How Long Does Vyvanse Stay in Your System?

Vyvanse stays in your system for about 10 to 14 hours, depending on different factors like individual metabolism, frequency of use, and use of other medications.[1]

Vyvanse Half-Life & Its Impact on Your System

The half-life of Vyvanse is about 12 hours.[2] This means that about 12 hours after taking the medication, about half of the drug has been processed out of your system. At that rate, the drug is essentially out of your system about five half-lives later or after about three days.

If there are any issues with organ function due to chronic illness, it can slow down the metabolism of the drug, causing it to stay in the system for longer.[3] This means that it may be more likely for stimulants like Vyvanse to show up on drug tests longer than it might for other people, especially if the person is taking medications that slow metabolism or if they have an issue with kidney function. 

Vyvanse Drug Test Detection Timeline

It’s important to note that not everyone will metabolize Vyvanse out of their systems at the same rate as anyone else. If you have concerns that Vyvanse will show up on a drug test, speak with your doctor about the issue. Ask for advice on how to handle the situation given your personal circumstance. 

Here is what you can expect in terms of average detection times for Vyvanse on drug tests:[1,7]

Factors That Can Impact Detection Time With Vyvanse

Organ function, other medications in the system, underlying medical conditions, and age are just a few of the things that can alter the timeline of drug elimination. Unfortunately, it can make guessing the amount of Vyvanse in the system at any given time an inexact science, especially when using the drug regularly. Here are some of the factors that can impact the timeline: 

Age 

With age comes a generalized impairment of the body’s organs and functions and a slowing of all processes.[4] For people who are taking Vyvanse, as they age, they may process the drug more slowly than they used to. This can lead to a need to change the dose or alter the dosing schedule to avoid a buildup of Vyvanse in the system over time. 

Though there is little you can do about your age if it is impacting your metabolism, your doctor may have suggestions to help you to boost your metabolism if it’s a concern.

Metabolism

Metabolism is any process in the body that converts food, water, and medications into being useful for the body. This includes everything from breathing to blood circulation to food digestion and waste elimination as well as the function of the brain and the nerves.[5]

Metabolism can be impacted by a number of factors, both short term and chronic. For example, if you exercise regularly, sleep well, and eat healthy foods, your metabolism may be highly efficient and the drug will be processed more rapidly. 

If your nutrition is unhealthy, sleep is erratic or not restorative, or you are mostly sedentary, your metabolism may slow down and cause Vyvanse to remain in the body for longer periods. 

If you feel that your metabolism is slower than it should be, you can talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes that will help you to get it back on track.

Frequency of Use 

The more frequently that Vyvanse is ingested, the longer it will stay in the system. Over time, the drug builds up, and it can take longer to fully process out of the body, especially when doses overlap. That is, if you were to take a second dose of Vyvanse less than 12 hours (one half-life) after the first dose, it will extend the amount of time it will take to get the drug out of your system. 

If taking Vyvanse according to a prescription, it is important to not take more than prescribed or to take the next dose too early. It is also important not to take the drug at all without a prescription. 

Kidney Function 

Kidneys are the organs primarily responsible for processing medications like Vyvanse.[6] If there are any problems with kidney function, this can slow down the processing of Vyvanse in the system, which means it will stay in the body longer. 

It’s important to report any issues with kidney function to your prescribing doctor, so they can make an informed decision about your dosage.

Liver Function

Vyvanse is a low lipophilic drug, which means that it is unlikely to be processed by the kidneys then pass back through the cell membrane into the blood, making it stay longer in the system and requiring that it be processed by the liver first.[6] However, the liver does play a role in the overall processing of all medications, so if there is any liver dysfunction or disorder in evidence, it can slow down the metabolism process. 

Just like with kidney dysfunction, it is important to make sure that your doctor is aware of any issues you may have with liver function. 

Underlying Medical Conditions

Underlying medical conditions can cause the metabolism of Vyvanse to slow down for many reasons. For example, if the medical condition impacts the liver or the kidneys where much of the processing of Vyvanse occurs, it can impact metabolism of the drug, causing it to stay in the system for longer than it would otherwise. 

Be sure to share all underlying medical conditions with your doctor, so you both can tune the dosing schedule to your needs.

Medications

If you are taking medication to manage a medical or mental health disorder like addiction, and that medication has an impact on the metabolism, it can slow down the processing of Vyvanse. If you are taking other medications in addition to Vyvanse, speak to your doctor about adjusting the dose or changing one of the medications.