Adderall is a common medication used to treat ADHD. In 2023 alone, over 9 million controlled substances, such as Adderall, were prescribed across Arizona. While this substance has many benefits when used under medical direction, it can also be obtained illicitly, leading to a wide range of side effects. This is why local rehab and detox center, Pinnacle Peak Recovery, chose to write an article about Adderall, how it impacts your system, and how long it takes for it to be processed through it.
Readers may wonder why it’s important to understand the timeline of a substance being within the body. The primary reason for this is to know when it’s safe to engage with other medications or to drink alcohol. Having Adderall present while taking other medications or drinking alcohol can lead to negative side effects.
To start off the piece, Pinnacle Peak explains how Adderall is processed through the system. “When you take any substance, it’s primarily processed through the digestive system, with the liver and kidneys working together, playing a large role in distributing the substance through your body. When Adderall is processed, it’s broken down into the two main substances that make up the drug – dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine.” They inform readers. “Both drugs take a different amount of time to be fully processed through your system, but on average, the half-life of Adderall as a whole is 10-13 hours.”
Pinnacle Peak recognizes that readers may not be familiar with the term half-life and how it pertains to this topic, so they immediately explain it in the next section of their piece. “The time in which it takes a substance to pass through your body is measured in half-lives… The ‘half-life’ of a substance refers to how long it takes for half of the substance to leave the body. So, if you take a 5mg dose, and the half-life of a substance is 3 hours, after 3 hours you’d still have 2.5mg in your system.”
While 10-13 hours is the average timeline, Pinnacle Peak informs readers that this won’t be exactly the same for every individual. Their blog covers a wide range of factors that can influence the specific amount of time it takes for any substance to be processed. This includes age, health, diet, and much more.
The local rehab center recognizes that many people may seek out this article because they have an upcoming drug test and want to know if Adderall will show up on it. “Adderall can make a drug test show positive results for amphetamines in your system. This is because Adderall contains amphetamines.” The blog states. “What’s important to note, however, is that if you’re taking Adderall as a prescribed medication, you don’t need to worry… Just be open and honest about what medications you take should you be asked to take a drug test.”
They continue by breaking down the specific timelines for when Adderall will appear on the most common drug tests, including blood tests, hair tests, saliva tests, and urine tests. The windows vary for each test because each part of the body plays a different role in processing substances. Saliva is the shortest with the window being 20-50 hours, while hair can test positive for Adderall up to 3 months after the last dosage.
If readers want to learn more about the types of drug tests, if there are ways to make Adderall move through the body faster, and more, the blog is linked above. Pinnacle Peak also offers solutions for those who may be seeking ways to heal from their Adderall use at the close of the piece.
Pinnacle Peak Recovery offers addiction and mental health services to Arizonans. Their evidence-based treatment is nationally recognized and led by master’s-level clinicians. They work with clients one-on-one to improve every area of their lives, including their nutrition and their housing situations. For more information, visit Pinnacle Peak’s website or call 866-377-4761.
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