Study Assesses Using Vyvanse to Treat Brain Injured People with ADHD March 25, 2015.

Attention deficit disorder is one of the most common and debilitating results of traumatic brain injuries. A recent study published in the journal Brain Injury looked at the effectiveness of Vyvanse in terms of treating attention deficit disorder caused by moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. This is the first study of its kind among traumatic brain injury patients, being unique in that no other study has examined how stimulant medications can affect this disorder, rather than the typical methylphenidate.

The study was conducted over 12 weeks and utilized a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind test with cross-over. Twenty-two patients were selected to participate in the study, of whom 13 completed it. The patients were between 16 and 42 years old, with new brain injuries that resulted in attention deficit disorder. None of the patients who participated in the study had injuries that were more than 6 to 34 months old. All were assessed at 6 and 12 weeks during the study.

Encouraging highlights from the study include the following:

• The use of Vyvanse improved sustained attention in the study participants.
• It also improved memory, response speed stability, and endurance, as well as executive function.
• The patients all tolerated the Vyvanse well, and researchers confirmed the drug’s safety.

Positive outcomes were seen across all of the patients, even accounting for variabilities in the severity of their injuries. Since positive outcomes were seen in the patients who completed the study, this means that additional studies can be done to confirm the results.

Initial findings indicate that that Vyvanse may be an effective treatment in mitigating and controlling attention deficit disorder in patients with new moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. This research avenue may bring promise to those whose lives have been affected by traumatic brain injury and attention deficit disorder resulting from it.

If you or someone you love has sustained a brain injury due to an accident, contact the team at the Mellino Law Firm to schedule a free consultation to learn about your rights to obtain compensation.