Vyvanse in the UK: Elvanse, Lisdexamfetamine, Schedule 2

Quick reference

Drug class: CNS stimulant
Controlled substance: Class B, Schedule 2 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
Prescription required: Yes. Treatment must be initiated by a specialist (psychiatrist or ADHD clinician). A GP may take over repeat prescribing under a shared care agreement once treatment is stabilised.
Available locally: The Vyvanse brand is not sold in the UK. Elvanse (identical active ingredient, manufactured by Takeda) is the UK-licensed equivalent. Supply has been intermittently short since late 2023 due to demand outpacing manufacturing quotas. Specialist ADHD pharmacies and clinics near Harley Street and Marylebone tend to maintain more reliable stock.
Storage: Store at room temperature, below 25°C, away from moisture and direct light. Keep capsules in original blister packaging.
Max supply to carry: Up to 3 months' supply may be brought into the UK without a Home Office personal import licence. A doctor's letter is required for border verification.
Key document: A signed doctor's letter naming both Vyvanse (your home-market brand) and lisdexamfetamine (the INN), your dose, quantity carried, and travel dates. The letter must include the prescriber's professional registration number.
Emergency alternative: If Elvanse is unavailable, a UK psychiatrist may consider alternatives in the same drug class, such as methylphenidate formulations; that substitution decision rests entirely with a local specialist.

Where to find Vyvanse in the United Kingdom

Specialist ADHD pharmacies (e.g. Pharmazon Home Care, London)
Pharmacies that specialise in ADHD patients maintain larger standing orders for lisdexamfetamine and typically stock all capsule strengths. Many offer home delivery across the UK.
£85–£130 per 28-day supply (private prescription) (~$115–$176 / ~€99–€152)
Reliable
Pharmacies near private ADHD clinics (Harley Street, Marylebone, central London)
Clinic-adjacent pharmacies build direct supply relationships with wholesalers and are the most consistent non-specialist option for Elvanse.
Reliable
Boots
Nationwide chain; stock varies significantly by branch and capsule strength. Call ahead before presenting your prescription.
Intermittent
LloydsPharmacy
Stock availability is branch-dependent. Strength shortages (particularly 50mg and 70mg) occur without notice.
Intermittent
NHS community pharmacies (general)
Supply has been in a chronic fragile state since late 2023. Ring in advance and be prepared to contact multiple pharmacies. NHS prescriptions are processed at the standard flat prescription charge.
Intermittent

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Vyvanse in the UK: what travellers need to know about Elvanse

Vyvanse is not sold under that brand name in the United Kingdom. The same active ingredient, lisdexamfetamine, is licensed and dispensed here as Elvanse, manufactured by the same company, Takeda. Both brands are clinically identical.

If you travel to the UK expecting to find Vyvanse on pharmacy shelves or on a prescription pad, you will not. Your prescriber will need to name Elvanse or lisdexamfetamine on any UK documentation. For the full import paperwork workflow, see our ADHD guide for the United Kingdom.^[1]

Elvanse is a Class B, Schedule 2 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Supply has been fragile across the UK since late 2023, with demand growth outpacing the manufacturing quotas that the Home Office sets for Schedule 2 controlled drug raw materials. Planning your supply before you arrive is the most important practical step this article covers.^[2]

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.

Documentation for travelling to the UK with Vyvanse

Bringing lisdexamfetamine into the UK requires a doctor's letter and no more than a 3-month personal supply under the Home Office personal import policy. Trips of under 3 months do not require a personal import licence; a signed prescriber's letter is sufficient. Because pharmacies search under the brand name Elvanse rather than Vyvanse, your letter should name both the brand you normally take and the INN lisdexamfetamine.^[3]

Naming Vyvanse on your doctor's letter

Ask your prescriber to list the brand name (Vyvanse), the INN (lisdexamfetamine), your dose, and the total quantity you are carrying. The letter must include the prescriber's professional registration number and signature. UK Border Force officers and pharmacists recognise lisdexamfetamine and Elvanse; adding your home-market brand name eliminates any confusion about the drug identity.

Questions to ask your prescriber before you travel

Bring these questions to your appointment before you leave.

Can you write a doctor's letter naming both Vyvanse and lisdexamfetamine, my dose, the quantity I am carrying, and your professional registration number?
If Elvanse is out of stock at UK pharmacies while I am there, can you advise me in writing on a backup option that a UK specialist could review?
For a trip longer than 3 months, can you help me apply for a Home Office personal export licence at least 15 working days before I depart?
If my prescription runs out while I am in the UK, what information should I give a UK psychiatrist to continue treatment under a private consultation?
How do I contact you or your clinic from the UK in an emergency if I lose my medication or my supply is confiscated at the border?

How much Vyvanse to bring

Bring your full trip supply from home. Elvanse supply across UK pharmacies remains in a chronic fragile state, with certain strengths intermittently unavailable even at major chains. Relying on finding your dose locally is a risk not worth taking. The Home Office personal import policy allows up to 3 months' worth without a licence, which covers most trips.^[4]

Customs and security with Vyvanse entering the UK

Lisdexamfetamine capsules must be carried on your person in original packaging, not in checked luggage. Keep your doctor's letter in your hand luggage alongside the medication. Because your capsules will be labelled Vyvanse and UK Border Force officers will be familiar with Elvanse, having the INN lisdexamfetamine clearly on your letter removes potential delays. If your trip exceeds 3 months or you are carrying more than 3 months' supply, you must apply for a Home Office personal import licence at least 15 working days before arrival.^[3]

Vyvanse availability in the United Kingdom

Lisdexamfetamine brands in the United Kingdom

Brand	Indication	Formulation	Availability in the UK
Vyvanse	ADHD; binge eating disorder (BED) in adults (home-market brand)	Capsule (your home-market brand, not the UK name)	Not sold under this name in the UK. Only available as Elvanse.
Elvanse	ADHD in children (6+) and adults; moderate-to-severe BED in adults	Hard capsule (20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg, 70mg)	Intermittent. Persistent supply fragility since late 2023. Specialist ADHD pharmacies most reliable.

Elvanse is the only lisdexamfetamine brand sold in the UK. There are no other sibling brands of this active ingredient marketed here. ADHD prescriptions in England rose by over 20% year-on-year from 2020 to 2024, and manufacturing quotas for Schedule 2 controlled drugs have not kept pace. The result is a persistent supply gap that affects all Elvanse capsule strengths, with higher strengths (50mg, 70mg) at greater risk of localised stock-outs.^[5]

Treatment must be initiated by a specialist. A GP can continue prescribing under a shared care agreement, but cannot start Elvanse without a prior specialist assessment. NHS prescriptions cost the standard English flat charge (currently £9.90 per item); Elvanse is free on prescription in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Private prescriptions for lisdexamfetamine run £50–£130 per month (~$68–$176 / ~€58–€152), with 70mg capsules reaching £120+ (~$162 / ~€140) for a 28-day supply at some pharmacies. As a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, Elvanse prescriptions are limited to a maximum of 30 days' supply per item and must be dispensed within 28 days of the prescription date.^[6]

Pharmacy phrases for UK pharmacies

“”

Do you have Elvanse in stock? I take lisdexamfetamine, it may be labelled Vyvanse on my prescription from home.

“”

My prescription says Vyvanse but I understand the UK brand is Elvanse, they contain the same active ingredient, lisdexamfetamine. Can you check your stock for the strength I need?

“”

If you are out of stock of Elvanse, can you tell me which nearby pharmacies might have it, or do you have a specialist ADHD pharmacy you can recommend?

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Switching from Vyvanse to a different brand or generic in the UK

Because Elvanse is the only lisdexamfetamine brand in the UK, any switch is to a different active ingredient, not a sibling brand. as of mid-2025, so Elvanse is your only in-country option for the same molecule. If Elvanse is unavailable in your strength, a UK psychiatrist may consider other ADHD medications; that decision belongs with the clinician, not this guide. Raise the scenario with your own prescriber before you travel using the checklist above.^[2]

The key difference between Vyvanse and the medications a UK psychiatrist might consider as alternatives is the active ingredient itself, not a formulation variant. Methylphenidate-based options (Concerta XL, Medikinet XL, Ritalin) act through a different mechanism. A UK specialist would need to assess your history before making any such recommendation.

What to do if you lose Vyvanse in the United Kingdom

If your supply is lost or stolen, contact your home prescriber immediately for documentation support. You cannot obtain a refill in the UK on a foreign prescription; you will need to see a UK-registered psychiatrist privately to receive a new UK prescription for Elvanse.

Pharmacies can only dispense what is written on a valid UK prescription, no Serious Shortage Protocols exist for lisdexamfetamine that would allow substitution without a new prescription. For a police report (required by some travel insurers), call 101 for non-emergency theft, or 999 in an emergency. The UK emergency number for ambulance, police, and fire is 999.^[7]

Specialist ADHD pharmacies in London (including those near Harley Street) have the fastest access to Elvanse stock and are the best starting point if you need to locate an emergency supply once a UK prescription has been issued. Ask the private clinic that issues your prescription which pharmacy they recommend.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Vyvanse legal in the United Kingdom?

Lisdexamfetamine is legal in the UK when lawfully prescribed and carried with a valid doctor's letter. The brand name Vyvanse is not sold here; the UK-licensed brand is Elvanse. It is a Class B, Schedule 2 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, so it must be in original packaging with prescription documentation when you cross the border.

Do I need a Home Office licence to bring Vyvanse into the UK?

For trips of less than 3 months, you do not need a Home Office personal import licence. The UK's personal import policy allows you to carry up to a 3-month supply of a Schedule 2 drug that has been lawfully prescribed to you, provided you carry it on your person with a signed doctor's letter. For trips of 3 months or longer, apply for a Home Office personal import licence at least 15 working days before you travel by contacting the Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit at dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Is Vyvanse available at UK pharmacies?

No pharmacy in the UK will stock or dispense Vyvanse under that name. The same active ingredient, lisdexamfetamine, is sold as Elvanse. Supply of Elvanse has been intermittently short since late 2023 due to rising demand and Home Office manufacturing quotas for Schedule 2 controlled drugs. Specialist ADHD pharmacies maintain more consistent stock than standard high-street chains.

What is the difference between Vyvanse and Elvanse in the UK?

Vyvanse and Elvanse are the same medication, both contain lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, manufactured by Takeda. The difference is purely geographic branding: Vyvanse is used in North America and some other markets; Elvanse is the brand marketed in the UK and across most European countries. The capsule formulations, approved doses (20mg to 70mg), and MHRA-licensed indications (ADHD and binge eating disorder in adults) are the same.

Can I switch from Vyvanse to Elvanse in the UK if I run out of my home supply?

Elvanse is the direct UK equivalent of Vyvanse, same molecule, same doses. However, you cannot simply present a foreign Vyvanse prescription at a UK pharmacy. You would need a UK-registered psychiatrist to issue a valid UK prescription for Elvanse before any pharmacy can dispense it. That consultation is available privately and typically takes one appointment at a specialist ADHD clinic.

How much does Elvanse (the UK version of Vyvanse) cost in the UK?

On an NHS prescription in England, you pay the standard flat charge per item (currently £9.90), or nothing in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Private prescriptions cost between £50 and £130 per 28-day supply depending on dose and pharmacy, with 70mg capsules reaching £120 or more (~$162 / ~€140). Private ADHD consultations to obtain that prescription add a further cost.

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 in the United Kingdom: Elvanse, Lisdexamfetamine and Supply