Prescribe or Pass: The PoP Pod
Prescribe or Pass: The PoP Pod is the clinician edition of Prescribe or Pass an evidence-based podcast for pharmacists, pharmacy students and other clinicians who work with medicines.
Hosted by Australian pharmacist, educator and science communicator Kate Thomas, each episode explores one medicine, one condition or one clinical concept, explaining not just what we do, but why we do it.
Expect practical pharmacology, clinical reasoning, patient counselling, common misconceptions, adverse effects, ethical reflection and the questions that arise in real-world practice.
Some episodes stand alone. Others form structured educational series, with reflective questions to support continuing professional development.
Clear, practical and independent, PoP Pod helps clinicians build confidence, challenge assumptions and communicate medicines information more effectively.
Prescribe or Pass: The PoP Pod
Episode 5: Dexamphetamine & Vyvanse Explained | How They Work and Why They’re Different
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If Vyvanse is converted into dexamphetamine… why do the two medicines feel so different?
In Episode 5 of our ADHD medicines series, we unpack the science behind the amphetamine family and explain one of the most fascinating concepts in pharmacology: the prodrug.
Learn how lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is converted into active dexamphetamine inside red blood cells, why this creates a smoother and longer-lasting effect, and why the capsule itself isn’t actually slow release.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The difference between dexamphetamine and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
- What a prodrug is and why it matters
- How red blood cells gradually convert Vyvanse into dexamphetamine
- Why Vyvanse often lasts longer than immediate-release dexamphetamine
- Why some people are prescribed both Vyvanse and dexamphetamine
- The evidence behind common advice about food and protein
- The truth about vitamin C and whether it really affects ADHD medicines
- Practical counselling points and monitoring considerations for pharmacists and other clinicians
Whether you’re a pharmacist, pharmacy student, prescriber or another healthcare professional, this episode will help you understand not just what these medicines do, but why they behave so differently in clinical practice.
As always, the episode concludes with reflective questions to support your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Next episode: We leave stimulant medicines behind and explore the often-overlooked world of non-stimulant ADHD treatments, including atomoxetine, guanfacine and clonidine. Who they’re for, how they work, and where they fit into ADHD management.