Addiction Drug Addiction How Long Does Methylphenidate Stay in Your System? By Buddy T Buddy T Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 17, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Medical Review Board Print JodiJacobson / Getty Images Methylphenidate is a nervous system stimulant commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Marketing under several brand names, the drug is best known in the U.S. as Ritalin. When used as directed, methylphenidate can provide a person greater focus for a short period of time and even help control appetite in people who are dangerously obese. Because it is stronger than caffeine but not as strong as amphetamines, methylphenidate can be abused by those who take it recreationally (usually by snorting it or injecting it into a vein). On the street, the drug is commonly referred to as vitamin R, R-ball, pineapple, and skippy. Students have been known to use methylphenidate to stay up late to study for exams. It is a practice that can lead to addiction, a problem which often requires treatment at a drug rehabilitation center. Excretion of Methylphenidate The length of time that methylphenidate is detectable in the body is dependent on several variables, including which type of drug test is being used and which formulation of the drug is being taken. There are both immediate-release and extended-release forms of methylphenidate on the market, the latter of which remains in the body longer. Both are excreted primarily in urine. Methylphenidate has a relatively short half-life (1 to 4 hours) and doesn't have the tendency to accumulate in cells the way that some other drugs do. However, elimination is highly variable, with some people excreting 97% of the drug over 1 to 2 days while others excrete as little as 78% over the same time frame. The causes of these variations may include a person's metabolism, age, health status, and kidney function. As such, it is nearly impossible to determine the exact time by which methylphenidate will no longer register a negative result on a drug screen. Estimated Detection Windows The following provides an estimate of the detection window based on the various drug screening methods:Blood-based screen: not commonly used for drug screeningHair-based analysis: detectable in follicles for up to 90 daysSaliva-based screen: one to three daysUrine-based screen: one to three days Other Reasons for Drug Testing Blood-based screens are not commonly used in cases for recreational drug use because of the speed by which methylphenidate is excreted from the body. If abuse is suspected, a urine or saliva test can confirm current use (as well as estimate drug levels in the body) while a hair follicle sample can offer evidence of recent use. Blood-based tests are mainly used to determine if a person taking the drug for medical reasons is being prescribed the proper dosage. To this end, blood will be drawn 1 to 2 hours after a dose is taken. This allows time for the blood concentration levels to peak. Based on the findings, a doctor can decide if the dosage needs adjusting to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. How Ritalin Can Be Addictive 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Methylphenidate. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Revised July 15, 2019. Huang Y, Tsai M. Long-Term Outcomes with Medications for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. CNS Drugs. 2011;25(7):539-554. doi:10.2165/11589380-000000000-00000 Wilens T, Zulauf C, Martelon M, et al. Nonmedical stimulant use in college students: association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other disorders. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(07):940-947. doi:10.4088/JCP.14m09559 Breindahl T, Hindersson P. Methylphenidate is Distinguished from Amphetamine in Drug-of-Abuse Testing. J Anal Toxicol. 2012;36(7):538-539. doi:10.1093/jat/bks056 By Buddy T Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit