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Overview: Arynta is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or binge eating disorder. It may work by increasing natural chemicals in the brain, such as norepinephrine and dopamine. Common side effects may include decreased appetite, anxiety, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and trouble sleeping. Arynta is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence, and it should be stored in a safe, preferably locked, place. It comes as a liquid that you take by mouth.

Uses

What is Arynta used for?

Arynta (lisdexamfetamine) is commonly used to treat the following conditions.

Learn more about managing ADHD with Arynta and managing binge eating disorder with Arynta.

Arynta may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does Arynta work (mechanism of action)?

Arynta belongs to a group of medicines called stimulants. It may work by increasing levels of natural brain chemicals, such as norepinephrine and dopamine. If you have ADHD, this medicine can help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness (acting without thinking) and hyperactivity. If you have binge eating disorder, it can help you overeat less often. 

How is Arynta supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Arynta

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 10 mg/mL oral solution

See also: Lisdexamfetamine

How should I store Arynta?

Arynta should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store it in a cool, dry, and safe place, such as a locked cabinet. Keep the bottle tightly closed. Throw away any leftover medicine 30 days after you first open the bottle.

If you need to throw away Arynta, bring it to a medicine take-back program at an authorized collection site, such as a pharmacy or police station. If no take-back program is available, mix it with a nontoxic and unattractive substance, such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds, and place it in a container like a sealed plastic bag. Throw away the mixture in the household trash. Ask your pharmacist or other health care provider if you are not sure how to throw away the medicine safely.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Arynta?

The most common side effects of Arynta are listed below. These side effects may vary depending on why you are taking Arynta. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Decreased or loss of appetite
  • Anxiety, irritability, or feeling jittery
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea, stomach pain, or constipation
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Increased heart rate (see below)

There may be other side effects of Arynta that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Arynta?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Arynta are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Arynta may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Arynta and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Risk of Misuse and Addiction. Misusing Arynta can lead to serious side effects, such as substance use problems, overdose, coma, or death. Misuse means taking a medicine in a way other than how it was prescribed. Arynta can also cause physical dependence, which means your body relies on the medicine. This can happen if you take Arynta for a long time, even if you take it as directed. Take Arynta exactly as prescribed. Tell your health care provider if you feel that Arynta is not working. Call your health care provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms.

  • Sudden confusion or feeling disoriented or agitated
  • Feeling paranoid or depressed
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Seizures
  • Trouble breathing
  • Unusual dreams or changes in your sleep

Increased Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. Arynta may increase your blood pressure or heart rate. Keep all appointments with your health care provider to check your blood pressure and heart rate before starting Arynta and during treatment. If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 mm Hg or higher, get medical attention right away. Also call your health care provider or get medical attention right away if you have chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or if you faint or feel your heartbeat more than usual.

Mental Health Symptoms. Arynta may cause or worsen mental health symptoms, including psychotic-like behaviors, such as hallucinations, or mania. People who already have a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, may be at higher risk of these side effects, but they can happen even if you have never had these symptoms before. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or if you have been told by others you have these symptoms.

  • Hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, or otherwise perceiving things that others do not
  • Delusional thoughts, such as false beliefs that you are being controlled
  • Disorganized thoughts, such as jumping between topics or having a hard time focusing
  • Sudden decline in self-care, such as personal hygiene or academic/work performance
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Very increased energy or racing, fast-paced thoughts
  • Significant trouble sleeping
  • Reckless behavior
  • Unusually grand ideas
  • Excessive happiness or crankiness
  • Talking more or faster than usual

Slowed Growth in Children. Children taking Arynta may be at a higher risk of not gaining height and weight as expected. Keep all appointments with your health care provider to check your child’s height and weight before starting Arynta and during treatment.

Blood Flow Problems. Arynta may cause blood flow problems, including a condition called Raynaud’s syndrome, which is when the blood vessels in your fingers and toes overreact and lead to low blood flow. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Fingers or toes feeling numb, cool, painful, or sensitive to cold
  • Fingers or toes changing color from pale, to blue, to red
  • Unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes

Serotonin Syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is when there is too much of a substance called serotonin in your body. Arynta can cause serotonin syndrome when it is taken alone or with other medicines that affect serotonin. This condition can be life-threatening. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of serotonin syndrome.

  • Sweating, fever, or flushing
  • Confusion
  • Feeling agitated or restless
  • Seeing or hearing unusual things
  • Dizziness
  • Fast or racing heartbeat
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Muscle twitching, stiffness, or tremor
  • High body temperature
  • Seizures

Tics or Tourette Syndrome. Arynta may cause or worsen tics, which are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that can be hard to control. If you already have tics or Tourette syndrome, Arynta may make your symptoms worse. Tell your health care provider if you have any new or worsening tics or symptoms of Tourette syndrome.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Arynta?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Arynta.

  • Arynta
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Any other medicine known as an amphetamine 
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Arynta.

Drug Interactions. Arynta should not be taken while you are using or have recently used certain other medicines. Before taking Arynta, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using or have used recently. See the Interactions section for more details.

What should I know about Arynta before using it?

Do not take Arynta unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.

Take Arynta in the morning. Avoid taking it in the afternoon, because this can make it harder for you to sleep at night.

Do not share Arynta with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Arynta out of the reach of children. Arynta is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store Arynta in a safe, preferably locked, place to protect it from theft. It is illegal to sell or give away this medicine.

Use the measuring device that comes with Arynta to measure your dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure what measuring device to use. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine to make sure you measure the dose properly.

Keep all appointments, including for bloodwork and heart checkups, before and during treatment with Arynta. This will help your health care provider make sure it is safe for you to use this medicine.

What should I tell my health care provider before using Arynta?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if Arynta is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Substance Use Disorder. Tell your health care provider if you have ever misused alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs, or if you have a substance use disorder. Arynta has a risk of being misused.

Heart Problems. People who have serious heart disease or heart defects may be at risk of sudden death if they take Arynta. Tell your health care provider if you have any heart problems, including heart disease, a heart defect, cardiomyopathy, or an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Also tell your health care provider if anyone in your family has had heart problems.

Mental Health Problems. Tell your health care provider if you or anyone in your family has had mental health problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, mania, psychosis, or suicide. Arynta may worsen certain mental health conditions.

Other Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have or have had any of the following.

  • High blood pressure 
  • Blood flow problems in your fingers or toes
  • Tics or Tourette syndrome, or a family history of these conditions
  • Kidney problems

Pregnancy. Arynta may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant or think you might be pregnant, contact your health care provider right away. If you become pregnant while taking Arynta, you can register for the National Pregnancy Registry for ADHD Medications by calling 866-961-2388 or at womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry. This registry collects safety information about the use of ADHD medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. Do not take Arynta while you are breastfeeding. Arynta passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

How can I get more information about Arynta?

For more information about Arynta, you can visit the drugmaker’s website at www.arynta.com or call them at 800-461-7449.

Interactions

Does Arynta interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Arynta and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Arynta, but you may have a higher risk of certain side effects if you drink alcohol while taking Arynta.

Does Arynta interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Arynta.

  • A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past two weeks, which is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease 
  • Linezolid (Zyvox), which is a medicine for certain bacterial infections
  • A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, or sertraline, which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety and depression
  • A serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), such as duloxetine or venlafaxine, which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety and depression
  • A tricyclic antidepressant, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or protriptyline, even if it is not used for depression
  • A triptan, such as eletriptan (Relpax), sumatriptan (Imitrex and others), and others, which is a medicine commonly used to treat migraines
  • Fentanyl or tramadol, which is an opioid medicine used to treat certain types of pain
  • Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
  • Buspirone, which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety  
  • Tryptophan, which is a supplement that may be used to help the body make proteins and certain brain-signaling chemicals
  • St. John’s wort, which is a supplement that may be used for depression
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is a dietary supplement
  • Sodium bicarbonate, which is a medicine used for heartburn and stomach ulcers and is in some over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines, such as Alka-Seltzer, Zegerid, and Zegerid OTC
  • Acetazolamide (Diamox), which is a medicine that may be used to treat glaucoma, fluid retention, seizures, or altitude sickness

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Arynta. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Arynta. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Arynta?

If you or someone else has used too much Arynta, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Arynta?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Avoid taking Arynta in the afternoon, because this can make it harder to sleep at night. Do not take double or extra doses.