How Long Does Adderall Last

Adderall is a prescribed medication drug used in the treatment of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Narcolepsy. Due to its psychostimulant property, this prescription drug has been used as a recreational and performance enhancement drug and has a significant potential to be an addictive drug. In this article, I explain how long does Adderall last in your system and also discuss its dosage and side effects.

Adderall Dosage
Adderall dosage recommended by physicians varies for every patient according to the severity of ADHD or Narcolepsy. It is available in dosages of 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg. The dosage for children and adults varies but it is mostly quite low due to the long amount of time the drug stays in the body. It is highly recommended that a patient sticks to the prescription dosage of Adderall as directed by the physician. Over dosage can result in severely harmful effects on health.

Adderall Side Effects
Any drug ingested in the blood and especially a psychoactive drug like Adderall can cause some serious damage to the body, if, not used according to prescription. An Adderall overdose or abuse can have some serious side effects including cardiac arrhythmia and hallucinations caused by amphetamine psychosis.

It may even cause headaches, blurry vision, diarrhea, vomiting, stroke, insomnia as well as jitters. People who have used it as a recreational drug have been known to suffer from strokes, high blood pressure and depression.

How Long Does Adderall Last In the System?
How long does a drug stay in the system depends on many factors including the quantity of dosage, number of times it was administered daily and also on the total period of time for which one has been taking it. Most drugs including Adderall can stay in the system for quite some time. Before I talk about how long does Adderall last in the system, let me talk about how drugs are ingested in the blood stream.

Once swallowed, drugs dissolve in the stomach and are assimilated through the small intestine into the blood. From there the drugs reach their intended destinations with the flow of blood. Most drugs cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier and therefore, do not last long in the system. However, psychostimulants like Adderall last in the system for quite a long time because they penetrate the blood brain barrier and reach the brain.

There it acts to increase the production of dopamine and norepinephrine. The drug comes in two forms: XR (extended release) and IR (instant release). The Adderall XR may last longer in the blood stream.

Kidneys filter out blood and transfer the waste products to the bladder from where it is excreted in the form of urine. So like any other drug, Adderall stays for quite some time in body fluids including urine, blood and saliva being a psychostimulant drug.

My research revealed that a single dose of Adderall can last for as much as 4 days in the system and is detectable through urine samples, saliva tests and hair sample tests. If the person has been taking Adderall for an extended period of time, it will last for more than 4 days in the blood stream. If and when you decide to stop taking Adderall dosage, make sure that you discuss it with your physician beforehand.

The problem with psychoactive drugs is that they land up in hands of people who use it as a recreational drug and leads to a severe drug addiction. Knowing how long does Adderall last in the system, can help in detecting it through urine and blood tests. Such tests can reveal the actual dosage taken in by the person and determine if he is addicted to it.