Medical News Today: How long does molly stay in your system?

Molly, or Ecstasy, is another name for the drug MDMA. It typically stays in a person’s system for several days. The exact length of time depends on several factors, including the person’s metabolism and how much MDMA they have taken.Different drug tests have different detection periods. Some tests can detect Molly for only a day or two after a person has taken the drug. Others can detect the drug after several months.Read on to learn more about drug testing, how Molly works, and how long it takes for the body to metabolize it.You’ll notice the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.” While we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.How long does Molly stay in a person’s system?Share on PinterestAccording to an older 2000 study, Molly quickly enters the bloodstream, and its effects typically last for around 3 hours. However, traces of the drug can remain in the body for several days.It is difficult to determine exactly how long Molly will stay in a person’s system. It depends on many factors, including:the amount they tookthe time of their last dosetheir overall healththe rate of their metabolismwhether or not they are taking any medicationswhen they last ate a mealthe purity of the drugAccording to research from 2009, molly is typically detectable for 24 to 72 hours, but it can remain in small traces for up to 5 days or more.Drug testsThere are several ways to test for the presence of Molly. Some drug tests, including their detection windows, are as follows:Blood testsA person typically feels the effects of Molly after about 45 minutes of ingestion. A 2011 study reported that the drug remains detectable in blood tests for approximately 1 to 2 days.Saliva testsThe above 2011 study also reported that saliva tests may detect a single recreational dose (70 to 150 milligrams) of MDMA for 1 to 2 days. Additionally, it may first be detectable within minutes of ingestion.Urine testsAccording to a 2009 study, Molly is detectable in urine as early as 25 minutes after ingesting high doses, and it typically remains detectable for about 2 to 4 days.However, some samples can still show the presence of Molly’s metabolites on days 5 and 6 after ingestion.Hair testsResearch from 2014 shows that traces of Molly can remain in hair fibers for up to 3 months after a person last takes the drug.Hair testing has a detection window of approximately 1 month per 0.5 inches of hair. Therefore, it is possible to detect an approximate time of ingestion based on the segment of hair that tests positive for the drug.EffectsOnce a person ingests Molly, the intestines absorb the chemicals and filter them into the bloodstream.