How Long Does Adderall Last In Your Body System & Side Effect

How long does Adderall last has been one major question people ask globally and yet to get a vital answer to their question? Adderall was approved in 1996 to treat ADHD in children and adults, and to treat narcolepsy in adults. Although Adderall is a prescription medication, it is often used incorrectly.

Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, and important adverse effects, such as cardiovascular disease, unhealthy weight loss, and psychotic symptoms. People who have become addicted to drugs can benefit from professional drug treatment.

However, in this post, I will be taking you through all the detailed information you need to know about Adderall, also answering the question of how long does Adderall lasts and other necessary questions. Take your time and read through as all the details below are vital.

Here is an overview of what to expect in the post:

What is Adderall?

According to Wikipedia Adderall is a combination medication containing four salts of amphetamine. Adderall is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

It is also used as an athletic performance enhancer and cognitive enhancer, and recreationally as an aphrodisiac and euphoriant.

It is also a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the phenethylamine class. By salt content, the active ingredients are 25% levoamphetamine salts (the levorotatory or ‘left-handed’ enantiomer) and 75% dextroamphetamine salts (the dextrorotatory or ‘right-handed’ enantiomer).

Adderall also comes in two forms:

• Adderall oral tablet
• The Adderall XR extended-release oral capsule

Is Adderall Abused?

While many people take Adderall with a doctor’s prescription following a diagnosis of ADHD or narcolepsy, it is a commonly misused drug. From 2016 to 2017, It is known that the number of people aged 12 and older who misused Adderall increased drastically from 5.1 million to 5.2 million. 

People who abuse Adderall often take someone else’s medication or buy it illegally. They can also take it other than prescribed (for cracks, snoring, or injection) in an attempt to condense the elevation.

High school and college students can use the drug to improve their performance in school, and adults can take them to improve their memory or perform better at work. It should occur to you that abusing the drug is dangerous and can lead to addiction, anger, paranoia, psychosis, and heart problems which won’t seem funny.

Is it a controlled substance?

I’ll say a BIG Yes, that Adderall is a controlled substance. This means that it can cause psychological or physical dependence and has the potential for abuse and misuse.

The government has established special regulations that specify how to describe and distribute controlled substances. These regulations also require that you obtain a new prescription from your doctor for each package.

How Fast does it leave your system? 

Adderall is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. It is then metabolized (broken down) by your liver and leaves your body through your urine. Although it is eliminated in the urine, it works throughout the body, so it can be discovered in several different ways, as shown below.

Blood: Adderall can be detected by a blood test up to 46 hours after the last use. Blood tests can also detect Adderall most quickly after it’s been used.

Urine: Adderall can be detected in the urine for 48 to 72 hours after the last use. This test generally shows a higher concentration of Adderall than other drug tests, because Adderall is eliminated through the urine.

Saliva: Adderall can be detected in saliva 20 to 50 hours after the last use.

Hair: The hair drug test is not a common test method, but it can detect Adderall up to 3 months after its last use.

How Long Does Adderall Last?

according to americanaddictioncenters.org How long Adderall stays in a person’s system depends on several numbers of factors. Let’s take, for instance, the rate at which the drug is eliminated from a person’s body can be affected by the pH of the person’s urine. A person with a low urine pH will tend to eliminate the drug faster, while a person with a higher pH may eliminate the drug more slowly.

Here are other factors that can affect how long the drug stays in a person’s system include:

• How often the person took Adderall.
• What does the person take?
• When the person last took Adderall.
• Weight.
• Kidney or liver impairment.

Is it Addictive?

Although it is often used for legitimate purposes, and often misused due to its euphoric effects. It can make you feel comfortable even when you take specific doses, so it is common for recipes to reach the black market.

Due to the potential for drug abuse, it is common for Adderall to be part of the standard drug screening. If you’re on probation or applying for a job, then you have reason to wonder how long the drug will remain in your system.

The signs of addiction include:

• Taking Adderall in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended.
• Inability to cut back on Adderall use.
• Spending a large amount of time acquiring Adderall, using it, or recovering from its effects.
• Craving Adderall.
• Difficulty taking care of responsibilities at work, school, or home due to Adderall use.
• Continuing to use Adderall even though its use is causing social or interpersonal problems.
• Not participating in previously enjoyed activities in favor of Adderall use.
• Using Adderall in dangerous situations.
• Continuing to use Adderall even though it is causing physical or psychological problems.
• Building tolerance to Adderall, so that the person has to take progressively higher doses of the drug to get the same effect as before.
• Withdrawal symptoms when the person cuts down or stops use.

What Happens When You Stop Using Adderall?

Withdrawal symptoms can occur in people who have chronic drug abuse and have developed a significant physiological dependence. Stimulant withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Cravings.
• Fatigue.
• Depression.
• Lack of pleasure.
• Agitation.
• Insomnia or sleeping more than normal.
• Vivid dreams.
• Increased appetite.
• Slowed movements.
• Slowed heart rate.

Withdrawal typically develops within a few hours to several days after stopping Adderall and can last up to 2-3 weeks.

What are the Factors Affecting How Long Adderall Stays in Your System?

Several factors impact how long the drug stays in your system, including:

Amount used: The dose of Adderall impacts how long the drug can be detected. The higher the dose, the longer it takes for the body to metabolize and eliminate the drug.

Frequency of use: When the drug is taken regularly over an extended period, it takes longer for the body to metabolize and fully clear the drug.

Body composition: Factors like height, weight, and body fat percentage impact the metabolism and clearance of Adderall. Smaller individuals, such as children, clear the drug faster than larger individuals.

Liver and kidney function: Variations in liver and kidney function affect how long the drug stays in the body because these organs play essential roles in processing and excreting amphetamines.

Forms of drug used: The formulation of Adderall impacts how long the drug stays in the body. Standard immediate-release (IR) Adderall formulations are cleared from the body faster than Adderall XR, an extended-release formulation.

How does it work?

It may sound counter-intuitive, but Adderall works by stimulating the central nervous system. It is believed that people with ADHD do not have enough dopamine in the frontal lobe, which is the “reward center” in the brain.

For this reason, they may be prone to seek stimulation and the positive feeling that comes with dopamine in the front. This can cause them to participate in motivation or seek suspense, or easily distract attention.

By stimulating the central nervous system, the drug increases the amount of dopamine available in the frontal lobe. This helps people with ADHD stop looking for stimulation, which in turn helps them focus better.

Can symptoms occur if the drug is discontinued?

Because the drug is a stimulant, people may feel slow when the drug begins to fade. Withdrawal symptoms can also include hunger, sleep problems, panic attacks, craving for drugs, irritability due to fatigue, a bad mood, and suicidal thoughts.

The symptoms may also last a few days or even a few weeks. It is important to eat healthy foods exercise and have a constant sleep routine to help relieve withdrawal symptoms.

What is the side effect?

Taking too much of the drug can yield both mild and dangerous side effects, including:

In addition, your body may become dependent on the drug if you drink too much. When you try to stop using it, you can go to remove it. In addition to having cravings for the drug, other withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Agitation
• Depression
• Sleeping issues, including insomnia or sleeping more than normal; you may also have vivid dreams
• Increased appetite
• Slowed movements
• Slowed heart rate

These symptoms can last for as far as 2 or 3 weeks.

How Does it Affect the Brain?

As it is a stimulant, the drug increases the level of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that affects pleasure, movement, and attention) in the brain.

When steroids are introduced into the system, they slowly increase the amount of dopamine. Often, doctors prescribe a lower initial dose and work gradually until the desired effect is achieved.

What are the uses of Adderall?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves medications to treat certain conditions. The drug is approved to treat two conditions. However, the drug is sometimes used for purposes not approved by the FDA.

What are the approved uses for Adderall?

The FDA has approved the drug to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.

ADHD/ADD: Both Adderall – Adderall tablet and Adderall XR capsule release capsule – have been approved for adults and children to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The drug can help reduce hyperactivity and lack of attention in people with ADHD.

Narcolepsy: The drug tablet is also approved to treat narcolepsy. It can help reduce daytime sleepiness in people with this condition.

The Off-label uses for Adderall

While the FDA has not approved these uses, doctors may prescribe Adderall to treat other conditions, as well as ADHD and ADHD. This is called off-label use. This means that the medication has been approved to treat a condition that the doctor prescribes to treat another unapproved condition.

Depression: The drug isn’t an antidepressant, but it’s sometimes used off-label to treat depression that doesn’t respond to other treatments. It may also be used to treat depression in people who have both ADHD and depression.

Anxiety: Adderall or similar stimulant medications are sometimes prescribed off-label for people with anxiety, especially for those who have both ADHD and anxiety. Some research also suggests that the combination of stimulant medication with antidepressants might improve symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.

Bipolar disorder: Adderall and other steroids are sometimes prescribed off-label to treat symptoms of depression in people with bipolar disorder. When used for this purpose, steroids are generally not used alone but are combined with other bipolar medications. Ensure to see your doctor before adding the drug with the medications used for bipolar disorder.

What are Other uses that aren’t approved?

Sometimes, people can abuse Adderall without a doctor’s recommendation or prescription. In some cases, this type of abuse can lead to drug use. You should never use the drug if your doctor has not prescribed it.

Misuse of Adderall

Many amphetamines, including Adderall, have the potential to be misused. In most cases, people without a prescription can take the drug to try to improve their concentration or stay for long periods of time.

A review of studies from “reliable sources” also found out that about 17 percent of college students reported using steroids, including Adderall.

Read: Ampicillin: Uses, How it works, and Side Effects

When the medication is taken as intended, the effects of the medication can be positive. But for people without ADHD, who use the medication without medical supervision, the effects can be serious.

Even if you have a prescription, the medication can be misused by taking too much or taking it in an unspecified way.

What is the expected age of children to be able to take Adderall?

Well, children above the age of 3 may be prescribed Adderall for ADHD. Children should take the medication in the exact amount as prescribed by their doctor.

It’s also relevant to be aware of the drug’s side effects and to tell your child’s doctor about other medication complications and any past substance use history.

Is it safe for a woman who is pregnant, trying to become pregnant or nursing to take Adderall?

Taking the drug during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns, as well as premature birth or low birth weight.

The medicine can also be transported through breast milk in small amounts and can harm the baby. Therefore, talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or get sick before taking the drug.

Read: Effect of Smelling Salts, Are they Bad?

Other alternatives of Adderall

There are other medications available to treat your condition. Some may be more suitable for you than others. Talk to your doctor for more information about other medications that may work for you.

Also, Adderall belongs to a class of medications called stimulants. Drugs in this class are usually considered the first choice of medications for treating ADHD. Other stimulants that are options for treating ADHD include:

• amphetamine (Adzenys ER, Adzenys XR-ODT, Dyanavel XR, Evekeo)
• dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, ProCentra, Zenzedi)
• dexmethylphenidate (Focalin, Focalin XR)
• lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
• methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
• methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin, Metadate CD, Quillivant XR, Ritalin, others)

Read: Apetamin: How Safe And Legal Is It, What Are The Effects?

Some non-stimulant medications are also options for treating ADHD. These include:

• Atomoxetine (Strattera)
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Desipramine (Norpramin)
• Clonidine (Kapvay)
• Guanfacine (Intuniv)
• Imipramine (Tofranil)
• Valproic acid

Some people also use herbs and dietary supplements to treat ADHD. For most of these supplements, there is very little research showing that they work, or research findings are inconsistent. Examples of these supplements include:

• iron
• magnesium
• melatonin
• omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil
• theanine
• zinc

Read: Ampiclox: Uses, How it works, and Side Effects

Always ensure to talk with your doctor before trying any herb or dietary supplement for treating ADHD.

What is the Cost of Adderall?

From the statistics of psycom.net Sixty 20 mg of amphetamine salt tablets cost $40-60. Buying the Adderall brand is more expensive.

Are there any disadvantages to Adderall?

The disadvantage of the drug is that it is highly habit-forming. If you have a history of abusing substances or have a history of substance use in your family, then the drug may not be right for you.

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Also, common side effects such as decreased appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, and headaches may outweigh the benefits.