Provigil vs. Vyvanse

Provigil (modafinil) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) are stimulants used to treat different conditions.

Provigil is prescribed to increase wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness related to narcolepsy, shiftwork sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

Vyvanse is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and moderate to severe binge eating disorder.

Side effects of Provigil and Vyvanse that are similar include headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, anxiety, dry mouth, and trouble sleeping (insomnia).

Side effects of Provigil that are different from Vyvanse include upper respiratory tract infection and agitation.

Side effects of Vyvanse that are different from Provigil include decreased appetite, weight loss, irritability, abdominal or stomach pain, vomiting, increased heart rate, constipation, jittery feeling, mild skin rash, unpleasant taste in mouth, sweating, and restlessness.

Both Provigil and Vyvanse may interact with phenytoin.

Provigil may also interact with cyclosporine, theophylline, hormonal contraceptives, warfarin, diazepam, propranolol, imipramine, desipramine, carbamazepine, rifampin, ketoconazole, and itraconazole.

Vyvanse may also interact with ammonium chloride, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), K-Phos, blood pressure medications, diuretics (water pills), antihistamines, chlorpromazine, ethosuximide, lithium, methenamine, phenobarbital, pain medications, and antidepressants. Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Vyvanse.

Common side effects of Provigil include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• nervousness,
• anxiety,
• agitation,
• dry mouth, and
• trouble sleeping (insomnia).

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Provigil including:

• fever,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• hallucinations,
• depression,
• chest pain,
• fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, or
• mental/mood changes (such as confusion, depression, hallucinations, rare thoughts of suicide).

Common side effects of Vyvanse include:

Vyvanse may cause serious side effects, including:

• slowing of growth (height and weight) in children

The most common side effects of Vyvanse in ADHD include:

• anxiety
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• irritability
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• trouble sleeping
• upper stomach pain
• vomiting
• weight loss

The most common side effects of Vyvanse include:

• dry mouth
• trouble sleeping
• decreased appetite
• increased heart rate
• constipation
• feeling jittery
• anxiety

Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Vyvanse. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Provigil (modafinil) is a stimulant prescribed to increase wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness related to narcolepsy, shiftwork sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

Vyvanse is a central nervous system stimulant prescription medicine used to treat:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Vyvanse may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD
• Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Vyvanse may help reduce the number of binge eating days in patients with BED

Vyvanse is not for weight loss. It is not known if Vyvanse is safe and effective for the treatment of obesity.

It is not known if Vyvanse is safe and effective in children with ADHD under 6 years of age or in patients with BED under 18 years of age.

Do not take Vyvanse if you:

• are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI
• are sensitive to, allergic to, or had a reaction to other stimulant medicines

Before you take Vyvanse, tell your doctor if you have or if there is a family history of:

• heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure
• mental problems including psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression
• circulation problems in fingers and toes

Tell your doctor if:

• You have any kidney problems. Your doctor may lower your dose.
• You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Vyvanse may harm your unborn baby
• You are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Vyvanse can pass into your milk. Do not breastfeed while taking Vyvanse. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Vyvanse.

Provigil drug interactions include cyclosporine (Sandimmune), theophylline (Theo-24), hormonal contraceptives (for example, Micronor), warfarin (Coumadin), diazepam (Valium), propranolol (Inderal), imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin), phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), rifampin (Rifadin), Ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox). Provigil has not been adequately studied in pregnant women and it is unknown if it is excreted in breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Vyvanse can affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Vyvanse works. Using Vyvanse with other medicines can cause serious side effects.

Especially tell your doctor if you take anti-depression medicines including MAOIs.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Know the medicines that you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Do not start any new medicine while taking Vyvanse without talking to your doctor first.

Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Vyvanse affects you

Provigil dosage is 200 or 400 mg daily.

• Take VYVANSE exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
• Your doctor may change your dose until it is right for you.
• Take VYVANSE 1 time each day in the morning.
• VYVANSE can be taken with or without food.
• VYVANSE comes in capsules or chewable tablets.
• Capsules:
  • VYVANSE capsules may be swallowed whole.
  • If you have trouble swallowing capsules, open your VYVANSE capsule and pour all the powder into yogurt, water, or orange juice.
    • Use all of the VYVANSE powder from the capsule so you get all of the medicine.
    • Using a spoon, break apart any powder that is stuck together. Stir the VYVANSE powder and yogurt, water or orange juice until they are completely mixed together.
    • Eat all the yogurt or drink all the water or orange juice right away after it has been mixed with VYVANSE. Do not store the yogurt, water, or orange juice after it has been mixed with VYVANSE. It is normal to see a filmy coating on the inside of your glass or container after you eat or drink all the VYVANSE.
• Chewable Tablets:
  • VYVANSE chewable tablets must be completely chewed before swallowing.
• Your doctor may sometimes stop VYVANSE treatment for a while to check your ADHD or your BED symptoms.
• Your doctor may do regular checks of your heart, and blood pressure while taking VYVANSE.
• Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking VYVANSE. VYVANSE treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.
• If you take too much Vyvanse, call your doctor or poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away, or get to the nearest hospital emergency room.