Vyvanse Capsule vs. Chewable Formulation
The provided evidence does not contain any information comparing Vyvanse capsules to chewable formulations, as no chewable formulation of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) currently exists or is discussed in the available guidelines and research.
Available Vyvanse Formulations
Vyvanse is only available as oral capsules for once-daily administration, with dosing starting at 20-30 mg in the morning and titrating by 10 mg weekly to a maximum of 70 mg daily 1. The capsule formulation is specifically designed as a prodrug that requires enzymatic hydrolysis in the blood (predominantly by red blood cells) to convert the inactive lisdexamfetamine to its active form, d-amphetamine 2, 3.
Key Pharmacological Characteristics of the Capsule Formulation
The prodrug design provides long-acting properties with efficacy demonstrated at 14 hours post-dose in adults, making it suitable for managing ADHD symptoms that extend late into the day 3.
The enzymatic conversion process in red blood cells is fundamental to the drug's mechanism, as lisdexamfetamine remains pharmacologically inactive until this hydrolysis occurs 2, 4.
This prodrug formulation may offer reduced abuse potential compared to immediate-release amphetamine formulations, with poison center data showing lisdexamfetamine abuse/misuse was approximately 75% lower than immediate-release dextroamphetamine/amphetamine and had 1.9 times lower odds of abuse compared to extended-release formulations 5.
Clinical Implications
If you are seeking an alternative formulation for a patient who cannot swallow capsules, the Vyvanse capsule contents can be dissolved in water and consumed immediately (per standard prescribing information), but no chewable tablet exists. For patients requiring a different delivery method, alternative ADHD medications with chewable or orally disintegrating formulations would need to be considered, though this would represent a change in medication rather than a formulation change of lisdexamfetamine.