How Long Does Concerta Stay In Your System?

Concerta stays in your system for about 30 hours after your last dose. Drug tests can detect methylphenidate, the main active ingredient in Concerta, in your body for up to 3 days after your last dose of Concerta.

Concerta is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy in Ohio. Concerta, Adderall, and other stimulant medications are commonly abused by high school students, college students, and workers who want to improve their performance.

Amphetamine and stimulant drug screening from your Ohio employer, healthcare provider, or addiction treatment center can test if you’re taking Concerta as directed, or if you are abusing the drug. 

Depending on your test results, you may be referred to a long-term substance abuse treatment program.

Ohio Drug Tests For Concerta Use

Drug testing is common for Ohio employers and companies. Drug screenings for applicants can enforce Ohio’s drug-free workplace policies. Existing employees may also go through drug tests if there is a suspicion of drug abuse in the workplace.

Drug tests can detect either unchanged methylphenidate or its metabolites, which are unique components of the drug after the body breaks it down.

Metabolites of methylphenidate that can be detected by Ohio drug tests may include Ritalinic acid and phenyl-piperidine acetic acid (PPA). A positive test result for these metabolites may be a sign of Concerta abuse or addiction.

Concerta Urine Test

Urine tests can detect methylphenidate or its metabolites for about 1 to 3 days after your last dose. Urine tests can be a common drug screening method for employers due to its convenience and non-invasive nature.

Concerta Blood Test

Blood tests can detect Concerta for about 1 day after your last dose. Blood tests have a shorter detection window than other types of drug testing, and may not be a common form of drug screening for employers.

Blood tests can be performed by a hospital on patients showing side effects of Concerta abuse, such as high blood pressure, increased heart rate, rapid weight loss, or mood swings. They can also be ordered from an Ohio testing lab near you.

Concerta Saliva Test

Concerta can stay in oral fluid for about 36 hours after your last dose. However, multi-drug saliva tests may not test for methylphenidate. A saliva test may be specifically designed to pick up methylphenidate and not other drugs of abuse.

Eating food or drinking fluids can disrupt your saliva test. You may be advised to avoid eating or drinking shortly before a saliva test.

Concerta Hair Test

Hair tests can detect Concerta for up to 90 days after your last dose. Hair tests can have long detection times because drugs can reach hair follicles through the bloodstream and stay there as the hair grows out.

Half-Life Of Concerta

The half-life of methylphenidate, or the amount of time it takes to decrease to half its peak concentration, is about 3.5 hours. Despite the short half-life of methylphenidate, Concerta can be designed as an extended-release drug that can last for over 12 hours.

As an extended-release tablet, the intended effects and side effects of Concerta last for over 12 hours. Methylphenidate can reach maximum concentrations after about 6 to 10 hours, and gradually leave your bloodstream over the next 20 hours. After about 30 hours, most of the drug may leave your bloodstream.

Factors such as body weight, history of drug use, taking higher doses of Concerta, and the formulation of methylphenidate you are taking can affect how long Concerta stays in your system.

Stimulant Drug Addiction Treatment

Controlled substances that treat symptoms of ADHD such as Concerta, Adderall, and Ritalin are carefully prescribed and monitored by Ohio doctors. However, if you or a loved one are abusing prescription drugs, you may be putting your health at risk.

At Ohio Recovery Center, our inpatient ADHD medication abuse treatment options include drug detox, mental health support, and management of withdrawal symptoms. To find out if our rehab program is right for you or a loved one, please contact us today.