Exact Answer : For about 72 hours
Concerta belongs to the stimulant class of drugs, having methylphenidate as its primary active agent. The chemical name for Concerta is methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release tablets.
Concerta is prescribed to patients diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ). It is even used to treat sleeping disorders like narcolepsy. It is mainly used as a medication for the age group 6 – 65 years.
It is mainly prescribed to children with ADHD to control the neurotransmitters in their brain and control their behaviour. It helps them to increase their attention, retentivity and organisational and listening skills.
Concerta comes with a half-life of 3.5 hours only. Soon after its oral medication, about 90% of it is excreted via urine and the rest via faeces. It takes 48 – 96 hours to get metabolised in your body.
How Long Does Concerta Stay In Your System?
| Test | Time (for which Concerta Stays In System) |
| Saliva | N/A |
| Urine | 48 to 96 hrs. |
| Hair | 90days |
| Blood | 4days |
Concerta increases the number of neurotransmitters in our brain namely, norepinephrine and dopamine which helps in increasing attentiveness and concentration. Once taken, its effect lasts up to 12 hours. It is taken in the morning.
The medication and dosage should be taken only when prescribed. The dosage prescribed by the doctor depends on several factors like the patient’s age, type and severity of the condition, and other medical conditions which the patient may have.
The tablets should not be chewed because it may lead to unnecessary side effects. The duration of time for which Concerta stays in our system varies depending on the tests taken.
The saliva test is not done to test the presence of Concerta. It can be detected in blood tests for about 4 days after being taken.
Drugs can be detected for a longer time in hair follicle tests. In this test, the presence of concerta can be detected within 90 days after being taken.
Concerta mainly gets excreted from the body by faeces and urine. In a urine test, the presence can be detected within 48 – 96 hours after being taken.
In comparison to Concerta, others like Adderall and Ritalin last longer in one’s body. Concerta releases the drug evenly for a prolonged period.
Concerta is mainly used for a long term treatment. It is normally safe.
But, Concerta may also have some side effects like weight loss, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, increased blood pressure, headache, diarrhoea and excessive sweating.
Why Does Concerta Stay So Long In Your System?
Generally, Concerta stays in one’s body for approximate 48 to 96 hours. However, there are several factors like the patient’s age, metabolism, genetics that influence the time for which it stays within the body.
Age can be a major factor determining how long Concerta lasts in one’s system. The older the person is, the longer the time duration for which Concerta may stay in one’s system.
In the case of older people, the body takes comparatively more time to metabolize things. Hence, Concerta may linger longer in one’s body.
The patient’s health condition also determines how long the drug would linger in the body. If the person is not healthy, Concerta may stay longer in one’s body. Genetics also plays a role in determining how longer Concerta may stay in one’s system.
Once taken, Concerta takes one hour to dissolve in the gastrointestinal tract. It is released slowly evenly and the concentration increases during the first nine hours.
Concerta is a controlled substance. Its production is regulated by the federal government. Selling or giving Concerta tablets is mostly taken as illegal.
It is available in various strengths like 18mg, 27mg, 36mg and 54mg. The doctor may increase the dosage weekly after the starting of dosage.
Conclusion
Concerta is a central nervous system stimulant. It is the safest and best of all stimulants and has been in use since 2000. The time for which it stays in one’s body varies from person to person.
Concerta has been proven safe by all the standards for the age group 6- 65 years. it should be used as a medication. Excessive use of it may lead to addiction and side effects.
Sometimes, when the drug is being used for a longer time period, the time for which it lingers in the body may also be prolonged. But generally, it stays in the body for about 48 – 96 hours.