ADHD Information Center

ADHD 101

ADHD Facts

You may want to take a quick refresher course on the basics of ADHD as you prepare for your physician appointment, or before talking to a loved one about ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric behavioral disorder that manifests as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.

ADHD symptoms in adults may look different from a child's

Many adults believe they outgrow ADHD. However, it is estimated up to 65% of children diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms into adulthood. The symptoms may reveal themselves differently with age. Some examples are:

ADHD symptoms:	ADHD symptoms in children:	ADHD symptoms in adults:
Inattention	Easily distracted, difficulty following instructions	Not finishing things, poor time management
Hyperactivity	Squirms or fidgets	Restlessness, impatience
Impulsivity	Blurts out answers	Impatience/irritability/ interrupting others

The exact origin of ADHD is unknown, but scientists speculate the disorder may be caused by one or more of the following factors:

Neurotransmitter function — ADHD is thought to be caused by an imbalance of two neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), which are believed to play an important role in the ability to focus and pay attention to tasks.
Genetics — Research strongly suggests that ADHD tends to run in families. In fact, studies of twins reveal that nearly 80 percent of the ADHD influence is due to genetic factors. However, this does not mean that all children in a family will have the disorder.
Environment — Certain external factors such as smoking during pregnancy or complications from pregnancy, delivery or infancy may contribute to ADHD.

Important Safety Information

Vyvanse is indicated for the treatment of ADHD. Efficacy based on two controlled trials in children aged 6 to 12 and one controlled trial in adults.

Tell the doctor about any heart conditions, including structural abnormalities, that you, your child, or a family member, may have. Inform the doctor immediately if you or your child develops symptoms that suggest heart problems, such as chest pain or fainting.

Vyvanse should not be taken if you or your child has advanced disease of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis); symptomatic heart disease; moderate to severe high blood pressure; overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism); known allergy or unusual reactions to drugs called sympathomimetic amines (for example, pseudoephedrine); seizures; glaucoma; a history of problems with alcohol or drugs; agitated states; taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days.

Tell the doctor before taking Vyvanse if you or your child is being treated for or has symptoms of depression (sadness, worthlessness, or hopelessness) or bipolar disorder; has abnormal thought or visions, hears abnormal sounds, or has been diagnosed with psychosis; has had seizures or abnormal EEGs; has or has had high blood pressure; exhibits aggressive behavior or hostility. Tell the doctor immediately if you or your child develops any of these conditions or symptoms while taking Vyvanse.

Abuse of amphetamines may lead to dependence. Misuse of amphetamine may cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular adverse events. These events have also been reported rarely with amphetamine use.

Vyvanse was generally well tolerated in clinical studies. The most common side effects reported in studies of Vyvanse were: children — decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, stomachache, and irritability; adult — decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, and dry mouth.

Aggression, new abnormal thoughts/behaviors, mania, growth suppression, worsening of motion or verbal tics, and Tourette's syndrome have been associated with use of drugs of this type. Tell the doctor if you or your child has blurred vision while taking Vyvanse.

For more information, please see Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

Vyvanse^™ is a registered trademark of Shire LLC.

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