How Long Does Adderall Stay in Your System?

If you have ADHD, you might wonder how long Adderall stays in your system, especially if you have to take a drug test for work. Adderall can be detected in the body anywhere from 46 hours to three months, depending on the test used.

Adderall, a stimulant medication containing dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts, is a powerful tool for those who need to stay alert and focused. Although it has legitimate use and is prescribed for ADHD, it is also widely abused, especially among students and those in stressful occupations.

Read on to learn more about how long Adderall stays in your system, as well as to learn more about Adderall addiction.

How Long Does Adderall Stay in Different Parts of Your Body?

A drug test uses a biological specimen to look for signs of illegal or prescription drugs in your system. Different tests can detect Adderall within different timeframes (detection windows):

Blood – Blood testing is an invasive type of testing. Adderall can be detected up to 46 hours after use.
Saliva – Adderall may be detected in saliva within 20 minutes of use and remains detectable for 20 to 50 hours.
Urine – With Adderall abuse, urine can test positive for 72 to 96 hours after use.
Hair – Adderall is detectable in hair follicles for up to three months. However, metabolites take about one week to appear in hair follicles.

Law enforcement, employers, medical professionals, and sports organizations routinely test for amphetamines, including Adderall. Drug testing also occurs if you are participating in court-ordered treatment programs as a term of probation.

What Factors Affect How Long Adderall Remains in Your System?

Compared to most drugs, Adderall is metabolized relatively quickly by the body. The half-life of Adderall is about ten hours, which means half of the dosage is eliminated from the body every ten hours. However, the metabolic rate depends on many factors:

Dosage – A higher dose will lead to a higher drug concentration in your system. For example, taking a 30 mg tablet of Adderall will leave more in your system after ten hours than a 15 mg tablet.
Age – Children metabolize Adderall faster than adults can. Adolescents process Adderall at a similar rate to adults.
Body mass – A larger person will have less exposure to an Adderall dosage than a smaller person taking the same dose. However, the half-life is longer for a heavier person, and it takes them longer to eliminate the drug.
Hydration – Drinking more water can lead to increased urination, diluting the amount present in urine. However, Adderall still needs to be metabolized by the liver to leave the system, which takes time.
Exercise and lifestyle – More body fat leads to higher drug distribution while having a leaner build due to exercise and diet can lead to lower body fat. Lower body fat means there is less fat to distribute the drug through the system, which leads to quicker drug elimination.
Other medication and substance use – The liver metabolizes Adderall through the CYP2D6 enzyme pathway. If other medications in the system metabolize through this same pathway, it can take longer to metabolize Adderall.

Other factors that can play a role in how fast Adderall is metabolized include whether you have recently eaten, your liver and kidney function, and certain medical conditions like hypothyroidism.

What Are the Signs of Adderall Addiction?

Adderall is a stimulant. If Adderall is misused, it may lead to addiction. Addiction can have serious consequences and interfere with many areas of your life, including your health, relationships, school, and work. If you think you or someone you know may have a stimulant use disorder, there are several signs to look out for, including:

Taking more than intended for a longer amount of time.
Wanting to cut back on Adderall, but you’re unable to do so.
Spending more time trying to get, use, or recover from the effects of Adderall.
Intense cravings for Adderall.
You have difficulties handling personal or professional responsibilities due to use.
You continue using Adderall despite the negative consequences.
You no longer participate in activities you once enjoyed due to Adderall.
You use Adderall during dangerous situations.
You use it despite the serious physical or psychological problems it causes.
Stronger doses of Adderall are needed to achieve the desired effect.
You experience symptoms of withdrawal when you try to decrease or stop using the drug.
You have experienced an overdose when using Adderall.

Because everyone responds to Adderall differently and some people build up a tolerance, it is difficult to know how much can cause a potentially fatal overdose.

Adderall Withdrawal Symptoms

Like any amphetamine or stimulant drug, Adderall withdrawal can lead to a “crash” and be very uncomfortable. Adderall withdrawal usually starts a few days after discontinuing use and may continue for several weeks. Some symptoms of withdrawal include:

Intense cravings
Hunger
Sleep disturbances
Nightmares
Mood swings
Anxiety or depression
Fatigue
Increased heart rate
High blood pressure
Suicidal thoughts

These symptoms can be mild or severe. Detox from Adderall may be dangerous to attempt without medical assistance.

How Is Adderall Addiction Treated?

Treatment for Adderall addiction starts with supervised medical detoxification. During this process, you will receive medical care and remain under observation while your body eliminates the drug from its system. After this process is complete, you will then attend an inpatient or outpatient treatment program to help you re-learn how to live and function without Adderall. An important part of the recovery process is exploring the root causes behind your Addiction. Counseling, group therapy, and other activities during treatment can help you work through your feelings and identify healthier, more positive ways to overcome them.

After you have completed treatment, you will continue to work on staying clean to prevent a relapse. Ongoing support, 12-step programs, keeping a routine, and identifying triggers can help you remain abstinent after drug rehabilitation. You may also continue working with a counselor as part of your treatment aftercare plan.

If you or a loved one is battling with Adderall addiction, Vogue Recovery Center can help. Our Las Vegas and Phoenix treatment centers offer a full continuum of care, including detox, residential treatment, and outpatient programs. Call us today for a free, confidential consultation with one of our admissions specialists. You deserve to live a life of recovery from addiction.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7138250/
https://www.mredscircleoftrust.com/storage/app/media/DSM%205%20TR.pdf