How Long Does Concerta Stay In Your System?

Concerta is a medication prescribed to patients who have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD. Specifically, Concerta is an effective ADHD medication because of its ability to balance the brain’s naturally occurring neurotransmitters. After starting Concerta treatment, you may see improvement in your attention span, focus, organizational skills, listening skills, ability to control your behavior and more.

You may notice certain side effects after you begin your Concerta treatment. Common Concerta side effects include nervousness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and headache. Be sure to contact your doctor promptly if you experience these side effects getting worse or persisting.

It is uncommon for patients to experience severe Concerta side effects, but it is important to be aware of them so you can spot them if necessary. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience the following serious side effects of Concerta: blood flow problems, unusual wounds on the fingers or toes, fast heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, agitation, aggression, mood swings, abnormal thoughts, thoughts of suicide, uncontrolled muscle movements, twitching, shaking, sudden outbursts of sounds that are hard to control and vision changes.

Because of its relatively short half-life, Concerta does not stay in patients’ system for very long. Typically, the medication is metabolized within a few days. It is important to understand, though, that everyone’s body is different, and therefore, Concerta may stay in some patients’ systems longer than others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.4 percent of children in the United States between the ages of 2 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. The following are a few more statistics about children with ADHD in the United States:

• Almost two out of three children who currently have ADHD had at least one other mental, emotional or behavioral disorder.
• About one out of every three children with ADHD has anxiety
• About half of the children with ADHD have a behavior or conduct problem.
• Depression, autism spectrum disorder and Tourette Syndrome are conditions commonly shared among children with ADHD.

Concerta should only be taken if your doctor has prescribed it to you. Do not take Concerta recreationally or misuse Concerta, as this could produce unwanted side effects. If you or someone you know begins to misuse Concerta, get help as soon as possible.

The most commonly misused drugs containing Concerta is the medication itself. Concerta is not found in many other medications. Regardless of this, do not take Concerta unless it has been prescribed to you by your doctor.

Concerta affects the brain by balancing its naturally occurring substances called neurotransmitters. Specifically, Concerta balances out norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. Norepinephrine is a stimulant and dopamine influences one’s attention span, movement and pleasure feelings.

Because everyone’s physiology is unique to them, not every patient processes Concerta in the same way. There are several factors which can influence how long Concerta stays in your system. These factors include your age, metabolism, organ function, genetics and more.

Concerta has a half-life of approximately 3.5 hours. After the medication is taken orally, about 90 percent of the dose is excreted in urine and one to three percent in feces as it metabolizes within 48 to 96 hours.

Depending on the type of drug test you are administered, Concerta may show up in certain tests even several days after you have taken it. The following are some estimates on the windows of detection in which Concerta can be found in different types of drug tests:

• Urine: Concerta will remain present in urine tests anywhere from 48 to 96 hours after using it.
• Hair: Many medications can be detected in hair follicles for longer than other tests, and Concerta is no different. Concerta can be detected in hair within 90 days of its use.
• Blood: Usually, Concerta can be detected in your blood up to four days after using it.

If you or someone you know is suffering from Concerta addiction, seek help as soon as possible. Call our 24-hour, confidential hotline at 352-771-2700 to get more information on the resources and treatment programs offered by The Recovery Village.