Amphetamine Screen Urine Health Encyclopedia University of Rochester Medical Center

Similar tests are popular for testing potential employees, though a simpler 4- or 5-panel drug test with alcohol is more common. If you have taken them in the last 24 to 48 hours you probably will test positive. If you are worried about testing positive, talk to your doctor. If you test positive for amphetamines and you are sure you haven’t taken any, ask for a retest. If you have a problem with amphetamines, your school, employer, or the courts might send you to a drug treatment facility to get off them. People can benefit from undergoing a detox program, where staff can monitor symptoms and mood as they withdraw from amphetamines and cleanse their bodies of these substances.

• But they also put more sodium in your urine, which may provide a pretty obvious sign that you intended to dilute your sample.
• The molecule is dextroamphetamine attached to the amino acid lysine.
• 10-panel drug tests will also test for cocaine and other drugs containing cocaine, such as freebase or crack cocaine.
• Many people have attempted to use masking agents to pass a drug test.
• Amphetamines can be detected in the blood for four to six hours, in the saliva for 24 to 48 hours, in urine for up to four days and in the hair for up to 90 days.
• American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.

Factors That Influence How Long Stimulants Stay In Your System

According to the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the average amphetamine half life is hours. If you’re struggling with drug use or know someone who is, there is effective help that can help you reclaim your life from addiction. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. You, nor your loved one, are under any obligation to commit to a Treatment X treatment program when calling the helpline. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact at

How Stimulants Affect The Brain And Body

With that said, some professions involving personal and public safety may require regular 10-panel drug tests. According to the National Library of Medicine, how long do amphetamines stay in your system a false positive might result from someone who is taking cold medicine, inhalers, and antihistamines. It is always important to list all of your medications before taking a urine test for any drug including those for amphetamines. If you take medication for narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, or ADHD you will test positive. Health care providers may order amphetamine tests to determine whether their patients are taking the proper dose. Similarly, amphetamine tests may be required in professional settings while employees are undergoing substance abuse treatment.

Drug Testing Detection Times

Other people try to use household chemicals as a way to alter their drug results. Yet, new testing helps to limit the effectiveness of any method. Heroin, for example, is generally undetectable in urine after three to five days. Results only show that amphetamine was in your system at the time of the test. Healthcare providers diagnose amphetamine use disorder only after a physical exam.

Start your recovery now

Lab tests are more reliable than home tests because they can rule out false positives caused by certain foods, supplements, drinks or medications. There are some limitations to using hair as a detection method. Darker hair typically has more methamphetamine in it than those who may have a lighter color hair. That happens just because the drug tends to bind better with darker colors.

Health Challenges

Once people have completely discontinued using the amphetamines, they normally want to know how long it will take for the drugs to be removed from their systems. Naturally, the process of elimination from the body varies slightly from person to person. The liver breaks down amphetamines, but some of the drug is filtered into the urine by the kidneys.

How reliable are urine drug tests?

But they also put more sodium in your urine, which may provide a pretty obvious sign that you intended to dilute your sample. Healthline does not endorse the use of any illegal substances, and we recognize abstaining from them is always the safest approach. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using. Meth is known for giving people a “rush” or “high” of good feelings.

Signs, Side Effects & Symptoms of Amphetamine Abuse

Because the drug remains in the hair, amphetamines can be detected in hair for 90–180 days after being used. Using a swab or absorbent pad are the most common ways to take a saliva specimen. However, if blood is present in the oral fluid sample, additional blood or urine tests will be required for accuracy.

However, it can also kill brain cells, causing long-term damage to your memory, attention, and executive functioning. One strategy you may have come across involves drinking a lot of water at once — with “a lot” meaning two or three 12-ounce glasses. Anywhere from 37% to 54% of the meth you take will come out in your urine chemically unchanged.