Vyvanse Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others

Introduction

Vyvanse is a prescription drug.

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

Like other drugs, Vyvanse may have interactions.

One substance can cause another substance to have a different effect than expected. Alcohol, another drug, or a supplement can affect how a drug works in your body. If you have certain health conditions, interactions can occur.

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?

Vyvanse could raise your risk of harm if you have certain health conditions. Your doctor may not prescribe Vyvanse for you in these cases. These are not good for you. The list below containscontraindications 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:

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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.

If any of the factors above apply to you, talk with your doctor before you start taking Vyvanse. Vyvanse can be determined by your doctor.

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.

Alcohol and Vyvanse can increase your blood pressure. If you combine them, you may increase your blood pressure even more.

If you would like to drink alcohol while taking Vyvanse, talk to your doctor. They can help determine how much alcohol is safe for you.

Vyvanse and medications containing alcohol

Certain medications may interact with Vyvanse if they contain alcohol.

“The cold medication is called Nyquil and it contains alcohol, amphetamine, and doxylamine. If you want to avoid the possibility of interacting with Vyvanse, your doctor may recommend taking Dayquil. Dayquil doesn’t contain alcohol and it also treats cold symptoms.”

Let your doctor know if you take prescription or over-the-counter drugs. They will discuss with you the risks and benefits of taking Vyvanse.

Does Vyvanse interact with other drugs?

Inform your doctor and pharmacy about any drugs you take before you start taking Vyvanse. Sharing this information with them may help prevent future interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The drugs that may interact with Vyvanse are listed in the chart. This chart does not include all drugs that may interact with Vyvanse. The “Drug interactions explained” section gives more information about some of the interactions.

The “When to avoid Vyvanse” section gives more information about this interaction.

Drug interactions explained

There are 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 happen with supplements or food. See below for more.

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, talk to 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, you should talk to your doctor about any herbal supplements you are taking. They will discuss with you if it is safe to take 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.

Inform your doctor about any vitamins you are taking before you start Vyvanse treatment. They can let you know if it is safe to take them.

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, A drug called aspirin., and caffeine.

Your doctor may recommend reducing the amount of caffeine you take during Vyvanse treatment if you consume too much. If you continue to have side effects while taking Vyvanse, they may recommend you avoid caffeine completely. There are some side effects that include nervousness, trouble sleeping, and tremor.

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

If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment, talk to 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 need, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Vyvanse interact with lab tests?

“Vyvanse is not known to interact with lab tests. If you need a lab test done, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They will check to make sure your lab test doesn’t interact with your medication.”

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.

If you use cannabis, tell your doctor and pharmacist. You may help prevent interactions by sharing this information with them.

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?

There are certain health factors that may raise the risk of interactions with Vyvanse. Talk to your doctor about your health history before taking Vyvanse. They will determine if Vyvanse is right for you.

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 took an MAOI within 14 days of starting Vyvanse, you should tell your doctor. They recommend that you wait 14 days after stopping MAOI before starting treatment.

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 use, tell your doctor. They may recommend a different treatment option for you, or they may monitor you more often for these side effects.

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 questions about Vyvanse.

Can I take my allergy medications together with Vyvanse?

You should be able to take your allergy medications with Vyvanse. There are no known interactions between Vyvanse and most allergy medications. These medications can be examples.

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
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• cetirizine is a drug
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Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you take any medications before starting Vyvanse treatment. They can check for interactions between drugs.

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 are starting a new medication and are concerned about interactions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can check for any interactions between your drugs.

Can I take over-the-counter pain medications, such as naproxen is a word, while I’m taking Vyvanse?

You should be able to take Vyvanse with OTC pain medications.

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• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
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These medications are not known to interact with Vyvanse.

Some OTC pain medications may interact with Vyvanse. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work. Excedrin Migraine has a lot of active ingredients, including caffeine. Vyvanse can be interacted with by the drug. The section titled “Can Vyvanse interact with food?” gives more information.

Discuss OTC pain medications with your doctor or pharmacist. They can check for drug interactions.

How can I prevent interactions?

Taking certain steps can help you avoid getting into arguments with Vyvanse. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before treatment begins. Things to discuss with them.

• You can use alcohol or 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.
• If you start taking a new drug, what should you do?

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 help prevent interactions.

What should I ask my doctor?

If you still have questions, you should talk to your doctor.

You may want to ask your doctor some questions.

• Is Vyvanse safe if I take another medication that interacts with it?
• Does Vyvanse interact with my health conditions?
• Do I need to tell you when I start taking a new medication?

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.