Drug & supplement interaction

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) + Lisdexamfetamine

Lisdexamfetamine brand name: Vyvanse.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has a moderate interaction with Lisdexamfetamine. Concomitant use of amphetamines and GHB can increase the risk of severe adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Lisdexamfetamine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

AMPHETAMINES

Why this applies to Lisdexamfetamine

Lisdexamfetamine falls under AMPHETAMINES — the group Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) interacts with.

Concomitant use of amphetamines and GHB can increase the risk of severe adverse effects.
Concomitant use of GHB with amphetamines has been associated with severe adverse effects. Theoretically, concomitant use of GHB with amphetamines may also antagonize the effects of GHB. Conversely, concomitant use of GHB with amphetamines is reported to mask the symptoms of amphetamine intoxication.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

First, a real safety note: GHB is not a dietary supplement. Outside of the tightly controlled prescription form (sodium oxybate), it's a dangerous, illegal central nervous system depressant. So I can't recommend combining it with anything. But here's how it would clash with Vyvanse if someone did. Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a stimulant that revs the brain up, while GHB powerfully slows it down. Putting them together pushes your body in two opposite directions at once.

The concern, based mostly on anecdotal reports, is that the stimulant can mask how sedated and impaired GHB is making you, so you may not realize how deeply your breathing is being suppressed. That mismatch can lead to serious, even life-threatening problems. Please talk with your pharmacist or doctor and steer clear of GHB.

References
  1. Anon. Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxy butyrate. JAMA 1991;265:447-8. DOI
  2. Chien-Po H, An-Yi W. Amphetamine toxicity masked by concomitant ?-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) ingestion. Am J Emerg Med 2022;58:338-339. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) has 249 major, 20 moderate, 5 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Lisdexamfetamine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb). Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) or Lisdexamfetamine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) or Lisdexamfetamine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Lisdexamfetamine

This page covers Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Lisdexamfetamine page lists 126 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 6 major · 98 moderate · 22 minor.

Open the Lisdexamfetamine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Lisdexamfetamine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)
Steady interest

#1,094 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Lisdexamfetamine
Top 1%

#28 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

What is Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)?

  • Narcolepsy (cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness)
  • Sleep aid
  • Misused as a recreational 'party drug'
  • Bodybuilding/muscle building (unproven)
  • Alcohol withdrawal (in some countries)

GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a powerful central nervous system depressant that is NOT a safe dietary supplement. In the U.S. it is a controlled substance, and only a tightly regulated prescription form (sodium oxybate) is legal for narcolepsy. Non-prescription GHB can cause coma, breathing failure, and death, and it is also a known 'date-rape' drug — it should not be taken outside of medical supervision.

Read the full Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Lisdexamfetamine

What Is Lisdexamfetamine Used For?

Brand name: Vyvanse

Lisdexamfetamine treats Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults and children age 6 and older. It is also approved to treat moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adults.

It is not approved or recommended for weight loss, and its safety and effectiveness for treating obesity have not been established. It is not recommended in children under 6 years old.

See full Lisdexamfetamine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

249Major
20Moderate
5Minor
2,555No known interaction
Major

249 interactions

Showing 60 of 249 major interactions — see all 249 on the Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) page.

Moderate

20 interactions

Minor

5 interactions

No interaction 2,555 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Lisdexamfetamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) with Lisdexamfetamine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) and Lisdexamfetamine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Lisdexamfetamine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb)?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.