How Long Do Amphetamines Stay In Your System?

Amphetamines can stay in your system for up to 50 hours after the last use.

Amphetamines are strong substances that see widespread drug use. Legal forms of amphetamines can treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Illegal amphetamines are drugs of abuse that can increase energy and reduce inhibitions.

A positive result for amphetamines on a drug test can be a sign of substance abuse. Staying under the effects of amphetamines can get in the way of your work and daily life. Testing positive for amphetamine use may be a sign to look for addiction treatment options.

How Long Types Of Amphetamines Stay In Your System

Half-life is one way to tell how long a drug stays in your system. Half-life is the amount of time it takes for a drug to drop to half its maximum concentration after it is taken. After five half-life cycles, most drugs are almost completely removed from the body.

Even after 5 half-life cycles, traces of a drug can still be detected in hair, urine, and other specific parts of the body. Many amphetamines have similar half-lives and detection times.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine can stay in your blood for over 2 days, and in your urine for over 4 days. One study suggests methamphetamine can build up in the urine if you take it repeatedly.

Unlike legal amphetamines, meth is an illegal drug. Taking methamphetamine in any way is a form of drug abuse. Testing positive for methamphetamine can make your employment or legal prospects less appealing.

Adderall (Amphetamine)

Adderall can stay in a person’s system for over two days. Adderall has a half-life of ten hours, which is similar to other amphetamines.

Adderall is one of the most commonly taken amphetamines in the United States. It is taken both legally and illegally. Some people may take Adderall to help with productivity, but testing positive on a drug test can hurt your productivity in the long run.

Dexedrine (Dextroamphetamine)

Dextroamphetamine can stay in your system for about two days. Dextroamphetamine is an alternative to Adderall that can treat ADHD, narcolepsy, and obesity. It is available in immediate-release and extended-release prescription medications.

Extended-release Dexedrine may stay for longer in the body. Extended-release and immediate-release dextroamphetamine have the same half-lives, and the two formulations may have similar detection times overall.

Drug Tests That Can Detect Amphetamines

Drug tests often look for metabolites, or versions of drugs after they are broken down by the body. Methamphetamine and amphetamine are the primary metabolites of amphetamines.

You may be asked to take a drug test by your employer, for legal reasons, or if you are suffering from side effects of amphetamines. Noticeable side effects of amphetamines include:

• tooth decay
• aggression
• psychosis
• increased heart rate

Urine Tests

Urine tests are one of the most common forms of drug testing. Amphetamines can be detected in urine for about three days.

Urine PH, or how acidic urine is, can also affect how long a drug stays in urine. Higher pH levels can affect detection times. Diet and substance use can both affect urinary pH.

Some studies have detected methamphetamine in urine 7 days after the last dose. Methamphetamine may have a longer detection time in urine compared to other parts of the body, especially if someone has a high frequency of use.

Blood Tests

Blood tests can detect amphetamine metabolites for anywhere between several hours to over a day. Blood tests are seen as more accurate than urine tests, but the detection window tends to be shorter.

Amphetamine metabolites do not stay in the blood. Once their concentration goes down, they tend to leave the bloodstream to be excreted. 

Blood tests often require invasive methods, which may be too uncomfortable for some people. Blood tests tend to be less popular than other types of drug tests.

Hair Tests

Amphetamines can stay in hair follicles for up to 90 days. Chemicals from amphetamines can end up in hair and stay there as the hair grows out.

During a hair test, a piece of hair is cut out and studied. Hair tests can be more reliable in testing for long-term substance abuse.

Saliva Tests

Amphetamines can be detected in oral fluid for anywhere between a few hours to more than a day.

Saliva tests may be less common than urine or blood tests. While they are noninvasive, the data taken from saliva might be less consistent than samples taken elsewhere.

Treatment Programs For Drug Addiction

Amphetamines are powerful central nervous system stimulants with high abuse potential. Misusing amphetamines can put your job and health in danger. Quitting amphetamines can be easier with professional treatment.

Professional treatment programs are likely to include detox services that manage withdrawal symptoms, behavioral therapy, and peer support groups.

To find a treatment center that caters to the mental health needs of yourself or a loved one, contact our helpline today.