FDA OKs ADHD Drug Vyvanse for Adults

April 23, 2008 -- The FDA has approved the drug Vyvanse for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, according to the drug company Shire, which makes Vyvanse.

Vyvanse, a stimulant drug, was first approved by the FDA in 2007 to treat ADHD symptoms in children ages 6-12.

Shire says the FDA approved Vyvanse for adult use based on a clinical trial of 414 adults ages 18-55 who took Vyvanse or a placebo pill for four weeks. Patients taking Vyvanse "experienced significant improvements in ADHD symptom control within one week of treatment with once-daily Vyvanse," says Shire.

All three doses of Vyvanse that were studied -- 30 milligrams, 50 milligrams, and 70 milligrams -- trumped the placebo; the most commonly reported adverse events were decreased appetite, difficulty in falling asleep, and dry mouth, notes Shire.