Having read the description of Phentermine and Vyvanse, you can ask yourself: why are these drugs compared? They’re very different. Phentermine is anorectic, and Vyvanse is a CNS stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome in adults and children over the age of 6.
Despite this, many people see both drugs as a means to fight against excess weight. In this article, we will make a Phentermine vs Vyvanse comparison. We will also answer the question of whether Vyvanse can help in the fight against obesity.
Phentermine vs Vyvanse: similarities and differences
Both drugs have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and partly belong to the same group of substances – substituted amphetamines. However, the phentermine only partially replicates the amphetamine formula, using a similar algorithm for treating noradrenaline secretion in the human organism.
| Peculiarities | Phentermine | Vyvanse |
| Active substance | Phentermine hydrochloride | Lisdexamfetamine |
| Use | Obesity treatment | To treat attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity; treat an eating disorder |
| Principle of action | Acts on the central nervous system, suppressing appetite. Stimulates norepinephrine release in the hypothalamus without affecting serotonin. Suppresses appetite and increases metabolic rate, so you feel less hungry and burn more calories. | Releases the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine from their warehouses at the nerve ends of the brain. Both these neurotransmitters help to maintain vigilance, increase focus, and stimulate cognitive function and motivation. |
| The duration of treatment | Short-term | According to the doctor’s decision |
| Regimen | Daily intake | According to the doctor’s decision |
| Pharmaceutical form | Pills | Capsules and chewable tablets |
| Half-life | 20 hours | Up to 60 hours |
| Peak concentration | 4.4 hours after intake | 1 hour after intake |
The algorithm of influence of Vyvanse on food behaviour is not yet sufficiently known. It is assumed that dopamine release turns off the unconscious trigger, stimulating the person to seek pleasure in food.
Phentermine vs Vyvanse: the key difference
Phentermine and Vyvanse are fighting two entirely different causes of obesity. Phentermine fights conventional “metabolic” obesity caused by chronic metabolic disorders in the body against the background of excess calorie intake.
Vyvanse, in turn, fights obsessive-compulsive triggers that have a major influence on the eating behaviour of a person with ADHD. In contrast to metabolic obesity, the complexity of B.E.D (binge eating disorder) treatment is that weight gain does not occur gradually but as a result of the so-called “binge eating episodes”. For some people, this episode can last one week; for others – several months. Vyvanse was designed to free a person of obsessive-compulsive reactions that lead to an uncontrollable habit of overeating by stimulating dopamine in the brain receptors. You can learn about the effectiveness of the fight against B.E.D from a study conducted by the Vyvanse manufacturer.
Conclusion
Phentermine and Vyvanse are two drugs from the CNS class that can help with weight gain. However, both drugs are intended for people with different degrees of obesity of various origins.
