Several drugs become part of our daily lives. Not because they are good but because they are good enough for us to function without many problems. When it comes to mental health drugs, they are known to stay longer in our systems and body making the treatment complete.
But how do you know how long will it stay? Will it cause you any problems? Can it make everything worse? Or is it okay if the drugs stay in the system for longer durations? Read the article to know how long Adderall stays in the system and why it does so. Adderall is a controlled substance and therefore one should be using it only when prescribed.
What is Adderall? What is taken for?
Adderall is a prescription drug that is usually prescribed for ADHD a common mental health problem where the individual is not able to register their attention to a single object. In some cases, doctors also prescribe it to get rid of narcolepsy.
When a person with ADHD consumes Adderall, he or she will have a longer reuptake of hormones like Dopamine. This helps the brain to stay concentrated and focus on a single problem rather than circling. Dopamine along with Norepinephrine controls impulses and helps us attain a balanced level which is seldom found in this case.
When it comes to narcolepsy, the individual often dozes off at any given time so with its ingredients, Adderall keeps the mind wide awake, especially during the day. Additionally, it also works with the body’s sleep cycle to regulate it in a way that makes falling asleep at odd times less frequent. Moreover, this can also help with the frequency of sudden sleep episodes which could hinder their normal lives.
How long does Adderall stay in your system?
Adderall might stay in your system for over 2-4 days on average. This could be more than 90 days for hair follicles as they grow daily. Adderall can be detected in your urine for 2-4 days while it can stay in your blood for 12-24 hours.
The saliva could show its presence for 2 days and as we said the hair follicles can take longer to shed its traces. Though generally taken to improve the situations above, it can also be known to be taken as a drug and therefore is a Schedule II controlled substance. Its amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are known to give it the following qualities. Those include:
1. Cognitive enhancement
The property that makes it helpful to cure Narcolepsy can be applied in the general sense as well. You can increase your focus and concentration and is often used by students and individuals to study for exams.
2. Increased energy and alertness
Even if you haven’t taken adequate sleep, with minimal sleep and some Adderall, you can stay awake for a long time and be alert as well which is almost impossible without proper sleep.
3. Weight loss
Some people also take Adderall beyond prescription as it can increase your chance of weight loss. It helps keep up the satiety which decreases the frequency of meals.
4. Recreational use
It is also known to give a certain high to people similar to cannabis.
why does Adderall stay for so long in your body?
1. Pharmacokinetics
The ingredients used in a medicine determine how long it can stay or not stay in the body. Made of Amphetamines and Dextroamphetamine, it is known to be taken up to all the parts of the body via blood and is found in tissues.
2. Metabolism
Your liver metabolizes most of the drugs and with Adderall, the liver process becomes rather slow which is why it can stay in the system more than most medications.
3. Excretion
The medicines then move to your kidney to be excreted and that is why Adderall can be found in urine. While it takes some time to remove it completing the traces after a day could be minimal.
4. Type of drug test
Another reason it could be detected in your system would be the kind of test you are subjecting yourself to. Hair follicle drug tests could tell the entire drug history, unlike its counterparts.
5. Dosage and frequency
This goes without saying that eating more Adderall could be dangerous in every sense and so does its frequency. If you take it regularly the system might show it for a longer period than the ones who take it in lesser levels.
How to remove Adderall from your system naturally?
Your system can expel the traces of Adderall if you:
1. Stay hydrated
You have to make sure you drink enough water to process the medicine from your system.
2. Healthy diet
Eating a well-balanced meal could also help increase the metabolic process and maybe your system can get rid of it faster.
3. Regular exercise
If you exercise regularly, chances are continuing it could make it easier to remove Adderall from your system.
4. Adequate sleep
Since Adderall can lead to increased alertness, you shouldn’t discount on your sleep and take the full 8 hours.
Some might resort to unsafe ways to flush it out from the system but its consequences could be harsh and one might also face legal problems. It is rather easier to not abuse the drug or disclose its use.
Takeaways
Adderall is a prescription drug and can stay in the body for 2-4 days except for the hair follicles where it could stay for up to 90 days. It is usually taken for ADHD and narcolepsy but its ability to keep one awake and alert often gives way to misuse.
Individuals might feel it right to misuse the drug to power through difficult situations like examinations or high-pressure jobs. It is advised that taking Adderall could have larger consequences when taken without any disease. Moreover, if you are subjected to a medical drug test, chances are it will show up affecting your social and legal condition.
References
- Adderall (CII). (2007).
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/011522s040lbl.pdf - Wagener D. (n.d.). How long does Adderall stay in your system?
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/adderall/how-long-system-body
