The drug amphetamine, which is what Adderall is, is a stimulant of the central nervous system. It improves alertness, focus, and energy in kids and adults with attention problems or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and it treats narcolepsy, or unexpected daytime sleeping, in adults.

The average time for Adderall to leave the body is three days, but there are many variables that can affect this. Additionally, various drug tests will pick up Adderall a variety of times. How long does Adderall stay in your system? 

When last used, Adderall remains detectable in the following bodily fluids: blood for up to 46 hours, saliva for 20 to 50 hours, and hair for up to 3 months.

Read on to find out more about Adderall.

What Is Adderall?

ADHD and narcolepsy are both conditions that are treated with the stimulant drug Adderall. It contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Branded pharmaceutical preparations with this stimulant combination include Adderall (immediate release), Adderall XR (extended-release), and Mydayis (extended-release). Tablets for oral consumption are available in the drug’s immediate-release form, and capsules for oral consumption are available in the drug’s extended-release form.

According to the drug’s formulation, the effects of Adderall last for varying lengths of time. The extended-release version of Adderall, Adderall XR, only needs to be taken once every morning while the immediate-release Adderall version lasts for approximately 4–6 hours per dose.²

One of the most frequently prescribed medications for treating ADHD is Adderall. The number of people aged 12 and older who used amphetamine products—including Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, and comparable drugs—rose from just over 12 million to 12.7 million (4.7% of this population) between 2016 and 2017.

Adderall: Is It Abused?

Despite the fact that many people who have been diagnosed with ADHD or narcolepsy use Adderall with a doctor’s prescription, it is frequently mishandled. The number of adults 12 and older who misused Adderall increased from 5.1 million to 5.2 million between 2016 and 2017.

People who misuse Adderall frequently obtain it illegally or by taking another person’s prescription. They might also take it differently than instructed (by crushing, snorting, or injecting it) in an effort to heighten the high. Students in high school and college may use the drug to boost their academic performance, and adults may use it to sharpen their memory or work more effectively.

Abusing the drug is dangerous and can lead to addiction, anger, paranoia, psychosis, and heart problems

How Long Does Adderall Stay In Your System?

The detection of Adderall varies depending on the test and the time frame:

• In a urine test, Adderall can be detected for up to 4 to 7 days.
• When testing hair follicles, Adderall can be detected about a week after use for up to 90 days.
• In a saliva test, Adderall can be detected 20 minutes after use and can be detected for up to 48 hours.
• In a blood sample, Adderall can be detected 12 to 24 hours after dosage and can be detected for 24 hours.

Drug Testing

Testing for amphetamines, which is a component of Adderall, is common practice among employers, law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, and sports organizations. To ascertain whether a person has used Adderall or comparable drugs, urine, blood, hair, and saliva tests are all used.

• Urine test: The most popular type of testing is this one. 72–96 hours after your last use, you are most likely to test positive for Adderall in a urine test.
• Hair test: Hair tests provide a larger window of potential detection time than urine tests, despite being less popular. Up to three months after the last use, amphetamine traces can still be found.
• Saliva test: Saliva can contain traces of Adderall for 20 to 50 hours.
• Blood test: Even though Adderall can still be found in the body for up to 46 hours after use, it is only detectable in trace amounts.

What Impact How Long Adderall Stays In Your Body?

The rate at which each person’s bodies metabolize, or breaks down and eliminates, Adderall varies. There are numerous variables that can affect how long Adderall remains in your body before it is metabolized.

Dosage

From 5 mg to 30 mg tablets or capsules, Adderall is offered in a range of strengths. Your body may take longer to completely metabolize Adderall at higher dosages. As a result, higher doses will remain in your system for longer.

Both the immediate-release and the extended-release forms of Adderall dissolve in the body at varying rates. This may have an impact on how long the medication remains in your system.

Body Composition

The amount of time Adderall stays in your system depends on your body composition, which includes height, weight overall, and body fat percentage. This is partially due to the fact that larger individuals frequently require higher medication doses, which causes the drug to take longer to leave the body.

However, there is some evidence that after you take into account the dose according to body weight, drugs like Adderall leaves the body more quickly in individuals who weigh more or have more body fat because it is metabolized by a specific liver pathway.

Metabolism

Everybody’s liver contains enzymes that metabolize or disintegrate, medications like Adderall. Your activity level, gender, and other medications you take can all have an impact on how quickly your metabolism works.

Your metabolism has an impact on how long a drug stays in your body; the faster it is metabolized, the quicker it will leave.

Age

It may take longer for medications to leave your system as you age. Multiple factors account for this.

• As you get older, your liver gets smaller, which means it might take longer for it to completely break down Adderall.
• Age causes a decrease in urine production. Age-related illnesses like heart disease can also have a negative impact on kidney function. Both of these things can lengthen the time that medications remain in your body.
• As you age, your body changes, which may affect how quickly your body eliminates and breaks down drugs.

Organ Function

The digestive system absorbs Adderall, which is then metabolized by the liver and eliminated by the kidneys. It may take longer for Adderall to leave your body if any of these organs or systems are not working properly.

Common Adverse Effects Of Adderall

• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Racing heart
• Urinary tract infection

Read More: How To Get Rid Of Adderall Tongue?

Dosage Of Adderall

The maximum daily dosage of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine combined as Adderall depends on the condition it is being used to treat. The lowest effective dose of all amphetamines should be administered by prescription for your condition. Your response to Adderall will determine the appropriate dose for you. People react differently in different situations. To determine the ideal dose, you will collaborate with your doctor.

A central nervous system stimulant by the name of Adderall is a prescription drug that is a member of the amphetamine drug class. It is used to treat adults, adolescents, and children who suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder, is also treated with it.

• The maximum daily dose of 40 mg is recommended for ADHD in adults and children older than 6 years old.
• Adults with narcolepsy may take 5 to 60 mg of medication daily.

Take Away

Depending on the type of detection test used, Adderall can still be found in your system up to 72 hours or 3 days after your last use.

The dosage, metabolism rate, age, organ function, and other factors, among others, all affect how long a medication stays in your system.

There is a lot of potential for abuse with Adderall. It can be used by people to sharpen their focus and attention even if they don’t have a prescription from a doctor. If you have any questions or concerns about Adderall, it’s important to speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

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