to promote wakefulness and reduce excessive daytime sleepiness.
Lisdexamfetamine comes in tablet form in several different doses: 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg, 70mg. It has the advantage of being longer acting than dexamfetamine and lasts 13 hours, allowing for once-a-day dosing.
Elvanse has a license for the treatment of ADHD in children aged six and over. For the treatment of narcolepsy, it may be prescribed off license.
Side effects
As with any medication, the drugs used to treat narcolepsy can have side-effects. These can take many forms. They may be relatively minor, such as mild headaches or a dry mouth, or much more serious, such as anxiety or depression. You should check the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) in the packaging of your medication for more details and if you experience any of these side-effects (or any not on the PIL) you should consult your doctor or pharmacist.
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme. By reporting side effects, you can help improve the safety of this medicine.