How Long Does Ritalin Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 3 To 6 Hours

There are more than millions of medicines in the world that will help people get rid of medical complications completely, or at least soothe the symptoms until they get better. Yet, too much medicine can be really dangerous for health. There isn’t a person in this world who has never taken medicine in their entire life. On the other hand, how long the effects of medicine last on a person depends on their physical health, the dosage of medicine they take, and what kind of medicine they take.

Some medicines and drugs contain just a single active ingredient, while others contain many chemical and active ingredients that do not have any sort of medical interactions with one another because sometimes that can lead to severe consequences. Some conditions last for a lifetime, and one of them is ADHD, which is abbreviated as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

How Long Does Ritalin Last?

ADHD is a condition many people have all across the globe, and there are only a few medicines that can treat the symptoms of ADHD. A complete cure for ADHD is yet unknown, but, one drug that is popularly known to help in treating the symptoms is Ritalin. It is a pharmaceutical drug, sold all over the world, with doctor’s prescriptions. The main ingredient present in Ritalin is methylphenidate, which stimulates the central nervous system. The drug has a very short life, and its effects don’t last that long, and they take effect soon.

The effects of the drug depend on the half-life of the drug and the effects first hit the central nervous system. The half-life of the drug is defined as the time taken by the system to break down the drug’s concentration in half. Since methylphenidate attacks the central nervous system, the effects peak within an hour and the immediate effects of the drug last for about 4 to 6 hours before the next dose.

While Ritalin only lasts for about 4 to 6 hours, other forms of methylphenidate, like Concerta can last for around 10 to 15 hours.

The half-life of methylphenidate is about 1 to 4 hours, and it is completely water-soluble. It doesn’t accumulate in the cells of the body and hence, and it is hence not as dangerous as other drugs.

Why Does Ritalin Last That Long?

After the dose is completely metabolized, it will be eliminated through the excretory system in the form of urine.

The elimination time of the drug differs based on the person. While some eliminate the whole dosage in just one or two days, while some might eliminate only 75% of the same dosage at the same time, and hence it all depends on the physical attributes of the person. Urine screens are used to detect the presence of Ritalin in a person’s body for about one to three days of use.

Methylphenidate can be detected in the saliva for about one to three days, and it can even be detected in the hair follicles for about 30 days. People who weigh more eliminate the entire drug faster, and it takes a while for older people to eliminate the drug. Though it is highly unlikely, people don’t take Ritalin with alcohol, but when they do, the elimination time is much slower.

This is because, the body will first start to metabolize the alcohol instead of Ritalin, and in that way, Ritalin tends to last longer.

Conclusion

Food intake and how well a person hydrates also depend on how long the drug will last in the person’s body and usually, Ritalin is taken in oral forms, but it is also taken in immediate-release forms. When the drug is taken in an oral form, it tends to last longer in the body than when taken in form of immediate release.

Some people even use Ritalin in an abusive way, as it is also a type of drug, and it can certainly make a person high. Hence, if children are taking Ritalin, the parents must keep an eye on them and their dosage.

References

1. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/91/6/1101/58211
2. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1985-04758-001