Adderall is available only with a prescription. It is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in2018 in the United States, with more than 16 million prescriptions to treat narcolepsy and ADHD- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 

Misuse or abuse of the medication Adderall can lead to overdose, addiction, and significant adverse effects such as unhealthy weight loss, cardiovascular disease, and psychotic symptoms. It is crucial for patients who use Adderall to understand how long the medication stays in their System and the other factors that affect the half-life. 

What is Adderall? 

Adderall helps to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy. Adderall is accommodated with a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine.

Adderall acts on CNS stimulants calming natural chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity, improves attention spans and impulse control. It belongs to the class of stimulants. Adderall is used to treat sleeping issues to help you stay awake during the day.

Adderall t is schedule 2 controlled under CSA (Controlled Substance Act), which means Adderall has a high potential for abuse, leading to severe physical and psychological dependence. It does not have the risk of being a fetal human during pregnancy. Adderall is safe and approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for medical use.

Adderall helps raise your ability to stay focused on an activity, pay attention, and control behaviour problems. It also helps in arranging tasks and improving listening skills. 

Adderall helps to treat tiredness or keep off sleep for those who do not have sleep ailments. It can also elevate the ability to pay attention, coordination, stay attentive on performance, control behaviour issues, organize your task and improve listening skills. 

How is Adderall Misused or abused (Addiction vs. Dependence)? 

Like many other morphine-like substances, Adderall can be abused or misused and has the potential to lead to both addiction and dependence. Adderall is an addictive medication stimulant with effects similar to amphetamine. Because of Adderall’s effectiveness and receptiveness, the risk of its abuse and addiction is high. But not everyone gets addicted to Adderall.

There are some common signs of Adderall addiction: 

• Difficult to stop the use of Adderall
• Use prolonged doses to feel the drug’s effects
• Arduous to do something in the absence of Adderall
• Neglecting other activities and use Adderall
• Not able to finish work without Adderall

Dependence of Adderall is a natural, expected physiological response to the medication. The physical dependence is due to the interaction of the chemicals in the body but not psychological dependence where they are abusing the medicine to reach a high.  

The addiction of Adderall refers to an individual’s physical and psychological reliance on Adderall along with a specific set of behaviors. The person may not cope when they stop taking Adderall and will go to any length to obtain more of the medication. In short, people make the main priority to use the medicine. 

Adderall Effects and Abuse

People abuse Adderall because they believe it is safe when prescribed by the doctor, and Adderall produces feelings of confidence, increased concentration, euphoria, and squash appetite. These effects of Adderall helps to boost mental and physical performance. 

People may take Adderall without a prescription, which may lead to abuse. Hyperventilating is included in Adderall pills or taking prolonged dosages to get a robust effect. 

There are many reasons for Adderall abuse, such as: 

• Studying
• Staying awake
•  Weight loss
• Athletic performance

How long does Adderall stay in your body? 

The medication Adderall has a short half-life. Half-life refers to the time the half of the medication substance takes to eliminate the body. The average half-life of Adderall is 10 hours in adults, 11 hours in teenagers, 13 to 17 who weigh less than 166 pounds, and 9 hours in children aged 6 to 12. 

The detectability of Adderall in the body differs in different body parts, and it dissolves through the gastrointestinal tract, then the liver metabolizes it and excretes through the urine.

By using the drug test method, Adderall can be detected in: 

Blood

On average, Adderall can be present in the blood for about 46 hours after the last dose. 

Urine

Adderall may be detectable in urine for up to 1 to 3 days after the last dose and then eliminate the body. 

Saliva

Adderall can be detected in oral fluid for 24 to 48 hours.

Hair

Like other medications, Adderall is also present in the hair follicle for about 90 days after the last dosage. 

Factors affecting the half-life of Adderall

Some factors influence the detectability of Adderall in the body, such as:

• Amount used: the detectability of medication depends on the amount of dosage used; the longer the dosage, the longer it stays in the body. 
• Metabolism: the enzymes present in the liver helps to metabolize the medication. The faster the drug metabolizes, the faster it eliminated the body. 
• Age: Age is the other factor that affects the detectability of the medication. The older a person, the longer it takes to eliminate the body because the functioning of the body of the older is lower than, the younger patients. 
• Frequency of use: using Adderall regularly for an extended period takes longer for the body to eliminate. 
• Liver and Kidney functioning: liver and kidney play the lead role in processing and excreting amphetamines.  
• Body composition: factors like body fat, mass, height, and weight affect the half-life of Adderall; the smaller the person, the faster it metabolizes and eliminates the body. 

How to get Adderall out of your System? 

Adderall eliminates the body by the urine. With the help of other factors such as metabolism, frequency of dosage, and body weight, it is the best way to get Adderall out of the System to wait for the body to clear it naturally. 

Quitting the use of Adderall suddenly can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. To prevent those symptoms, take the help of a doctor or other trained medication professional to ensure one’s elimination of medication approaches safely.