Jermone asked
How fast does Adderall work?
Answer
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) is a stimulant medications used for the treatment of ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Adderall comes in a variety of dosage forms including immediate release tablets and extended release capsules.
How Fast Does Adderall Work?
After taking by mouth, Adderall begins to work in about 20-30 minutes but peak concentration levels are reached about 3 hours after administration. Therefore, while you can expect Adderall to begin working quickly, it will take a few hours to reach maximum effectiveness.
Adderall XR (amphetamine salts extended release) has a "dual bead" release system. One type of bead releases the drug immediately after taking by mouth while the other bead releases later in the day to extend the duration of action of the drug. Due to the immediate release drug bead, you should begin to feel the effects of Adderall XR in about 30 minutes. Unlike Adderall immediate release tablets, maximum concentrations of Adderall XR are reached about 7 hours after initial dosing.
Source: Adderall XR Package Insert
The graph above illustrates the time is takes to reach maximum concentration. It is important to remember that Adderall is a mixed amphetamine salt product, and contains two types of amphetamine (dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine). That is why the graph above lists each, as the concentration of each component was measured individually.
Additional Adderall Information
Adderall is indicated to be dosed up to three times daily, at four to six hour intervals. How long Adderall lasts depends on the specific individual but in general, the effects being to decrease after 4 hours.
The half life (time it takes for 50% of the drug to be metabolized) of Adderall is around 9 to 11 hours in children and 10 to 13 hours in adults. As a general rule of thumb, it takes around 5 half lives for a drug to be considered completely eliminated from the body. Therefore, Adderall is typically cleared from the body after two to three days.
