A popular prescription drug for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is Adderall, which is composed of amphetamine salts such as dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine. In addition, doctors may also prescribe this medication for off-label purposes such as depression and anxiety.
Adderall is able to treat ADHD, anxiety, and depression because of its capability to increase the dopamine levels in the brain. However, because of its mental effect, some people misuse this medication to get high leading to drug abuse and dependence.
To control the abuse and addiction, drug testing has become a mandatory requirement in most organizations and establishments. If you have recently taken Adderall, knowing the length of time the drug stays in your system is valuable information.
Comparing by Table: How Long does Adderall Stay in Your System
Because Adderall is made of amphetamine salts, drug tests will look for amphetamines. The most common drug tests are the following:
| Test | Description | Short-term Use | Long-term Use |
| Urine | The most common type of drug test is urine testing because this test is economical and convenient to use. | 2 to 4 days | Up to 1 week |
| Saliva | The quickest and non-invasive way to detect Adderall is through the saliva test. Typically, this test is administered if there is a suspicion of recent drug abuse. | 2 to 4 days | Up to 1 week |
| Sweat | The sweat test is the least popular method of drug testing. People with a history of drug abuse may undergo this test. | 2 to 4 days | Up to 1 week |
| Blood | Because Adderall can leave the bloodstream quickly, healthcare providers will only use blood testing for patients suspected of a drug overdose. | 12 to 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Hair | Hair testing can detect a history of drug abuse longer than the other tests. However, this test is expensive. The military uses this test. | Up to 3 months | Up to 3 months |
Tips to Get Adderall Out of Your System Quickly
If you need to take a drug test soon, you can use several methods to quickly remove amphetamine out of your body, which includes the following:
- Food Intake
When a person takes this drug by mouth, the digestive tract is responsible for its absorption. For this reason, the food you eat can delay the absorption process. If you want to remove Adderall out of your body quickly, taking the medication on an empty stomach will hasten the process.
- Exercise
Exercise improves a person’s mental health and mood. This occurs through the release of several brain chemicals such as dopamine. The increase in dopamine signaling can hasten the elimination process of amphetamine. Furthermore, exercising also boosts the kidney’s performance when eliminating waste materials including Adderall.
- Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal can bind to amphetamine before absorption and help in the fast elimination of the medication. However, there is no scientific data verifying the effectiveness of activated charcoal once the body has absorbed Adderall. Nonetheless, medical practitioners use this product in cases of poisoning and drug overdose because of its potent detoxifying effects.
- Enzymatic Inducers
Various enzymes help in the breakdown of amphetamine such as cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). As such, one can speed up the metabolism and elimination process of Adderall by taking supplements or drugs that stimulate enzyme activity. Conversely, some substances reduce enzyme activity. If you want to get rid of amphetamine quickly, avoiding products such as grape juice is a good option.
- Calcium d-glucarate
Toxic substances such as amphetamine will undergo glucuronidation before the kidneys can flush out these compounds. Calcium d-glucarate is a supplement that enhances glucuronidation. It also prevents amphetamine and its metabolites from going back into the bloodstream by blocking the enzymatic activity of beta-glucuronidase.
- Acidify you pH
According to a literature, when the digestive tract and urine has an acidic pH, the body is able to rapidly get rid of Adderall.
One way to acidify your urine and digestive system is to eat foods with a low pH such as meat products, sugary foods, and grains. It is recommended to avoid consuming products with an alkaline pH such as sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and alkaline water. You can also buy supplements to make your urine more acidic.
- Drink more Water
Drinking plenty of water increases the kidney’s urinary flow rate leading to a faster elimination of amphetamine. In addition, some researchers believe that consuming high amounts of water may dilute a person’s urine sample, which may lead to a difficulty in detecting the drug. However, it is strongly advised to control your water intake because over-consumption may cause electrolyte imbalance.
Scientific data about the safety and effectiveness of these methods are not available. For this reason, you should always consult your doctor before trying any of these tips. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that these methods will give you a negative result in your drug test.
Factors that May Influence
Various factors can influence the body’s ability to process Adderall, which includes the following:
- Food
Like amphetamine, your food will also undergo the process of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. When a person takes the drug with food, his body will take more time to process all the substances, which leads to the medication staying longer in your body. This is the primary reason taking Adderall on an empty stomach will have a faster elimination process.
- Body Composition
A person’s height, weight, body fat percentage, and muscle mass can influence the body’s ability to process Adderall.
As a hydrophilic substance, amphetamine will only bind to water molecules. Keep in mind that people with muscle mass and low body fat have more water molecules. Thus, they will be able to eliminate the drug faster compared to people with a high body fat percentage.
- pH Levels
As mentioned, having an acidic pH can speed up the elimination process of amphetamines because the drug will maintain its hydrophilic state in an acidic environment. As a result, the kidneys are able to flush out Adderal faster.
- Organ Function
Before the kidneys can eliminate amphetamine, the liver will first break down the drug.
A person with organs that are functioning efficiently will eliminate amphetamine rapidly. However, when a person has a kidney or liver disease, the metabolism and elimination process will be slower. In a worst-case scenario, one may experience a drug overdose.
- Dose and Frequency of Use
Because the body can only process a certain amount of amphetamine for a given period, taking a high dose will result in the drug staying longer in the body. Taking Adderall continuously will also lead to a build-up of the medication and its metabolites. Thus, it will take more time to completely get rid of these substances.
Precautions
One must be cautious when taking Adderall because of its side effects. In addition, the drug has a potential for misuse and abuse that can lead to drug dependence and serious withdrawal symptoms.
One must consult their doctor before taking Adderall, especially if you have any of the following medical conditions:
- Allergies specifically to medications such as lisdexamfetamine, pseudoephedrine, or epinephrine
- Vascular disorders such as Raynaud’s disease
- Depression or having suicidal thoughts and tendencies
- Mood or mental disorders such as bipolar or psychosis
- Heart problems such as irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, heart valve problems, or heart failure
- A family history of high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems, glaucoma, liver diseases, kidney diseases, or Tourette’s syndrome
- A history of drug or alcohol abuse
- Pregnant women who are taking Adderall and experienced mood changes, agitation, and tiredness
In addition, one should also remember these important details about Adderall including the following:
- It is imperative to avoid driving or operating machinery until your body gets used to the drug’s effects.
- It is necessary to avoid drinking alcohol when taking this medication.
- Children and elderly have a high risk of experiencing side effects such as chest pain, sleeping problems, and weight loss.
- Adderall may hinder or slow down your child’s growth.
- Pregnant women with Adderall addiction may have a premature baby. The newborn child may also have a low weight and experience withdraw symptoms.
- Breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking Adderall because it can pass through the milk and affect your child.