How long does ephedrine stay in your system

Ephedrine tablets are commonly reported to suppress the appetite and delay gastric emptying. Its effects are increased when taken with caffeine and aspirin in an ECA Stack. Products that contain ephedrine alkaloids are considered stimulants and performance enhancing drugs PEDs. Ephedrine differs from methamphetamine crystal meth only by the addition of a hydroxyl group -OH.

It can cause false positive results on drug screen assays used by athletic associations and probation departments to detect amphetamines. If you are preparing for an athletic event and want to use ephedrine to enhance your performance, check with the governing association for your sport to determine whether this drug is banned for you. If you are concerned about this medication causing a false positive on a laboratory test, discontinue using it at least one week prior to testing.

This will allow enough time for it to be completely cleared from the body. Ephedrine is not recommended for children under 12 years of age or for women who are pregnant, want to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Appropriate oral use of this medication does not usually cause severe adverse effects in most people. However, some negative side effects are associated with use of this stimulant compound including:.

Misuse or abuse of ephedrine-based drugs can cause serious adverse effects including arrhythmia, tachycardia, myocardial infarction heart attack ischemic stroke, a brain seizure, or death. Nasal decongestant and antiasthma medications that contain this active ingredient can interact with numerous drugs, herbs, and dietary supplements.

Some of these include other stimulants, MAOIs, antidepressants, and pharmaceutical agents that get metabolized in the liver. If you use any prescription medicines, then it is best to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before beginning to use an ephedrine product. How long ephedrine lasts in your body will depend on various factors and your results may be different than those reported above.

Do not use ephedrine as a substitute for a healthy diet or regular exercise if you are trying to lose weight. Using this drug improperly in any form can cause long-term damage to your body. Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Advertising Disclosure This website contains affiliate links and we receive a commission when you purchase products through those links on our partner websites. Learn more. Posted By: Nootriment 0. Epedrine Web Staff. Jan 22, Accessed June 10, Wikipedia contributors.

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2 May. Alexander, A. Jan 23, Accessed June 16, Evolutionary Staff. Accessed June 16, What is methamphetamine? Updated May American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Drugs of Abuse Testing. Lab Tests Online. Updated November 20, LabCorp, Inc. Drugs of Abuse Reference Guide. The ugly side of amphetamines: Short- and long-term toxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA, 'Ecstasy' , methamphetamine and D-amphetamine.

Biol Chem. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. Drugs of Abuse. National Library of Medicine. Updated November 15, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Symptoms of Overdose.

Getting Help. Always tell the clinicians about any prescription or over-the-counter medication you are taking. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Of note, different amphetamines stay in the body for different lengths of time.

Amphetamine use can be identified by tests using samples of blood, urine, hair, or saliva. Standard tests, such as those involving urine, can detect amphetamines for up to four days, and hair follicle tests can identify amphetamine use for as long as 90 days.

Specifically, amphetamine and methamphetamine are detectable for up to three days, whereas methylenedioxyamphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine are generally only detectable for two days. Some over-the-counter and prescription medications may test positive for amphetamines. False positives are also possible among those taking antihistamines, nasal inhalers, cold medicines, and some pharmaceuticals intended to treat depression.

Regular amphetamine users may produce positive urine tests for up to four days after the last dose. Methamphetamine will remain in plasma for four to six hours. Blood tests can ascertain the difference between amphetamine misuse or appropriate use as prescribed by a doctor.

When used as directed, levels of amphetamine in the blood range from 0. Concentrations higher than 0. Depending on hair length, amphetamines can be identified for up to 90 days after the last dose.

Hair tests are among the most dependable tests for detecting prior use, although they cannot uncover recent or infrequent drug use. Drugs go from the bloodstream to hair follicles and can be detected about between days after ingestion. Hair structure, rate of growth, melanin content, and cosmetic hair treatment may have an effect on the concentration of drugs in hair. Saliva tests can detect amphetamines from hours after use. These tests can detect same-day use in some cases, and are administered using a swab or absorbent pad.