Adderall stays in the body for up to three to four days. However, this depends on age, stress level, dosage, and overall health. The half-life of Adderall is 10 hours, which means after every 10 hours, half of the drug leaves the body.
Adderall is a prescription medicine but is often misused. According to a survey, misuse has drastically increased in the last ten years. People who are conscious of the presence of Adderall in their bodies are often the ones who are misusing it. Adderall misuse can lead to addiction, heart disease, unhealthy weight loss, and psychiatric issues. In this article, AddictedRecovery experienced addiction specialists will explain how long does Adderall stay in our system.
What is Adderall?
It is the prescription drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders” (ADHD)” and sleeping disorders in children. It is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Also, it is available in extended-release forms Adderall XR. It comes in tablets and capsules.
“According to a survey, around 5.2 billion people misuse Adderall each year.” Adderall works like neurotransmitters communicate in the brain. The long-term use urges the user to increase its dose to act normal. It is the red flag where addiction gets its hold. To prevent the addiction and fatal side effects, the person abusing Adderall should immediately consult medical treatment or psychological consultations.
Is Adderall Abused?
Adderall abuse increases yearly. College and university students often abuse Adderall to stay awake and pass high grades. Athletes and Adderall abuse go side by side as it activates your body’s muscular systems. People with eating disorders also use this drug as it suppresses their appetite.
Factors Determining How Long Does Adderall Stay in Your System:
Everyone’s body works differently. Some people require more time to dissolve drugs in their bodies, while in others, it dissolves quickly. When someone takes Adderall, it goes into the gastrointestinal tract, then the liver metabolizes it into its metabolites, and the kidney flushes it out of the body. Only 20-25% of the drug converts into its metabolites, and the remaining stays in the body.
The half-life of Adderall is 9-14 hours, which means approximately after every 10 hours, half of the drug leaves your body. But various factors determine how long the drug will stay in your body. These include:
- Dosage: The drug’s dosage ranges from 5-30mg tablets or capsules. Persons utilizing high doses will take more time to metabolize the drug, and thus the pill stays longer in their bodies compared to those who take low doses.
- pH levels: Kidneys of the individuals with higher pH levels require more time to flush the drug from their bodies than with lower pH ones. Your diet has a significant impact on the pH of urine.
- Age: Older persons take more time to detoxify the drug from their bodies. Because as we get older, our organ starts functioning less effectively than younger ones.
- Organ Function: The liver and the kidneys play an essential role in the metabolism of Adderall. Impairment in any of these will increase drug stay in our system.
- Physiology: Persons with more weight and size will take longer to eliminate the drug and vice versa.
- Stress Levels: A person with anxiety issues is more likely to absorb the drug slowly, and thus, it leaves the body after some time.
Drug Tests Involved In Detecting the Adderall Stay In the Body:
Adderall is absorbed in the digestive system and broken down by the liver. Finally, it flushes from the body through urine. As it goes throughout the body, the following are the tests involved in the detection of the drug at different time frames:
- Urine test: This test looks for Adderall in your system. It consists of collecting the urine sample and testing how long Adderall stays in your body. It may remain in your urine for up to 48-72 hours.
- Blood test: It is the most common method for the quick assessment of how long Adderall stays in the body. It can be detected in the blood within 46 hours of the last use.
- Saliva test: This involves collecting a saliva sample to detect metabolites of the drug. It can be performed within 20-50 hours from the last use.
- Hair follicle test: It is a rare form of drug testing. It involves taking a hair follicle of the individual and testing it to detect the drug. The traces of amphetamines can be seen in the hair follicles for up to 3 months from the last use.
Adderall Side Effects:
This drug works by stimulating the nervous system, which means it increases the activity of the brain and the body. Overdosage of this drug can cause serious side effects, which can cause irreparable damage to the body. The most common side effects of the misuse of this medication are:
- Decreased Appetite
- Dry Mouth
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Sleeping difficulty
- Breathing problems
- Abdominal cramps
- High fever
- Restlessness
- Convulsions
- Coma
Emergency medical services are required in cases of overdosage, and even death can occur.
Elimination of Adderall from the Body:
There are no approved medications for the removal of drugs from the body. However, there are various methods and therapies to eliminate the drug from the body. The first-line treatment for elimination is detoxifying the drug by-the-counter medication under medical supervision. Other management therapies involve;
Therapies Against Adderall Addiction:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This therapy includes the management and teaching the individuals to control the triggers and withdrawal symptoms through thought processes.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy: DBT helps individuals regulate emotions and restructure their lives by positive thinking, mindfulness, building healthy relationships, and being environmentally friendly.
Lowering the Dose:
It is one of the best techniques to improve drug abuse. It involves reducing the dose of the drug instead of abruptly stopping it under medical supervision. The abrupt stoppage comes with unpleasant symptoms.
Stay Hydrated:
Staying hydrated is one of the natural methods to remove the drug from the body. Drinking water prevents the medicine from storing in the fatty tissues. Water also helps to dilute saliva and urine, thus releasing the drug and its metabolites faster.
Holistic Approach:
The holistic approach focuses on your well-being while treating the physical symptoms of addiction. This therapy includes non-medical methods of addiction recovery. Holistic therapists treat physical, emotional, and nutritional imbalances.
It helps build coping skills, reframing individuals’ behavior by introducing adventures, motivating interviews, and art in their lives through their programs.
Vitamin C:
The more acidic urine, the faster the release of drugs from the body. Vitamin C acidifies the urine. You can also add natural juices and vitamin C supplements to the daily diet to decrease the concentration of Adderall in the body.
Consultation of Doctor/Drug Rehab:
Quitting the Adderall addiction on your own can be challenging. Instead of going cold turkey, always seek help from professionals or rehabilitation centers. Because without knowledge attempting to leave the drug abuse may cause abrupt withdrawal symptoms and leads to more addiction.
Leaving drug addiction is not an easy process. Instead, it’s challenging, but a positive attitude and seeking timely help are the keys to Adderall’s addiction-free life.
Conclusion:
You will keep an eye on the appearance of physical symptoms in the body after taking Adderall. Only take recommended dose by the medical specialist. Approach your rehab center/psychologist immediately if anything seems off. Let us know in the comments if this piece of information helped you evaluate how long Adderall stays in your system?
