How Long Does Adderall Last?

Adderall is a prescription stimulant that contains dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts. It is prescribed by healthcare providers and psychiatrists to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. It reduces the symptoms of ADHD by increasing levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

How long it takes Adderall to work depends on which version of the medication you are taking. Immediate release or Adderall IR kicks in within 30 minutes to an hour after consuming the drug. On the other hand, extended-release or Adderall XR will take effect within 1 to 2 hours of consuming it.

The effects of Adderall IR last for 4 to 6 hours, while the effects of Adderall XR last for 8 to 12 hours. That said, it can stay in your system for a longer period. The half-life of Adderall is between 9 and 14 hours, which means it leaves your system within 72 hours.[1]

If you have been using Adderall for a long time, your body might grow dependent on it. This means you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms if you forget to take it. Adderall withdrawal can also be a symptom of addiction if you’ve been misusing your medication.

Thankfully, Mandala Healing Center is here to help you overcome Adderall addiction.

In this article, you will learn:

• How does Adderall treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
• What are the side effects of Adderall?
• How long does Adderall last?
• How long does Adderall stay in your system?
• Can you get addicted to Adderall?
• What are the signs of withdrawal?
• What are the risks of Adderall abuse?
• Can you recover from Adderall addiction?

How Does Adderall Work as an ADHD Medication?

Adderall is a stimulant medication that is primarily used to manage ADHD symptoms. It increases levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which lessens symptoms of ADHD like impulsivity and heightens focus or attention.

To explain further, Adderall blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. In other words, it prevents it from being absorbed back into brain cells when it is released. This leads to a higher concentration of dopamine and norepinephrine available in your brain.

This is helpful for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because they tend to have lower levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, which are what causes symptoms like impulsivity, hyperactivity, and trouble concentrating. They will be able to focus on tasks, ignore distractions, lessen impulsive behaviors, and improve self-regulation skills.

What are the Side Effects of Adderall?

When you begin taking Adderall, your healthcare provider might warn you about side effects. Usually, they subside within a couple of weeks as your body adjusts to the medication. The most common side effects of Adderall include:[2]

• Anxiety and nervousness
• Headaches
• Changes in sex drive or ability
• Painful menstrual cramps
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in appetite and weight loss

These symptoms are not a cause for concern unless they become severe or difficult to cope with. That said, Adderall can cause severe reactions in certain individuals. If you experience the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately:[2]

• Slow or difficult speech
• Dizziness and drowsiness
• Weakness or numbness of the extremities
• Seizures
• Motor or verbal tics
• Grinding of teeth
• Depression or suicidal thoughts
• Experiencing delusions or believing things that are not true
• Paranoia and feeling unusually suspicious of others
• Hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that aren’t real)
• agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, shivering, severe muscle stiffness or twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Symptoms of mania
• Changes in vision or blurred vision
• Paleness or blue color of fingers or toes
• Pain, numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
• Unexplained wounds appearing on fingers or toes
• Blistering or peeling skin
• Rash, hives, and itching
• Swelling of the eyes, face, tongue, or throat
• Trouble breathing or swallowing
• Hoarseness

These side effects indicate that you are having a severe or allergic reaction to Adderall. You’ll require immediate medical attention to stabilize your condition. After you are treated, your healthcare provider will find you a safe alternative to Adderall, including other medications like Ritalin.

How Long Does Adderall Last: Adderall IR and Adderall XR

Adderall is meant to provide relief as soon as you begin taking it. That said, you have to wait for the medication to kick in. There are two different types of Adderall, including Adderall IR and Adderall XR.

Adderall IR is immediate-release, while Adderall XR is extended-release. Immediate-release adderall begins working within 30 minutes to 1 hour after you take it. Adderall XR starts working within 1 to 2 hours of consuming it.

You might find yourself wondering, “How long does Adderall last?” It all depends on which version of the medication you are taking.

Immediate-release Adderall lasts for 4 to 6 hours. Your doctor might instruct you to take it twice a day. On the other hand, Adderall XR lasts up to 12 hours, which means you only need to take it once. Because it can cause increased energy, it’s common to take it in the morning.

The doctor who prescribes your medication will go over how long it will take to work and how long Adderall lasts. They’ll also inform you of any side effects you should watch out for. If your dose of Adderall is not causing symptom relief, your doctor might increase it or switch you to a different stimulant medication.

How Long Does Adderall Stay in Your System?

Immediate-release and Adderall XR have a half-life of 9 to 14 hours. It takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a drug to be eliminated from your body. This means it can take up to 72 hours for Adderall XR to leave your system.

Several factors play a role in how long immediate-release and Adderall XR stay in your system, including the dose you take, how often you consume it, the speed of your metabolism, and more.

Additionally, drug tests can detect Adderall in your system for a longer period. This is because Adderall leaves behind metabolites in your system that drug tests look for. The amount of time that a drug test can find Adderall in your body depends on the type of test being used.

Urine

Urine tests are the most common form of drug tests for stimulant medications. They are minimally invasive and relatively cheap to analyze, making them favored in many situations. When someone is using a urine test to detect Adderall, it is detectable for 2 to 4 days after the last dose.

Blood

Blood tests are not used as often as urine tests because they are invasive, requiring a blood draw to be taken. They also provide a shorter window of detection. That said, hospitals might complete blood drug tests if they believe a substance is contributing to your symptoms.

Blood tests can find Adderall in your system for up to 48 hours after your last dose.

Saliva

Saliva tests aren’t commonly used because they have a short window of detection. That said, law enforcement officers might use them during field sobriety tests to determine if you were driving under the influence of a substance.

Saliva tests can detect Adderall for 20 to 50 hours after you last used it.

Hair

Lastly, hair follicle tests provide the longest window of detection. However, they can provide unreliable results due to discrimination based on factors like hair color. Because of this, the medical community does not rely on them.

Despite the discriminatory results, some high-security clearance jobs use hair testing to determine if you’ve abused drugs. These tests can find Adderall and any other substance in your system for up to 90 days after you’ve last used it.

Can You Get Addicted to Adderall?

If you are taking Adderall to treat ADHD symptoms, you won’t develop an addiction. However, you can become dependent on it. To explain, when you take medication daily, your brain and body begin to rely on it to function properly.

That said, because Adderall is a stimulant, it is habit-forming and addictive. If you begin misusing Adderall, you can develop a substance use disorder. For example, if you use Adderall without having ADHD or take more than you are prescribed, you are at risk of developing an Adderall addiction.

The signs and symptoms of Adderall or stimulant use disorder include:

• Having a hard time controlling how much or how often you use Adderall
• Spending a lot of time obtaining or using Adderall
• Wanting to quit or cut back on Adderall use but being unsuccessful
• Experiencing urges or cravings to use Adderall
• Mixing Adderall with alcohol or other medications to increase your high
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to abuse more Adderall
• Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, or work due to Adderall use
• Continuing to use Adderall even though it is causing social problems or physical and mental health issues
• Using Adderall in risky situations, such as while you are under the influence of other medications or drugs
• Needing to increase your dose of adderall to experience the desired effect
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Adderall

If you have two or more of the above-mentioned symptoms, you are suffering from a substance use disorder. Thankfully, drug rehab programs like the Mandala Healing Center can help you recover from Adderall addiction. Our program involves evidence-based treatments that can help you recover from the abuse of the immediate-release or extended-release version of Adderall.

What are the Signs of Adderall Withdrawal?

Whether you take the immediate-release or extended-release form of Adderall, it is possible to develop a physical dependence. Even if you are not addicted to Adderall, you can experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it abruptly. Because of this, you should always consult with your healthcare provider before stopping the use of Adderall.

Adderall withdrawal can range from mild to severe. If you experience withdrawal symptoms after suffering from an addiction, you should attend a medical detox program. This type of addiction treatment is intended to keep you safe, comfortable, and stable throughout the withdrawal process.

Adderall withdrawal symptoms may include:[3]

• Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Depression and suicidal thoughts
• Increased appetite and weight gain
• Craving Adderall or experiencing intense urges to use it
• Anxiety and irritability
• Changes in sleeping habits, like oversleeping or insomnia
• Trouble concentrating
• Headaches
• Muscle aches and pains
• Elevated heart rate and high blood pressure
• Panic attacks

Because your withdrawal symptoms might include high blood pressure, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks, you should never attempt to detox on your own. The Mandala Healing Center can connect you with a top-rated medical detox program to ensure you receive the support you need to stop taking Adderall.

What are the Risks of Abusing Adderall?

Aside from developing an addiction and experiencing withdrawal, there are long-term risks associated with abusing a prescription drug like Adderall. Even though it is a prescription medication, taking it often and in large doses can result in significant health problems.

The main long-term risks associated with Adderall misuse include:

Malnutrition

A normal side effect of Adderall is a lowered appetite and weight gain. If you continually abuse large amounts of Adderall, you might have little motivation to eat. This is a huge risk if you are taking Adderall without having ADHD, as the effects will be more pronounced because you don’t have the chemical imbalance that Adderall is intended to treat.

Over time, your poor eating habits and weight loss can lead to malnutrition. Unfortunately, malnutrition can be life-threatening, leading to risks like weakened immune systems and an increased susceptibility to infections. You could also experience organ failure and death in severe cases.[4]

Inability to Produce Dopamine

Adderall can disrupt natural dopamine production. To explain, Adderall overloads the brain with dopamine, especially if you don’t have ADHD. When you take Adderall frequently and in large amounts, eventually your brain will stop producing dopamine on its own and rely on Adderall to do it for you.[5]

This is a serious risk, as the brain needs dopamine to create motivation and help you experience reward or pleasure. Dopamine also plays a vital role in movement and cognitive functioning. If your brain cannot produce it anymore, you’ll experience long-term problems like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and even motor impairments.

Cardiovascular Disease

If you take Adderall in excess, you could develop a wide range of cardiovascular issues. It doesn’t matter whether you are consuming the immediate-release or extended-release form of Adderall; either one poses significant heart risks.

Adderall is a stimulant, which means it can cause spikes in blood pressure and heart rate. If you take Adderall in excess, you could develop risks like high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, hypertension, arterial disease, and in severe cases, heart attacks, stroke, or heart failure.

Overdose

When you abuse Adderall, you are likely to take higher doses than prescribed. Over time, you’ll develop a tolerance to Adderall, which means you’ll need to use more to experience the desired effect. Unfortunately, using large doses of Adderall could lead to an overdose.

The symptoms of an Adderall overdose include:[6]

• Restlessness and agitation
• Tremors or excessive shaking
• Exaggerated or overactive reflexes
• Mental confusion
• Panic and paranoia
• Aggression or violent behavior
• Hallucinations
• Elevated body temperature and sweating
• Rhabdomyolysis (breaking down of muscle tissue)
• Fast breathing
• Irregular heartbeat and tachycardia.
• Hypertension
• Chest pain
• Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Convulsions or seizures
• Coma and death

Because an Adderall overdose can be life-threatening, you should always contact 911. When the emergency medical services arrive, tell them exactly what the individual who is overdosing took. They must know what drugs have been consumed so they can treat the overdose accordingly.

It’s important to note that you won’t be arrested for drug possession if you call to save someone from an overdose. If you obtained the Adderall illegally, you do not need to hesitate to call for help.

How Can You Overcome Adderall Addiction?

If you take Adderall in a manner other than prescribed and have a hard time controlling how much you use, you might be suffering from addiction. Immediate and extended-release Adderall can be habit-forming and highly addictive, making it vital that you seek professional help.

The best way to recover from a substance use disorder is to attend a drug rehab program. You have two options when it comes to addiction treatment: inpatient or outpatient rehab. Inpatient care is ideal for those who need 24/7 care and monitoring, while outpatient care is good for individuals who want to live in the comfort of their own home during recovery.

In either program, the first step is an in-depth assessment to determine your needs, create an individualized treatment plan, and choose your treatment options. Once the treatment team has created a personalized care plan, you’ll begin medical detox. You’ll be tapered off the medication slowly to prevent your withdrawal symptoms from being severe.

Once you complete detox, you can begin participating in evidence-based therapies. You’ll engage in individual counseling, group therapy, and family therapy. Each type of counseling helps you address the root causes of addiction, develop healthy coping skills, and change negative patterns of behavior and thought.

If you started taking Adderall to treat ADHD, your rehab center will find you the right medication to control your symptoms. They will also provide dual diagnosis services if you have any other co-occurring mental health conditions.

Lastly, you will engage in relapse prevention planning to ensure you have the tools you need to maintain long-term sobriety. This involves identifying potential triggers for relapse, building coping skills, and creating a plan of action in case you experience a relapse in the future. You might also be referred to other treatment options, like sober living programs or affordable housing opportunities for sober individuals.

Find Effective Treatment for Adderall Addiction

While Adderall is used to treat ADHD, it can also cause an addictive high among people without the condition. If you develop an addiction to Adderall, you could experience mood changes, an array of health issues, sleep problems, impulse control issues, and more. Thankfully, addiction treatment centers can help you overcome Adderall addiction and avoid the health risks associated with it.

The Mandala Healing Center is a highly-rated and evidence-based addiction treatment center. We believe in providing clinically proven and compassionate care to all of our clients. Additionally, you can use your insurance coverage to attend our program, as we accept a wide variety of plans.

Why Choose The Mandala Healing Center? Clients are taken on a journey of healing through complete immersion into evidence-based clinical modalities, multifaceted alternative therapies, and expert medical management, allowing them to fully detox and recover from drug and alcohol addictions. Through a program of care designed to encourage change, a foundation is created that allows clients to find their higher purpose and reclaim their lives.

If you or a loved one suffers from Adderall addiction or another type of substance use disorder, the Mandala Healing Center is here to help you achieve long-term recovery. Contact us today for more information on how to recover and to verify your insurance benefits or start a payment plan.

References:

1. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Adderall
2. Medline Plus: Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine
3. Cochrane Library: Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal
4. Science Direct: Malnutrition: causes and consequences
5. Science Direct: Amphetamine causes dopamine depletion and cell death in the mouse olfactory bulb
6. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Amphetamine Toxicity