The Effects & Dangers of Snorting Vyvanse

Vyvanse, the brand name for lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX), is a prescription stimulant drug for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adults.1 It is a schedule II controlled substance that comes with risk of abuse and addiction.1 You should only use Vyvanse if a licensed medical professional has prescribed it for you.

If you or a loved one misuses Vyvanse, you should understand Vyvanse risks and how to seek help. Learn about what happens if you snort Vyvanse, Vyvanse addiction, and how to get treatment at our Atlanta-based alcohol and drug rehab below.

Why Do People Snort Vyvanse?

People misuse Vyvanse for various reasons. People who snort Vyvanse often do so because they want to experience euphoria, or get “high,” lose weight, increase alertness, energy, or attention, improve academic performance, or experiment with its effects.2

Sometimes, people assume that snorting Vyvanse will increase the speed or intensity of the high or other effects. However, Vyvanse has a distinctive feature that results in a slow, controlled release of the drug in a person’s blood.4 Due to Vyvanse’s mechanisms of action, Vyvanse insufflation will not result in heightened or more rapid effects, which could potentially deter misuse.4

Can Vyvanse be abused? Yes, and regardless of how it’s used, Vyvanse abuse can result in a range of serious effects, including:1

• Rapid heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and/or sweating
• Dilated pupils
• Hyperactivity
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Appetite loss
• Poor coordination
• Tremors
• Flushed skin
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Anxiety
• Psychosis
• Aggressive behavior
• Suicidal or homicidal ideation

What Happens When You Snort Vyvanse?

When you snort Vyvanse instead of using it as directed under a doctor’s supervision, you can experience potentially unwanted and unintended effects and suffer various Vyvanse dangers. Different methods of use, such as injecting, swallowing, or snorting Vyvanse, can result in unique effects, in addition to the general impact of Vyvanse misuse.3

Vyvanse is a prodrug stimulant, meaning that it is inactive until metabolized in the bloodstream, at which time it is then converted into its active form.4 So, can snorting Vyvanse get you high? As mentioned above, snorting Vyvanse will not result in a quicker or more intense high than other methods of use 4

Effects of Snorting Vyvanse

What happens when you snort Vyvanse? Inhaling Vyvanse instead of taking it as prescribed can be very harmful and may result in snorting Vyvanse effects, such as:5, 6

• Damage to nasal passages
• Nasal septum perforation
• Chronic sinus infections
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Loss of sense of smell
• Cardiovascular events

Snorting or misusing drugs is always dangerous and can lead to dependence, addiction, and overdose.5, 6

Signs & Symptoms of a Vyvanse Overdose

Regardless of the method of use, people who misuse Vyvanse place themselves at risk of overdose, which occurs when a person takes too much of a drug, resulting in severe effects that endanger their health and safety.1,7 An overdose can be lethal and requires immediate medical attention.1

The signs and symptoms of a Vyvanse overdose can include:1

• Restlessness
• Tremor
• Overactive reflexes.
• Rapid breathing
• Confusion
• Hostility
• Hallucinations
• Panic
• Dangerously high body temperature.
• Rapid breakdown of muscle tissue.
• Arrhythmias
• High or low blood pressure
• Circulatory collapse
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Convulsions
• Coma
• Death

What Are the Effects of Vyvanse Abuse?

As mentioned previously, Vyvanse abuse can result in various adverse effects, such as:1

• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Rapid breathing
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Decreased appetite and weight loss
• Trouble sleeping and insomnia
• Exacerbated existing mental health issues
• Psychosis
• Irritability
• Mania
• Hallucinations
• Seizure
• Stroke
• Addiction

What Are the Signs of Vyvanse Abuse?

Misuse of prescription stimulants like Vyvanse means that a person is: 8

• Taking a medication in a different way or dose than originally prescribed
• Taking a prescription that has been prescribed to someone else, even if for a valid medical reason
• Taking the medication to feel euphoria or achieve a high

People who misuse stimulant medications like Vyvanse may display the various physical symptoms mentioned above.1 They may also:9

• Doctor shop, meaning visiting different doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions
• Fill prescriptions early or ask for frequent refills
• Use fake or altered prescriptions

Am I Addicted to Vyvanse?

Misuse of Vyvanse can lead to dependence and addiction, but these terms are not interchangeable. Dependence is a normal physiological adaptation that occurs due to repeated administration of a drug, resulting in withdrawal symptoms when a person cuts down or stops using it.9 Addiction, which often also includes dependence, is a chronic yet treatable medical condition that results in drug-seeking behaviors and compulsive substance use despite the negative consequences. 9,10

Medical professionals diagnose Vyvanse addiction as a stimulant use disorder.11 The diagnostic criteria for stimulant use disorder include: 11

• Using the stimulant in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended
• A persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control stimulant use
• Spending a lot of time in activities necessary to obtain the stimulant, use the stimulant, or recover from its effects
• Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use the stimulant
• Recurrent stimulant use results in failure to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home
• Continued stimulant use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the stimulant
• Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of stimulant use
• Recurrent stimulant use in situations in which it is physically hazardous
• Stimulant use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the stimulant
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal

If you or a loved one is concerned about Vyvanse addiction, it’s important to seek help. Contact your doctor to discuss your symptoms and condition, and/or reach out to a qualified and certified addiction treatment provider to have an evaluation and start the rehab process.

How Is Vyvanse Addiction Treated?

Vyvanse addiction is typically treated with a variety of evidence-based methods, which include psychosocial interventions and behavioral therapies, such as contingency management.7 There are currently no FDA-approved medications for stimulant use disorder.7

If you are dependent on or addicted to Vyvanse, you may need to undergo a detox to manage withdrawal symptoms.10 For your safety and peace of mind, this is best done at a treatment center. It’s not recommended to detox at home without professional supervision or to quit cold turkey.

Following detox, people are encouraged to enter ongoing treatment to address the issues that underlie addiction.12 Professional treatment centers like Empowered Recovery Center in Atlanta provide expert treatment to help people safely stop using Vyvanse and gain support and skills that are needed for long-term recovery.

We offer various levels of addiction treatment to suit all needs, including:

• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Virtual IOP
• Standard Outpatient Programs
• Aftercare Planning
• Alumni Program

Treatment for Vyvanse Addiction in Atlanta

At Empowered Recovery Center, we understand it can be challenging to seek addiction treatment. That is why we offer treatment tailored to your specific needs, so you can focus on creating a brighter future. Our Atlanta rehab center provides a range of addiction treatment programs tailored to each individual’s unique needs.

To get started with treatment, call us or fill out our contact form, and a member of our rehab admissions team can help you. Our admissions team is available to answer any questions you may have about paying for rehab or using insurance to cover rehab, and we can easily verify your insurance benefits. Take the first step toward recovery and call us today.

References

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2017, January). Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) prescribing information. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208510lbl.pdf
2. Compton, W. M., & Jones, C. M. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of prescription stimulant use, misuse, use disorders, and motivations for misuse among U.S. adults. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(8), 713–722. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17091048
3. Weyandt, L. L., White, T. L., Marraccini, M. E., Gudmundsdottir, B. G., Munro, B. A., Rathkey, E. S., & McCallum, A. (2016). Prescription stimulant medication misuse: Where are we and where do we go from here? Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 24(5), 400–414. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5113141/
4. Goodman, D. W. (2010). Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) is a prodrug stimulant for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. P & T: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, 35(5), 273–287. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2873712/
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorders. (Publication No. PEP20-06-01-002). SAMHSA. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep20-06-01-001.pdf
6. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, June 12). What classes of prescription drugs are commonly misused? Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/what-classes-prescription-drugs-are-commonly-misused
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). A Stimulant Guide: Answers to emerging questions about stimulants in the context of the overdose epidemic in the United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/media/pdfs/2024/03/CDC-Stimulant-Guide.pdf
8. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2025, May 30.). Prescription drug misuse. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/prescriptiondrugmisuse.html
9. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2011). Prescription drug misuse: Research report series. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/rxreportfinalprint.pdf
10. American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2019, September 15.). Definition of addiction. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://www.asam.org/quality-care/definition-of-addiction
11. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (3rd ed., revised January 2018). Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf