By Michael Burke
April 3, 2025
Adderall is a prescription stimulant drug that doctors use to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It contains a mixture of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts. It works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which leads to increased focus and lessened impulsivity among people with ADHD.[1]
Even though Adderall is effective in managing ADHD, it is a common drug of abuse. If you use the medication without having ADHD, you might experience increased energy, euphoria, a fast heart rate, and more. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), up to 20% of college students abuse prescription stimulants like Adderall to stay up for long hours studying or partying.[2]
If you or a loved one abuses Adderall, knowing how long it stays in your system can prevent you from taking multiple doses at once and overdosing or let you know when your withdrawal symptoms will begin. Adderall can stay in your system for up to two days, however, drug tests can detect it for longer periods.
In this article, you will learn:
- How long do the effects of Adderall last?
- How long does Adderall stay in your system?
- How long will you test positive on a drug test for Adderall?
How Long Do the Effects of Adderall Last?
Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) is a central nervous system stimulant that increases activity in your brain and body. You could experience effects like increased energy, a fast heart rate, and a rush of euphoria. Some people describe the high of Adderall as similar to cocaine or methamphetamine.
The common effects of Adderall include:[3]
- Euphoria and elation
- Increased energy and heightened focus
- Feelings of self-confidence or importance
- Fast heart rate, high blood pressure, and chest pains
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Dilated pupils
- Increased sweating and dehydration
- Lessened need for food and sleep
- In large doses, symptoms of psychosis
The length of time that the effects of Adderall last depends on the formulation you take. For example, the immediate-release formula lasts for 4 to 6 hours after you consume it.
Adderall XR slowly releases the substance into your system over time. If you take the extended-release version of Adderall, the effects could last up to 12 hours.
How Does Your Body Metabolize Adderall?
Understanding how long Adderall stays in your system involves knowing how your body processes it. When you consume Adderall, it moves into your gastrointestinal system. From there, it enters your bloodstream and travels into your liver, where it will be eliminated via urine.
Adderall is converted into metabolites known as hippuric and benzoic acids, which are what a drug test looks for to determine if you’ve recently used it.
The half-life of Adderall is about 10 hours.[4] Because it takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a drug to be eliminated from your system, it can take up to 2 days.
How Long Does Adderall Show Up on Drug Tests?
Many factors affect how long Adderall stays in your system. For example, the dose you take, how often you take it, the speed of your metabolism, and other factors can all play a role.
Another thing to consider is what type of drug test is being used, as each form can detect Adderall for a different amount of time.
Urine
Urine tests are the most common type of drug test because they are minimally invasive and relatively cheap to use. These tests can detect Adderall in urine for 48 to 72 hours after you last consumed it. If you have been using Adderall for a long time, you might test positive longer than a first-time user.
Blood
Blood tests are not used as often as urine tests because they are invasive, requiring a blood draw to be sent to the lab for analysis. Additionally, they tend to offer a shorter window of detection.
Adderall can be detected in blood for up to 48 hours after your last dose.
Saliva
Saliva tests are not used often because they offer short detection times. That said, law enforcement officers might use them for field sobriety tests when you are pulled over under suspicion of a DUI.
Saliva tests can detect Adderall in your system for 20 to 50 hours after your last dose.
Hair
Lastly, hair tests offer the longest window of detection out of any drug screening tool. However, medical professionals do not like them because they can offer unreliable results due to discrimination based on things like hair color.
Hair tests can find Adderall and any other drug in your system for up to 90 days after you last consumed it.
Get Connected to an Adderall Addiction Treatment Center
If you or a loved one abuses Adderall, it’s time to seek professional help. Long-term Adderall abuse can lead to social problems, legal issues, and physical or mental health risks. Additionally, when you are addicted to Adderall, you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it.
Addiction treatment centers like Solutions Healthcare can provide you with the tools and support you need to achieve long-term recovery. With a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning, we can help you overcome Adderall addiction.
At Solutions Healthcare, we provide exceptional behavioral healthcare for individuals, families, and communities in Central Florida and beyond. Our comprehensive range of dual-diagnosis residential and community-based programs cater to the unique needs of those affected by mental health and substance use disorders. Using clinically proven, evidence-based models of care, we deliver practical and sustainable solutions that empower and support our clients on their journey to healing and recovery.
Contact us today for more information on how we can help you recover from Adderall addiction.
info@shc.health 
