Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate: a new option in stimulant treatment for ADHD
Abstract
Importance of the field Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a prevalent disorder in children and adults, presents a substantial societal burden in both monetary cost and human suffering. Characterized by significant difficulties in maintaining attention, completing tasks, motor control, and appropriate social engagement, the disorder begins early in life and results in significant impairment across domains of functioning, including social, educational, and occupational achievement. The condition also carries heightened risk of substance use and dependence, and criminal activity. Pharmacologic treatment is a key component of ADHD management and has been found to be cost effective and generally well tolerated. However, despite increasing options for medication therapy, community management of ADHD is suboptimal. This review assesses current research on lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX), a relatively recent addition to the range of treatment options. Areas covered in this review This review summarizes peer-reviewed literature on LDX published 2003 - 2010. What the reader will gain The reader will gain insight into the efficacy and safety of LDX in the treatment of ADHD, and its place in the clinical armamentarium. Take home message LDX is a useful addition to the formulary, showing similar efficacy and safety profiles to other stimulants.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
LDX modulates seven human protein targets: it activates TAAR1 and inhibits SLC18A2, DAT, NET, SERT, MAOA, and MAOB.
“LDX has been reported to modulate with pharmacological action of seven human protein targets (Table 2). On the one hand, it acts as activator of TAAR1. On the other hand, six protein targets are inhibited by LDX: synaptic vesicular amine transporter (SLC18A2), DAT (SLC6A3), NET (SLC6A2), SERT (SLC6A4) and amine oxidase [flavin-containing] (MAO) A and B [153–157].”
From Molecular Characterisation of the Mechanism of Action of Stimulant Drugs Lisdexamfetamine and Methylphenidate on ADHD Neurobiology: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [154]
All of these targets are involved in presynaptic signalling, and LDX therefore has a role in regulating three main NT pathways: DA, NE and serotonin.
“All of these targets are involved in the presynaptic signalling, and LDX therefore has a role in regulating three main NT pathways: DA, NE and serotonin.”
From Molecular Characterisation of the Mechanism of Action of Stimulant Drugs Lisdexamfetamine and Methylphenidate on ADHD Neurobiology: A Review (2022) · cites this paper as [154]
Cites
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C. K., Demler, O., Faraone, S. V., Greenhill, L. L., Howes, M. J., Secnik, K., et al. (2006) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716 · Cited by 3,886 · see citing works
Pliszka, S. (2007) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e318054e724 · Cited by 1,765 · see citing works
Froehlich, T. E., Lanphear, B., Epstein, J. N., Barbaresi, W., Katusic, S., & Kahn, R. (2007) · Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.9.857 · Cited by 779 · see citing works
Teter, C. J., McCabe, S. E., LaGrange, K., Cranford, J. A., & Boyd, C. J. (2006) · Pharmacotherapy The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy · doi:10.1592/phco.26.10.1501 · Cited by 540 · see citing works
Biederman, J., Krishnan, S., Zhang, Y., McGough, J. J., & Findling, R. L. (2007) · Clinical Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/s0149-2918(07)80083-x · Cited by 404 · see citing works
Pelham, W. E., Gnagy, E. M., Burrows-Maclean, L., Williams, A., Fabiano, G. A., Morrisey, S. M., Chronis, A. M., Forehand, G. L., Nguyen, C. A., Hoffman, M. T., et al. (2001) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.107.6.e105 · Cited by 378 · see citing works
Biederman, J., Boellner, S. W., Childress, A., Lopez, F. A., Krishnan, S., & Zhang, Y. (2007) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.04.015 · Cited by 356 · see citing works
Vetter, V. L., Elia, J., Erickson, C., Berger, S., Blum, N., Uzark, K., & Webb, C. L. (2008) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.107.189473 · Cited by 296 · see citing works
Review of Medication Adherence in Children and Adults with ADHD
Adler, L. D., & Nierenberg, A. A. (2010) · Postgraduate Medicine · doi:10.3810/pgm.2010.01.2112 · Cited by 295 · see citing works
Adler, L. A., Goodman, D. W., Kollins, S. H., Weisler, R. H., Krishnan, S., Zhang, Y., & Biederman, J. (2008) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v69n0903 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Self-citationThe neuropharmacology of ADHD drugs in vivo: Insights on efficacy and safety
Heal, D. J., Cheetham, S. C., & Smith, S. L. (2009) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.08.020 · Cited by 198 · see citing works
Graham, J., & Coghill, D. (2008) · CNS Drugs · doi:10.2165/00023210-200822030-00003 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Jasinski, D., & Krishnan, S. (2009) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881109103113 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Wigal, T., Brams, M., Gasior, M., Gao, J., Squires, L., Giblin, J., & 316 Study Group (2010) · Behavioral and Brain Functions · doi:10.1186/1744-9081-6-34 · Cited by 136 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Pivotal trial(s) [22,30,33,36] Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate”
MethodKollins, S. H. (2008) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054707311654 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Self-citationEvolution of the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children: A review
Findling, R. L. (2008) · Clinical Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2008.05.006 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Pappadopulos, E., Jensen, P. S., Chait, A. R., Arnold, L. E., Swanson, J. M., Greenhill, L. L., Hechtman, L., Chuang, S., Wells, K. C., Pelham, W., et al. (2009) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e31819c23ed · Cited by 112 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The complex medical dosing schedules that were prevalent before the more recent long-acting formulations became available have also been associated with poor compliance [4,7,13].”
Backgroundthe 311 Study Group, Wigal, S. B., Kollins, S. H., Childress, A. C., & Squires, L. (2009) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health · doi:10.1186/1753-2000-3-17 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Self-citationJasinski, D., & Krishnan, S. (2009) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881108093841 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Weisler, R., Young, J., Mattingly, G., Gao, J., Squires, L., Adler, L., & 304 Study Group (2009) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s1092852900024056 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Findling, R. L., Childress, A. C., Krishnan, S., & McGough, J. J. (2008) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s1092852900016898 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Metabolism, Distribution and Elimination of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate
Krishnan, S. M., Pennick, M., & Stark, J. G. (2008) · Clinical Drug Investigation · doi:10.2165/0044011-200828120-00002 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Murray, D. W., Arnold, L. E., Swanson, J., Wells, K., Burns, K. E. A., Jensen, P. S., Hechtman, L. T., Paykina, N., Legato, L. J., & Strauss, T. (2008) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-008-0068-4 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Krishnan, S., & Zhang, Y. (2008) · The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology · doi:10.1177/0091270007310381 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Ermer, J., Homolka, R., Martin, P., Buckwalter, M., Purkayastha, J., & Roesch, B. (2010) · The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology · doi:10.1177/0091270009357346 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Boellner, S. W., Stark, J. G., Krishnan, S., & Zhang, Y. (2010) · Clinical Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2010.02.011 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S., Coghill, D., Wigal, T., DeBacker, M., & Swanson, J. (2009) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1089/cap.2009.0024 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
New Formulations of Stimulants for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Connor, D. F., & Steingard, R. J. (2004) · CNS Drugs · doi:10.2165/00023210-200418140-00005 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Krishnan, S., & Moncrief, S. (2007) · Drug Metabolism and Disposition · doi:10.1124/dmd.106.011973 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Continuity in Methylphenidate Treatment of Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Olfson, M., Marcus, S. C., Zhang, H. F., & Wan, G. J. (2007) · Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy · doi:10.18553/jmcp.2007.13.7.570 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Adler, L. A., Weisler, R. H., Goodman, D. W., Hamdani, M., & Niebler, G. E. (2009) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.09m05335pur · Cited by 42 · cited 1× · see citing works
“active treatment group; they therefore recommend that cardiovascular monitoring should be part of standard care with LDX [34].”
BackgroundEffects of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Treatment for ADHD on Growth
Faraone, S. V., Spencer, T. J., Kollins, S. H., & Glatt, S. J. (2010) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-201001000-00006 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Self-citationThree-Year Follow-Up of Syndromal Antisocial Behavior in Adults
Goldstein, R. B., & Grant, B. F. (2009) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.08m04545 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Assessing methylphenidate preference in ADHD patients using a choice procedure
Fredericks, E. M., & Kollins, S. H. (2004) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-004-1838-2 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationReview of long-acting stimulants in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Weisler, R. H. (2007) · Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1517/14656566.8.6.745 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Eosinophilic Hepatitis in an Adolescent During Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Treatment for ADHD
Hood, B., & Nowicki, M. J. (2010) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2009-1835 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Poison Centers Detect an Unexpectedly Frequent Number of Adverse Drug Reactions to Lisdexamfetamine
Spiller, H. A., Griffith, J. R., Anderson, D. L., Weber, J. A., & Aleguas, A. (2008) · Annals of Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1345/aph.1l240 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Alopecia Following Initiation of Lisdexamfetamine in a Pediatric Patient
Brahm, N. C., & Hamilton, D. (2009) · The Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/pcc.08l00753 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Amphetamine, past and present – a pharmacological and clinical perspective
Heal, D. J., Smith, S. L., Gosden, J., & Nutt, D. (2013) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881113482532 · Cited by 622 · see citing works
Hodgkins, P., Shaw, M., Coghill, D., & Hechtman, L. (2012) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-012-0286-5 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Millan, M. J., Goodwin, G. M., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., & Ove Ögren, S. (2015) · European Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.01.016 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Quintero, J., Gutiérrez-Casares, J. R., & Álamo, C. (2022) · Neurology and Therapy · doi:10.1007/s40120-022-00392-2 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
“All the subsequent analysis was carried out taking into account the active compound, since the parental prodrug is biologically inactive [154].”
BackgroundNonmedical Use and Diversion of ADHD Stimulants Among U.S. Adults Ages 18-49
Cassidy, T. A., Varughese, S., Russo, L., Budman, S. H., Eaton, T. A., & Butler, S. F. (2012) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054712468486 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Current approaches in tamper-resistant and abuse-deterrent formulations
Mastropietro, D. J., & Omidian, H. (2012) · Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy · doi:10.3109/03639045.2012.680468 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Abuse-deterrent formulations: Part 2: commercial products and proprietary technologies
Mastropietro, D. J., & Omidian, H. (2014) · Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1517/14656566.2014.970175 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Ferrín, M., & Taylor, E. A. (2011) · Future Neurology · doi:10.2217/fnl.11.5 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Gutiérrez-Casares, J. R., Quintero, J., Jorba, G., Junet, V., Martínez, V., Pozo-Rubio, T., Oliva, B., Daura, X., Mas, J. M., & Montoto, C. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.741170 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Poddar, A., Gaddam, S., Sonnaila, S., Bhavaraju, V. S. M., & Agrawal, S. (2025) · NeuroSci · doi:10.3390/neurosci6020041 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Gutiérrez-Casares, J. R., Quintero, J., Segú-Vergés, C., Monterde, P. R., Pozo-Rubio, T., Coma, M., & Montoto, C. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.939650 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Gutiérrez-Casares, J. R., Segú-Vergés, C., Chueca, J. S., Pozo-Rubio, T., Coma, M., Montoto, C., & Quintero, J. (2023) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1118253 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Clinical Utility of Lisdexamfetamine for the Management of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Nguyen, M. L., Shapiro, M. A., & Tharani, S. (2012) · Clinical Medicine Insights Therapeutics · doi:10.4137/cmt.s8706 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Stein, J., Jorge, B. C., Nagaoka, L. T., Reis, A. C. C., Manoel, B. D. M., Godoi, A. R., Fioravante, V. C., Martinez, F. E., Pinheiro, P. F. F., Pupo, A. S., et al. (2024) · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.taap.2024.116867 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dew, R. E., & Kollins, S. H.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- Venue
- Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
- Publisher
- Informa Healthcare
- Published
- 2010-10-28
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 17
- Pages
- 2907-2913
- ISSN
- 1465-6566 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-7666
- OpenAlex
- W2007288100
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pharmaceutical studies and practices
- Keywords
- lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stimulant medication, ADHD medication, drug efficacy, drug safety, substance use risk
- MeSH terms
- Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Dextroamphetamine, Humans
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review