This article explains how Concerta and Vyvanse are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about Concerta and Vyvanse if you’d like more information about these drugs.
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Questions about Concerta and Vyvanse
Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about Concerta and Vyvanse.
What should I know about switching from Vyvanse to Concerta or vice versa?
It may be possible to switch from Vyvanse to Concerta or vice versa. But there’s no specific guidance for doing so in the prescribing information for either Vyvanse or Concerta.
If you’re interested in switching from Concerta or Vyvanse to the other drug, talk with your doctor. They can discuss the risks and benefits of doing so. Your doctor can also discuss how they would convert your dosage if you switched medications.
For example, they can advise your new dosage if you’re switching from 36 milligrams (mg) of Concerta to Vyvanse. Or if you’re taking 30 mg of Vyvanse, they could recommend an appropriate Concerta dosage.
Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know more about switching between these medications or others.
How do Vyvanse and Concerta compare vs. Adderall?
Vyvanse, Concerta, and Adderall are all stimulants. They’re prescribed to treat ADHD in adults. Each drug may also be prescribed to treat ADHD in children ages 6 years and older.
Because Vyvanse, Concerta, and Adderall are all stimulant medications, they share many side effects. Examples include:
- fast heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- reduced appetite and weight loss
- nervousness or anxiousness
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about how Vyvanse or Concerta compares to Adderall.
Side effects of Concerta and Vyvanse
Concerta and Vyvanse may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of each drug’s more common mild side effects are listed below. Serious side effects of Concerta and Vyvanse are also listed.
Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.
This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find out more, you can view the prescribing information for Concerta and Vyvanse. You can also check out these articles about Concerta’s side effects and Vyvanse’s side effects.
Mild side effects
Below are some of the mild side effects reported with Concerta and Vyvanse:
Serious side effects
Below are serious side effects reported with Concerta and Vyvanse:
| Concerta | Vyvanse | |
|---|---|---|
| heart problems, including increased heart rate or blood pressure | ✓ | ✓ |
| mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder or psychosis | ✓ | ✓ |
| blood flow problems to your fingers or toes, including Raynaud’s phenomenon | ✓ | ✓ |
| serotonin syndrome, if taken with other drugs that increase your serotonin level | ✓ | |
| slowed growth in children | ✓ | ✓ |
| tics, including new or worsening Tourette syndrome | ✓ | ✓ |
| priapism | ✓ | |
| seizures | ✓ | |
| increased pressure in your eye, which can cause or worsen glaucoma | ✓ | |
| boxed warning: risk of misuse and addiction,* which can lead to suicidal thoughts or behaviors | ✓ | ✓ |
* For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for Concerta and Vyvanse” section below.
For many drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from Concerta or Vyvanse, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Allergic reaction
For some people, Concerta or Vyvanse can cause an allergic reaction.
This side effect wasn’t reported in Concerta’s or Vyvanse’s studies. But allergic reactions have occurred with both drugs since they were approved for use.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Concerta or Vyvanse, your doctor may prescribe a different medication instead.
Cost of Concerta and Vyvanse
As with the cost of other medications, the cost of Concerta and Vyvanse can vary. Their price may be affected by:
- whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy they’re purchased from
- the quantity prescribed
Coupons and cost savings
To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for Concerta and this coupon page for Vyvanse. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.
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Generic versions
Here’s a summary of the generics of Concerta and Vyvanse:
| Concerta | Vyvanse | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | methylphenidate | lisdexamfetamine |
| Available as a generic | yes | yes |
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
If your doctor prescribed Concerta or Vyvanse, but you’d like to know about taking its generic version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine whether the generic version is right for you.
Uses of Concerta and Vyvanse
Here’s a summary of Concerta’s and Vyvanse’s approved uses:
| Concerta | Vyvanse | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved uses | • ADHD | • ADHD • moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED) |
| Prescribed for | • children ages 6 years and older, and adults up to age 65 years | • ADHD: adults and children ages 6 years and older • BED: adults |
Vyvanse should not be prescribed for children younger than 6 years of age. The drug also should not be taken to treat obesity or for weight loss purposes.
If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether Concerta or Vyvanse is an option.
Dosage of Concerta and Vyvanse
Below is dosage information for the condition that both Concerta and Vyvanse are prescribed to treat. These dosages are provided by the drugmakers of Concerta and Vyvanse. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.
For detailed dosage information on all conditions that Concerta and Vyvanse treat, see these articles about Concerta dosage and Vyvanse dosage.
Concerta’s dosage
Below is a summary of Concerta’s recommended dosages for adults and children.
| Condition | How it’s taken | Recommended dose range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADHD in adults up to age 65 years | swallowed by mouth | 18 to 72 mg | taken once per day |
| ADHD in children ages 6 years and older | swallowed by mouth | • children ages 6 to 12 years: 18 to 54 mg • children ages 13 years and older: 18 to 72 mg, not to exceed 2 mg/kg/day* | taken once per day |
* “Kg” stands for kilogram and refers to a person’s body weight. One kilogram is equal to about 2.2 pounds (lb).
Vyvanse’s dosage
Below is a summary of Vyvanse’s recommended dosages for adults and children.
| Condition | How it’s taken | Recommended dose range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADHD in adults | swallowed by mouth | 30 to 70 mg | taken once per day |
| ADHD in children ages 6 years and older | swallowed by mouth | 30 to 70 mg | taken once per day |
Warnings for Concerta and Vyvanse
Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.
Some people should not take Concerta or Vyvanse, and others should use either medication with caution.
Warnings for Concerta and Vyvanse are summarized below. Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.
Boxed warning for Concerta and Vyvanse: Risk of misuse and addiction
Concerta and Vyvanse each have a boxed warning about the risk of misuse and addiction. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Misuse refers to taking a medication in a manner other than how it’s prescribed. Addiction (also referred to as substance use disorder) occurs when a drug continues to be taken despite harmful outcomes.
Symptoms of misusing Vyvanse or Concerta include:
- acting in an unusually aggressive or hostile manner
- difficulty falling or staying asleep
- excessive sweating
- thoughts that involve harming yourself or others
Misusing a stimulant, such as Concerta or Vyvanse, can result in serious side effects. Examples include heart problems, such as heart attack, and seizures.
Due to these risks, both Concerta and Vyvanse are controlled substances. This means there are strict rules in place for how doctors prescribe and pharmacists dispense either medication.
While taking Concerta or Vyvanse, store your prescription in a secure location where others can’t easily access it. Do not share or give your medication to anyone else.
To learn more about this warning, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support.
- Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warnings above, Concerta and Vyvanse have other warnings. These are summarized in the table below.
| Concerta | Vyvanse | |
|---|---|---|
| heart problems, such as arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy | ✓ | ✓ |
| mental health condition, including depression or bipolar disorder | ✓ | ✓ |
| condition causing a narrowing in your digestive tract, which may be caused by short bowel syndrome, cystic fibrosis, or others | ✓ | |
| blood cell problem, such as low white blood cell level | ✓ | |
| kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease | ✓ | |
| glaucoma or other eye problems, such as farsightedness | ✓ | |
| current or recent (within 2 weeks) use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor drug, such as phenelzine (Nardil) or linezolid (Zyvox) | ✓ | ✓ |
| substance use disorder | ✓ | ✓ |
| seizures due to epilepsy or another condition | ✓ | |
| unusual result on a brain wave test called an electroencephalogram | ✓ | |
| condition causing problems with blood flow, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon | ✓ | ✓ |
| tics due to Tourette syndrome or another condition | ✓ | ✓ |
| allergic reaction to either drug or any of their ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| pregnancy or planning to become pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed | ✓ | ✓ |
You can view detailed articles about Concerta and Vyvanse if you’d like more information about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for Concerta and Vyvanse.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.