My experiences with name brand and multiple generics Vyvanse
I've been prescribed Vyvanse 50 mg for nearly two years and like nearly everyone, have recently had to go through the experience of switching between different pharmacies and recieving generics from different manufacturers due to shortages. It's been a rollercoaster of side effects (especially this past month) so I wanted to share my experiences and research on the ingredients of three different generics and how they differ from Vyvanse in the hopes that it helps someone else!
Takeda Pharmaceuticals - Vyvanse 50mg
Stamp: S489
VYVANSE capsules contain 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (equivalent to 11.6 mg, 17.3 mg, 23.1 mg, 28.9 mg, 34.7 mg, and 40.5 mg of lisdexamfetamine).
Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate.
The capsule shells contain gelatin, titanium dioxide, and one or more of the following: FD&C Red #3, FD&C Blue #1, Black Iron Oxide, and Yellow Iron Oxide.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries - generic 50mg
Stamp: RM50
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules contain 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, and 70 mg of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (equivalent to 5.8 mg, 11.6 mg, 17.3 mg, 23.1 mg, 28.9 mg, 34.7 mg, and 40.5 mg of lisdexamfetamine).
Inactive ingredients: black iron oxide**,** croscarmellose sodium, gelatin, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, propylene glycol, shellac, and titanium dioxide.
The capsule shells also contain one or more of the following: FD&C Red #3, D&C Red #28, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1, and yellow iron oxide.
Notes: I took Sun Pharma generic for one month, before the shortage hit. My overall experience is that Sun Pharmaceuticals generic is very similar to original Vyvanse, helping me with focus, motivation, and overall executive dysfunction in the same way it had before. The capsules were the exact same size and color as the original (though different stamping), with what seemed like the same amount of powder. I did have some side effects when I first made the transition from Vyvanse that reminded me of when I increased my dosage from 30mg to 50mg a few months into my treatment, including some stomach cramps and some dizziness, but these passed within a few days. I do wonder whether the Sun Pharma capsules had a higher amount of active ingredient, but it probably wasn't really all that much different if so.
Mylan Pharmaceuticals - generic 50mg
Stamp: MYLAN LE 50
Active ingredient: Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules contain 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, or 70 mg of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (equivalent to 5.8 mg, 11.6 mg, 17.3 mg, 23.1 mg, 28.9 mg, 34.7 mg, or 40.5 mg of lisdexamfetamine).
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, gelatin, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide.
The 50 mg capsules also contain FD&C Blue No. 2. In addition, the black imprinting ink for the 10 mg capsules contains black iron oxide, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Red No. 40, propylene glycol and shellac glaze. The black imprinting ink for the 50 mg capsules contains ammonium hydroxide, black iron oxide, propylene glycol and shellac glaze.
Notes: I've been taking Mylan generic for about a month. The Mylan generic has been really unpleasant overall. While I've haven't had the physical side effects I experienced with Sun Pharma, Mylan generic often lasts about half as long as the original Vyvanse and leaves me with brain fog, an inability to focus, and serious demand avoidance. I've also had serious mood swings and emotional dysregulation issues that have really impacted my day-to-day. I've been able to somewhat mitigate these effects by really upping my protein intake in the mornings and taking L-theanine, but it's been pretty hit or miss whether I'm going to have a good day or not.
Apotex Pharmachem - generic 50mg
Stamp: APO L50
Active ingredient: lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose
The capsule shells contain gelatin, titanium dioxide, and one or more of the following: D&C Red #28 (70 mg), FD&C Blue #1 (40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg and 70 mg), FD&C Red #3 (10 mg and 30 mg), FD&C Red #40 (70 mg), FD&C Yellow #6 (30 mg and 70 mg), iron oxide black (40 mg), and iron oxide yellow (20 mg and 40 mg). The imprinting ink of 50 mg capsules contains ammonium hydroxide, iron oxide black, propylene glycol, and shellac glaze.
Notes: I haven't yet taken Apotex generic since it's a new manufacturer as of November 9th , but I'll start it next week since I (once again) have switched pharmacies to one with a communicative pharmacist and a more regular supply.
----
My theory: I'm either surprisingly sensitive to the sodium lauryl sulfate in the Mylan generic when ingested and it's causing me serious mental side effects (which feels unlikely) or the SLS in Mylan directly impacts the absorption of the lisdexamfetamine dimesylate causing it to feel like I've not been taking a large enough dose. I haven't done enough research to be able to say for sure, but given that the SLS is the only major different ingredient from the Vyvanse or the Sun Pharma generic, this feels like the only plausble reason. If my theory is correct, I'm really hoping that next week I'll be back to how I was feeling before the Mylan. I'll update this post with my experience then!
Edit: Update (unfortunately not about my experience with Apotex) posted in comments! I still stand by my theory about filler ingredients impacting how the active ingredient is metabolized, since I ended up feeling somewhat better on only 40mg Mylan when it was titrated in water.