Adderall detox timeline: How long to detox from Adderall?

The general onset of Adderall detox symptoms occurs within a few hours after Adderall effects wear off. And the length of time until detox resolvescan vary from weeks to months later, due to post acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). A general Adderall detox timeline here.

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When does Adderall detox stop?

Adderall (a combination of amphetamine salts) affects people differently depending on whether you’re using it to treat ADD/ADHD vs. taking it to get high. However, the general onset of withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Adderall occurs within a few hours after Adderall effects wear off. And the length of time until withdrawal stops can vary from weeks to months later, especially when post acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) are present.

So, how long does it take for Adderall detox to resolve? Is there a general schedule for detoxing from Adderall which includes common symptoms? Find out more in the article that follows. Then, we invite your questions and comments in the section at the end.

Adderall detox duration and length

Adderall detox is defined by major periods of acute, intermediate and long term. The overall Adderall detox duration will depend upon the dosage, frequency and total time that you’ve been taking the drug, as well as individual medical and health factors. However, in general, most symptoms of Adderall detox resolve several days to weeks after you take your last Adderall pill (acute phase).

Another characteristic of stimulant detox is delayed detox, where symptoms reappear again weeks or months after acute detox. So, full recovery from a protracted term of Adderall detox may take a few weeks to a few months to complete. Note here that getting off Adderall cold turkey is usually not necessary or recommended. The risk of dangerous side effects, including seizures, extreme depression and paranoia, is simply too great.

Adderall detox timeline and schedule

Symptoms of detoxing from Adderall will vary from person to person. It can take days to weeks to completely remove amphetamine salts from the system when you’ve developed physical dependence on Adderall. It is important to note that because Adderall is a stimulant, detox symptoms can be delayed. Therefore, it may take several weeks to months to no longer feel the effects of detox symptoms. Following is a general detox timeline.

24-72 hours of Adderall detox – General onset of symptoms can manifest shortly after the drug has worn off. Many people report that the most common reaction to acute Adderall detox is fatigue and oversleeping. However, intense fatigue, uncontrollable sleepiness and catnapping, continuing stimulation, and drug craving are typical symptoms that occur during the first days after coming off Adderall. The worst onset of symptoms (fatigue, depression and disorientation) often occur during this period, as well.

Week 1 of Adderall detox – In the first week after stopping Adderall, symptoms of detox tend to even out with an apparent return to “normalcy”, although drug craving may occur and disturbed sleeping patterns are common. During this phase of detox, symptoms can include the inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia), waves of intense craving, depression, exhaustion, extreme fatigue and excessive sleepiness.

Week 2 of Adderall detox – After the first couple of weeks of detoxing from Adderall, characteristic symptoms of stimulant detox may still be present including fatigue or exhaustion, depression, unpleasant and vivid dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite, slowed or quickened psychomotor response, and/or irritability.

Weeks 3-4 of Adderall detox – During this phase of detox, apathy, irritability, and depression may still be present. Additionally, long periods or disturbances in sleep are still reported.

How long to detox from Adderall?

Adderall affects each person differently depending on the dosage and how long you have been taking Adderall. In other words, each detox period is unique to the person taking Adderall. In general, however, if you taking Adderall for medical reasons in doses as prescribed, symptoms of detox tend to be less intense than someone abusing the medication or taking higher doses than prescribed.

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is a set of symptoms that can last several months after you stop taking Adderall. Increased fatigue and having less energy are typical of Adderall use and these symptoms can linger for weeks to months after your last dose of Adderall. Additionally, people who detox from Adderall might experience sleeping issues for several months after they stop taking the medication as well as mental depression or emotions that they are not as used to. People suffering from depression are encouraged to seek help.

Adderall detox scheduling questions

Do you still have any questions about Adderall detoxification duration? If we can help, please feel free to contact us by sending us your questions directly in comments form below. We are eager to hear your about experience during Adderall detox and will try to respond to you personally and promptly.

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Reference Sources: NIDA: Treatment
NCBI: Treatment of amphetamine
NCBI: Potential Adverse Effects of Amphetamine Treatment
Drug Abuse: Treating stimulant addiction
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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