How Long Does Adderall Stay In Your System?

Although Adderall’s therapeutic effects wear off in 6-12 hours, Adderall can stay in your system for one to three days. How your body processes Adderall, your age, body composition, metabolism, and the amount and frequency you use or misuse Adderall all factor into how long Adderall will be detected in your body.

What Is Adderall?

Adderall is the medication brand name for the combination of the drugs amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is a stimulant medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Narcolepsy. Adderall is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that helps to improve attention, reduce restlessness, and improve concentration in people who have ADHD. It works by increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain.[1]

How Quickly Does Adderall Work?

Adderall works quickly, and its effect can be felt within 30 to 60 minutes after taking it.[2] There are two different forms of Adderall: immediate-release tablets (IR) and extended-release tablets (XR). Adderall IR effects last for a shorter period. Adderall IR effects peak in 1 to 2 hours and are effective for 3 to 6 hours, requiring it to be taken multiple times daily. Adderall XR effects last for a longer period. Adderall XR is effective for 12 hours, resulting in it needing to be taken only once a day.

How Long Does Adderall Stay In Your System?

How long a drug stays in your system is based on its half-life. Adderall’s half-life is 10 hours.[3]  That means that it takes ten hours for half of the Adderall you took to leave your body, and it takes another ten hours for the remaining amount to leave your body.

For example, if you take a 10 mg dose of Adderall at 8 AM on day 1, at 6 PM on day 1, 5 mg of Adderall will be left in your body. At 4 AM on day 2, 2.5 mg will be left in your body, and at 2 PM on day 2, 1.25 mg will be left. At midnight on day 3, 0.625 mg will be left, and at 10 AM on day 3, 0.3125 mg will be left, and at 8 PM on day 3, 0.156 mg will be left in your body.

How Long Can Adderall Be Detected In Your System?

Although the effects of Adderall begin to wear off in 6-12 hours, depending on whether you are taking Adderall IR or Adderall XR, the drug can be detected in your system for a significantly longer amount of time. How long Adderall can be detected in a person varies based on their body metabolism, the amount of Adderall they are taking, and the frequency in which they are taking it.

Adderall’s detection window can also vary based on the test administered. The following are the most common tests used to detect Adderall in someone’s system and how long Adderall may show up as a positive on each test:[4]

• Blood: Adderall can be detected for up to 46 hours after last use.
• Saliva: Adderall can be detected in Saliva for 20 to 50 hours after last use.
• Urine: Adderall can be detected in Urine for 1 to 3 days. However, with higher frequency and dosage of use, there have been situations where it was detected up to 9 days after last use.
• Hair: Hair follicle tests can detect most drug use, including Adderall, for up to 3 months after last use.

What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Adderall?

Common short-term side effects of Adderall include:[5]

• stomach pain
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• mood changes
• feeling nervous
• fast heart rate
• headache
• dizziness
• insomnia
• dry mouth

Adderall has the following potential serious side effects:[6]

• Heart problems: chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling lightheaded or fainting, and heart attack.
• Psychosis: hallucinations, behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia
• Circulation problems: numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, changes in the skin color of your fingers or toes
• Neurological problems: seizures or convulsions, muscle twitches or  tics
• Vision changes: dilated pupils, blurry vision, difficulties focusing

If you experience any concerning side effects while taking Adderall, you should talk to your medical provider. Some side effects can cause serious health complications.

Adderall Misuse

Long-term use of Adderall increases the risk of becoming dependent on it or misusing or abusing it. Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance.[7] Schedule II controlled substances have a high potential for misuse and abuse that can lead to developing a substance use disorder. Misusing Adderall is that it can cause several serious side effects, including a fast heart rate and breathing rate and high blood pressure. Misusing Adderall increases the risk of overdose and death.[8]

How To Eliminate Adderall From Your System?

The only way to eliminate Adderall from your system is to stop taking it. Your body will then excrete the remaining Adderall in your system through your urine. This is also why urine tests are so effective in detecting Adderall use, as this is the main way your body excretes it.

If you have used Adderall for an extended period or in high doses, there is a risk that you have become physically dependent on it and will experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it, especially if you do so abruptly. You should work with your healthcare provider to determine the best way to stop taking Adderall to reduce the risk of experiencing withdrawal.

Navigating Adderall Withdrawal

Adderall withdrawal symptoms can happen when you stop taking Adderall abruptly or reduce your dosage quickly. Adderall withdrawal symptoms include:[9]

• Dysphoric mood
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Vivid, bad dreams
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Increased appetite
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation

Adderall In Your System? We Can Help.

Adderall is a commonly prescribed medication to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, but it is also a commonly misused drug. Depending on the dosage and frequency of use, Adderall is usually only detectable in someone’s system for one to three days. This timeframe is extended with Adderall misuse as it is being taken more frequently and at higher doses than are typically prescribed. It has been detected 7-9 days after use in some high-use circumstances.

If you believe you or a loved one are misusing Adderall, there are treatment options available. Treatment programs offer support to detox with minimal withdrawal symptoms and provide tools to maintain sobriety, and aftercare programs ensure long-term recovery.