FDA expands uses of Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate) to treat Binge-Eating Disorder

Last Updated on January 31, 2015 by Joseph Gut – thasso

January 30, 2015 – We just learned that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved uses of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) to treat binge-eating disorder in adults. The drug is the first FDA-approved medication to treat this condition.

In binge-eating disorder, patients have recurrent episodes of compulsive overeating during which they consume larger amounts of food than normal and experience the sense that they lack control. Patients with this condition eat when they are not hungry and often eat to the point of being uncomfortably full. Patients may feel ashamed and embarrassed by how much they are eating, which can result in social isolation. Binge-eating disorder may lead to weight gain and to health problems related to obesity.

Vyvanse was reviewed under the FDA’s priority review program, which provides for an expedited review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious disease or condition and may provide a significant improvement over available therapy. The efficacy of Vyvanse in treating binge-eating disorder was shown in two clinical studies that included 724 adults with moderate-to-severe binge-eating disorder. In the studies, participants taking Vyvanse experienced a decrease in the number of binge eating days per week and had fewer obsessive-compulsive binge eating behaviors compared to those on the inactive pill (placebo). Vyvanse is not approved for, or recommended for, weight loss. Its efficacy for weight loss has not been studied.

Vyvanse is dispensed with a Medication Guide for patients, which provides important information about the medication’s use and risks. The most serious risks include psychiatric problems and heart complications, including sudden death in people who have heart problems or heart defects, and stroke and heart attack in adults. Central nervous system stimulants, like Vyvanse, may cause psychotic or manic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusional thinking, or mania, even in individuals without a prior history of psychotic illness. The most common side effects reported by people taking Vyvanse in the clinical trials included dry mouth, sleeplessness (insomnia), increased heart rate, jittery feelings, constipation, and anxiety.

Vyvanse was approved in 2007 as a once-daily medication to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in patients ages 6 and older. Vyvanse is a Schedule II controlled substance because it has high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to dependence.