Elvanse in France: Xurta, Supply and Prescribing

Quick reference

Drug class: CNS stimulant
Controlled substance: Yes. Classified as a stupéfiant (narcotic) under French law. Lisdexamfetamine is scheduled under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances (INCB Green List) and classified as a narcotic under France's Code de la santé publique.
Prescription required: Yes. Initial prescription restricted to neurologists, psychiatrists, and paediatricians, written on an ordonnance sécurisée. Prescriptions limited to 28 days per issue.
Available locally: Vyvanse brand is not stocked in French pharmacies. Lisdexamfetamine is available in France since July 2025 as Xurta. Elvanse was previously accessible only via compassionate access (AAC). Carry your full supply of Vyvanse for your trip.
Storage: Store below 25°C, away from moisture and direct light. Keep in original pharmacy packaging.
Max supply to carry: 28 days per prescription issue under French law. Import quantity must correspond to prescribed treatment duration.
Key document: Original prescription naming Vyvanse (brand) and lisdexamfetamine (INN) plus dose. ANSM attestation de transport personnel de médicaments stupéfiants for non-Schengen entry. Schengen certificate if travelling within the Schengen Area.
Emergency alternative: If Vyvanse is lost or damaged, consult a French neurologist or psychiatrist about Xurta; no direct emergency dispensing of Vyvanse is possible at a French pharmacy.

Where to find Vyvanse in France

Pharmacies nationwide (Xurta brand)
Vyvanse brand is not stocked. Xurta (lisdexamfetamine) has been available in French pharmacies since July 2025 but stock levels remain variable as the drug is new to market; call ahead before visiting.
Not reimbursed by Assurance Maladie. Out-of-pocket cost not yet widely published; verify directly with the pharmacy.
Limited
Hospital pharmacies (pharmacie hospitalière)
Hospital pharmacies may hold Xurta stock independently of retail chains. A valid specialist prescription is required.
Same as retail; no reduced rate for non-insured patients.
Intermittent
Approved online pharmacies (pharmacies agréées en ligne)
ANSM-registered online pharmacies can supply lisdexamfetamine against a valid French ordonnance sécurisée. Confirm ANSM registration on the pharmacy's website before ordering.
Variable; approximately €10 (~$11) delivery surcharge where applicable.
Unknown

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Vyvanse in France: what travellers need to know

Vyvanse/Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is not sold under that brand name in France. Lisdexamfetamine received French marketing authorisation in 2025 and launched in July 2025 as Xurta, making it the first amphetamine-class ADHD medication commercially approved in France. (same active ingredient, widely sold in the UK and several other European countries) was previously accessible in France only via a restricted compassionate-access programme (Autorisation d'Accès Compassionnel). If you take Vyvanse at home, no French pharmacy can dispense your brand directly. Bring your complete travel supply.^[2]^[1]

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation. Regulations change; verify current requirements with the ANSM and your national health authority before you travel.

Before you travel

Documentation for travelling to France with Vyvanse

Lisdexamfetamine is classified as a stupéfiant (narcotic) under the French Code de la santé publique, which means import rules are strict. See our ADHD in France guide for the full documentation timeline, including the ANSM attestation de transport and Schengen certificate requirements. Your doctor's letter must name Vyvanse by brand and lisdexamfetamine by INN, alongside your exact dose.^[3]

Naming Vyvanse on your doctor's letter

French customs officers search medication databases by brand name and INN. Include both 'Vyvanse' and 'lisdexamfetamine' on your letter, plus your dose and the duration of treatment. If your letter is not in English or French, carry a certified translation.

Questions to ask your prescriber before you travel

Bring these questions to your appointment before departure.

If Vyvanse is not available in France, can you write a backup prescription naming lisdexamfetamine by its INN and listing Xurta and Elvanse as locally recognised brand alternatives, so a French specialist can assess options?
Can you provide a letter that names both the brand (Vyvanse) and the INN (lisdexamfetamine), states the diagnosis, dose, and treatment duration, and is signed with your registration number?
If my trip extends beyond 28 days, can you supply enough medication and what documentation should I carry to support that quantity at customs?
If I need to access a French specialist for an emergency renewal, what clinical information should I carry to support continuity of my current dosage?
What is the best way to contact you directly from France if a customs officer or French clinician needs verbal or written confirmation of my prescription?

How much Vyvanse to bring

Bring enough Vyvanse to last your entire trip without relying on local supply. French customs permit a quantity matching your prescribed treatment duration, up to a three-month maximum for stays that long. Xurta (lisdexamfetamine) is now commercially available in France, but Vyvanse capsules specifically cannot be purchased at a French pharmacy. A practical buffer of a few extra days' supply covers flight delays and disrupted routines without pushing past the legal import quantity.^[4]

At the airport and border

Customs and security with Vyvanse in France

Vyvanse capsules are an oral lisdexamfetamine formulation, classified as a narcotic in France, and must travel in hand luggage only. with the pharmacy label showing your name, the medication name, and the prescribing doctor. If you are travelling from outside the Schengen Area, the ANSM can issue an attestation de transport personnel de médicaments stupéfiants for quantities up to your maximum prescribed duration; apply before departure. If you are entering from within the Schengen Area, a Schengen certificate (Article 75 certificate) issued by your national health authority is the relevant document. French law prohibits importing narcotic medications by post or courier under any circumstances.^[5]^[3]

While in country

Vyvanse availability in France

Vyvanse vs sibling brands of lisdexamfetamine in France

Brand	Indication	Formulation	Availability in France
Vyvanse	ADHD; binge eating disorder (in countries where approved)	Oral capsule (once daily)	Not sold in France. No French pharmacy stocks Vyvanse. Bring your full supply from home.
Xurta	ADHD (children aged 6+ and adults, second-line after methylphenidate)	Oral capsule (once daily)	Available in France since July 2025 at retail pharmacies and hospital pharmacies. Initial prescription from neurologist, psychiatrist, or paediatrician only. Not reimbursed.
Elvanse	ADHD (where licensed abroad, e.g. UK)	Oral capsule (once daily)	Previously available in France only via compassionate access (AAC). Now largely superseded by Xurta for French prescribing. Not a standard retail pharmacy stock item in France.

Xurta is the only lisdexamfetamine product with full marketing authorisation in France. The initial prescription must be written by a neurologist, psychiatrist, or paediatrician on a secure prescription form (ordonnance sécurisée) and is limited to 28 days per issue. Renewals are not restricted to specialists. Because Xurta only launched in mid-2025, stock availability at individual pharmacies is variable; call ahead before visiting.^[1]

Xurta is not reimbursed by Assurance Maladie as of September 2025, meaning the full cost falls to the patient. Published retail pricing is not yet widely available; ask the dispensing pharmacist for the current price before collection. Check whether your travel insurance covers prescription medication costs in France.^[6]

Pharmacy phrases for France

“Avez-vous du Xurta (lisdexamfétamine) en stock ?”

Do you have Xurta (lisdexamfetamine) in stock?

“Je prends du Vyvanse à l'étranger. Est-ce que le Xurta est l'équivalent disponible ici ?”

I take Vyvanse abroad. Is Xurta the equivalent available here?

“Pouvez-vous vérifier si une autre pharmacie a du Xurta en stock ?”

Can you check whether another pharmacy has Xurta in stock?

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Switching to a different brand or generic in France

Vyvanse and Xurta share the same active ingredient and are both classified as controlled substances under French law, but Vyvanse is not dispensable in France. A French neurologist or psychiatrist can prescribe Xurta if you establish care locally, though this requires a specialist appointment, not a walk-in pharmacy request. Elvanse (the brand name used in the UK and several other European countries) is not a standard retail stock item in France and should not be relied on as a backup. Any decision to switch from Vyvanse to a locally available product must be made by a qualified French specialist, not self-managed.

Emergencies

What to do if you lose Vyvanse in France

No French pharmacy can dispense Vyvanse brand capsules as an emergency replacement. If your supply is lost or stolen, contact SAMU (15) or go to the nearest urgences (emergency department) and request a psychiatric consultation. A French psychiatrist or neurologist can assess whether to prescribe Xurta as a locally available lisdexamfetamine product. Bring a copy of your original prescription, your prescriber's contact details, and your Nomedic IPS to support that consultation. File a police report (commissariat de police) immediately if medication is stolen, as this document supports any subsequent insurance claim or emergency prescription request.^[7]

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Frequently asked questions

Is Vyvanse legal in France?

Yes, Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is legal to bring into France, but only with the correct documentation: a valid prescription written on an ordonnance sécurisée, and either a Schengen certificate for travel within the Schengen Area or an ANSM attestation de transport personnel de médicaments stupéfiants for non-Schengen entry. The quantity you carry must not exceed 28 days' supply, in line with French prescription limits.

Is Vyvanse available in France?

Vyvanse brand capsules are not sold in France. The same active ingredient, lisdexamfetamine, received French marketing authorisation in 2025 and is sold as Xurta. Xurta has been available at retail and hospital pharmacies since July 2025, but stock remains variable as the drug is new to the French market. Travellers taking Vyvanse must bring their full supply from home.

What is the difference between Vyvanse and Xurta in France?

Vyvanse and Xurta contain the same active ingredient, lisdexamfetamine. The key difference for travellers is regulatory: Vyvanse is a brand name used in North America and some other markets, while Xurta is the brand authorised for commercial sale in France since 2025. Vyvanse cannot be purchased or dispensed in France; Xurta can, against a French specialist's ordonnance sécurisée.

What is the difference between Vyvanse and Elvanse, and is Elvanse available in France?

Vyvanse and Elvanse are both brand names for lisdexamfetamine and share the same active ingredient and formulation. Elvanse is the brand widely sold in the UK and several other European countries. In France, Elvanse was previously available only under a restricted compassionate-access programme and is not a standard retail pharmacy item. Xurta is now the French commercial brand for lisdexamfetamine.

Can I get a Vyvanse prescription filled at a French pharmacy?

No. French pharmacies cannot dispense Vyvanse brand medication. They also cannot fill a foreign prescription for a controlled substance directly. If you need lisdexamfetamine dispensed locally, a French neurologist, psychiatrist, or paediatrician must write a new French ordonnance sécurisée for Xurta. Bring a full supply of Vyvanse for your trip rather than relying on this pathway.

Do I need a Schengen certificate to bring Vyvanse into France?

If you are travelling within the Schengen Area and carrying lisdexamfetamine, a Schengen certificate (Article 75 certificate) issued by your national health authority is required. If you are entering France from outside the Schengen Area, the ANSM can issue an attestation de transport personnel de médicaments stupéfiants. Either document covers the quantity up to your maximum prescribed duration. Apply well before your departure date as processing takes time.

Related practical guide

10 Things You Must Do Before Travelling Abroad with ADHD Medication

ADHD stimulants are banned outright in some countries and tightly controlled in many others. Here is the practical checklist every traveller needs before setting off.

Vyvanse/Elvanse in France: Xurta Status, Supply and Prescribing