You must have heard of the word “stimulant.” It is basically a type of substance that speeds up your body’s normal functioning, such as your heart rate, respiration, or blood pressure. Any stimulant medication normally works by enhancing neurotransmitter production from the brain, and Adderall is one such drug (adf, 2022).

Continue reading the article to know more about Adderall, its mechanism of action, how long it stays in the body, and similar other questions.

What is Adderall?

It is a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine that actively treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall is also stipulated as a second-line therapy for narcolepsy, a sleep disorder. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, affecting the brain chemicals and nerves that contribute to impulse control and hyperactivity (helloahead, 2023).

Types of Adderall

The drug is usually available in immediate-release and extended-release versions, with the names Adderall IR and Adderall XR, respectively.

Adderall IR: It is an immediate-release form of Adderall that starts performing its action within 30 minutes of ingestion and lasts up to 4-6 hours. This drug is typically prescribed to ADHD patients who require the dose throughout the day (Weber, 2012).

Adderall XR: This drug, on the contrary, starts working within 1-2 hours of ingestion and can last for 10 to 12 hours. Adderall XR is given to patients who require the medication to last throughout the day (Weber, 2012).

How Does Adderall Work in Your Body?

The exact mechanism of action of Adderall is still unknown; however, it is believed that Adderall is a stimulant medication that produces its effects in the brain. It works by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters are responsible for regulating attention, motivation, and mood. It is a preferred medication to treat short-term ADHD in adults (Staff, 2020).

How Long Does Adderall Last in the Body?

Adderall is a drug metabolized in the liver and excreted through the kidneys. The actual duration of the medicine to stay in the body differs with different factors, such as dosage, age, individual body metabolism, health conditions, etc. However, the typical euphoric effects of Adderall IR stay for around 4 to 6 hours, whereas Adderall XR usually lasts for up to 12 hours. If we talk about the half-life, this drug has 10 hours, which means half of the quantity of Adderall leaves the body after 10 hours. So, as an estimation, it can take up to 3 days for the drug to eliminate from the body completely (Alyssa, 2022).

Factors Affecting the Elimination of Adderall from the Body

Multiple factors affect the rate of elimination of Adderall from the body. Let’s glance at the essentials of all.

Dose: The quantity or the number of tablets you’re ingesting plays a significant role in Adderall elimination from the body. Higher doses will obviously take more time to leave the body than lower doses (Hersh, 2019).
Body Weight: It is generally observed that people with higher body weights have a slower metabolism, so it will take longer for Adderall to leave such large body masses. Conversely, people with normal or low body weights have a fast metabolism, so the drug comparatively is eliminated quickly (Hersh, 2019).
Age: It plays a crucial role in the elimination of Adderall. As you grow older, your metabolism slows down, so the body needs more time for elimination (Hersh, 2019).
Health Condition: Adderall is primarily metabolized by the liver and excreted through the kidney, so if any of these organs are not functioning properly, it will clearly affect the rate of elimination of the drug. For e.g., in case of liver damage, the drug will tend to metabolize and eliminate slower from the body (Hersh, 2019).
Hydration: If you have a slow metabolism, drinking plenty of water can help speed up the elimination process by letting the patient urinate more.
Frequency of Use: Any drug or substance abuse can develop tolerance and the same goes for Adderall. If the frequency of ingesting tablets increases, it can take more time to eliminate from the body than usual doses. Not just that, the person can even get addicted to taking this brain stimulant.

Tests to Check How Long Adderall Stayed in Your Body

There are different tests to check the concentration of amphetamines in your body that helps examine how long Adderall last. These include:

Urine Test: One of the most commonly performed tests is the urine test. You tested positive for Adderall up to 2-4 days after the last dose. However, it can still vary from person to person according to different factors (Wagener, 2022).

Blood Test: A blood test can detect Adderall in your blood for up to 46 hours after the last dose. It is a more accurate test than urine but not commonly used as a routine screening method (Wagener, 2022).

Saliva Test: This test is a non-invasive option to check traces of Adderall. A saliva test can detect the drug concentration in your system up to 48 hours after the last dose (Wagener, 2022).

Hair Test: Though it is the least practiced test, it can offer a greater window of drug detection. It can help you check the Adderall concentration for up to 90 days after the last dose (Wagener, 2022).

Is Adderall an Addictive Drug?

Yes, any person can get addicted to Adderall, usually when he misuses or overuse the drug. Many patients who seek euphoria or pleasurable feelings may start this medicine in excessive amounts. As it is a stimulant, it increases dopamine levels, thus enhancing the happy state of mind (Harkins, n.d.).

The risk of addiction is higher for people having a history of substance abuse and addiction. Additionally, people who take Adderall for non-medical reasons, such as to improve academic or athletic performance, are also at a higher risk of developing an addiction (Villines, 2021).

How to Know if the Person is Addicted to Adderall?

There are some prominent signs to help you understand if you’re dependent on Adderall, such as:

Taking Adderall more than the prescribed dose or taking it more frequently (Wagener, 2022)
Inability to cut off from the medicine or experiencing withdrawal symptoms when reducing the dose (Wagener, 2022)
Continuing to use despite negative consequences, such as legal or financial problems, relationship difficulties, or physical health issues (Wagener, 2022)
Craving for medicine all-day (Wagener, 2022)
Getting involved in risky behaviors to get more Adderall tablets, such as stealing

However, the signs and symptoms may vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of Adderall addiction or overuse are insomnia, irritability, aggressive behavior, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, etc. (Villines, 2021).

How Long Does it Take to Withdraw from Adderall Addiction?

Nothing is impossible if you make up your mind to do it. Similarly, withdrawal from Adderall addiction is possible but could be a bit challenging. Every patient might have different withdrawal symptoms, so it’s integral to consult a doctor before discontinuing the medicine. Abruptly stopping the use of Adderall can be very dangerous, and we recommend you reduce the dose under professional guidance (Stevens, 2021).

As the medicine can stay for 2-3 days in the body, it is crucial to give your brain good signals to let it adjust with low doses and eventually no dose. It will help minimize the worst withdrawal symptoms.

Related Article: How long does Fentanyl stay in your system?

Final Takeaway

There are several methods to check the concentration of Adderall in your body that we already have discussed above. However, a typical Adderall dose can last up to 72 hours or three days in a body. Still, this is not the exact duration, as numerous factors can prolong or decrease the elimination of the drug from the body.

If you feel like being addicted to Adderall, it is critical to seek help from medical professionals to overcome this issue before it worsens.

Related Article: How long does OxyContin stay in your system?

References

adf. (2022). what are stimulants. Retrieved from adf.ord.au: https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/stimulants/
Alyssa. (2022). How Long Does Adderall Last in The Body? Retrieved from banyantreatmentcenter.com: https://www.banyantreatmentcenter.com/2022/02/09/how-long-does-adderall-stay-in-your-system-palmsprings/
Harkins, J. (n.d.). How Long Does Adderall Last in the Body? Retrieved from californiahighlands: https://californiahighlands.com/adderall/how-long-last/
helloahead. (2023). How Long Does Adderall Stay in Your System – Doses & Levels. Retrieved from helloahead.com: https://www.helloahead.com/blog/how-long-does-adderall-stay-in-your-system-doses-levels
Staff, C. (2020). How Adderall Affects the Brains of Those Who Need It and the Brains of Those Who Don’t. Retrieved from caron.org: https://www.caron.org/blog/what-does-adderall-do-to-your-brain-it-depends#:~:text=Adderall%20works%20by%20increasing%20levels,a%20normal%20state%20of%20stimulation.
Stevens, A. (2021). How Long Does Adderall Last? Side-Effects of Adderall and How to Tell if Addicted to Adderall. Retrieved from myrecoverycorps: https://www.myrecoverycorps.com/substance-abuse/how-long-does-adderall-last/
Villines, Z. (2021). Adderall: How long does it stay in your system? Retrieved from medicalnewstoday: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-long-does-adderall-stay-in-your-system#summary
Wagener, D. (2022). How Long Does Adderall Stay in Your System? Retrieved from americanaddictioncenters.org: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/adderall/how-long-system-body
Weber, L. (2012). How long does adderall last? Retrieved from prescription-drug.addictionblog.org: https://prescription-drug.addictionblog.org/how-long-does-adderall-last/