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Background: In February 2007, the FDA approved a new form of amphetamine — lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) — for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6 to 12. LDX was developed in an effort to reduce the potential for abuse, toxicity, and medication diversion, while retaining the efficacy of the stimulant. LDX is a therapeutically inactive prodrug in which dextroamphetamine is bound to L-lysine (an essential amino acid), making the amphetamine component inactive. After LDX is ingested orally, the covalent bond is broken during metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract and liver, and LDX converts to L-lysine and the active form of d-amphetamine. The gradual release of the active form of d-amphetamine…