How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System

How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System? Hydrocodone in Your Blood, Hair, Urine, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 25, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 16, 2020 Darren McCollester Collection / Getty Images News More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Factors That Affect Detection Time Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Hydrocodone is prescribed for people with severe pain. It is an opiate analgesic that works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Brand names for extended-release capsules and tablets include Hysingla and Zohydro ER. Besides hydrocodone alone, there are also prescription products such as Vicodin, Lorcet, and Norco that combine hydrocodone with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, or antihistamines. Hydrocodone is a Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. It can be detected for a shorter time with some tests but can be detectable for up to three months in other tests. Knowing how long hydrocodone affects your system and how long it takes to eliminate it can help avoid dangerous interactions with other medications, side effects, and risk of overdose. How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System? Blood: Up to 24 hoursUrine: Up to three daysSaliva: Up to three daysHair: Up to 90 days What You Need to Know About Taking Hydrocodone How Long Does It Take to Feel the Effects? When you are first prescribed hydrocodone, your doctor will gradually adjust the dosage, ensuring you can tolerate it. It also comes in extended-release capsules and tablets that can be taken once or twice daily. Hydrocodone begins to work in 10 to 20 minutes, with the peak effects in 30 to 60 minutes, then continuing for four to eight hours. The effects of extended-release formulations last a little longer, typically up to 12 hours. Common side effects of hydrocodone include: HeadacheConstipation (the drug slows your digestive tract)??Difficult or painful urinationDrowsinessDry mouthTirednessBack painMuscle tighteningRinging in the earsTrouble falling or staying asleepSwelling in feet, ankles, or legs If you experience any of the following serious side effects, call your doctor immediately. Some of these could be a sign of an allergic reaction. Chest pain or fast heartbeatHallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)Fever or shiveringSevere muscle stiffness or twitchingLoss of coordinationSwelling in eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throatDifficulty swallowing or breathingHives and itchingDecreased sex drive or inability to keep an erectionIrregular menstruation How Long Does Hydrocodone Last? Hydrocodone has a half-life of just under four hours, meaning it takes that long to eliminate half of the dose of the drug. It is metabolized in the liver and eliminated through urine. Up to 20% of the dose is excreted as hydrocodone, with up to 14% eliminated as norhydrocodone and up to 6% as hydromorphone.?? A variety of factors play a role in determining exactly how long hydrocodone takes to be excreted by the body and removed from your system. If you have been prescribed hydrocodone and must take a drug screening test, be sure to disclose your prescription to the testing laboratory. Blood For most healthy individuals, it will take one day for hydrocodone to fully clear the blood. Urine Hydrocodone passes through to the urine where it can be detected for three to four days after a dose. Saliva The drug can be detected in a saliva test for up to 36 hours after the last dose is taken. Hair Hydrocodone can be detected longer with a hair follicle drug testâ€"up to 90 days. Factors That Affect Detection Time There are a number of different factors that can play a role in how long hydrocodone remains in your system, including frequency of use, dosage, age, metabolism, and overall health. Dosage Hydrocodone comes in different strengths as well as an extended-release form, which can impact the amount of time it takes for your body to metabolize the drug. Metabolism People with faster metabolisms clear the drug from their systems faster than those with a slower metabolism. Age, activity level, overall health, and certain medications can influence your metabolic rate. Overall Health People with impaired liver or kidney function can have a harder time metabolizing and eliminating hydrocodone from the body. How to Get Hydrocodone Out of Your System Attempting to flush hydrocodone out of your system by exercising or drinking water will not help you pass a drug test. The only surefire way to get hydrocodone out of your system is to stop taking the drug and give your body time to eliminate it. To avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, work with your doctor to taper off the medication slowly. Symptoms of Overdose If more hydrocodone is taken before the last dose is out of the system, an  overdose could occur. Its important that you take your medication exactly as instructed by your doctor. Chewing or crushing tablets or opening and dissolving capsules could release all the medication at once and increase your risk of overdose. Extended-release hydrocodone is specifically formulated to make it difficult to cut, crush, or dissolve pills and capsules in order to help prevent overdose. The following are the symptoms of a hydrocodone overdose:?? Slowed breathingSleepinessMuscle weaknessCold, clammy skinAbnormally low blood pressureSlowed heartbeatComaDeath Call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is suffering from a hydrocodone overdose. If caught early, the overdose can be reversed with Narcan (naloxone). Understanding Opioid Overdoses Dangerous Interactions As an opiate, hydrocodone not only works to block pain but can also depress breathing at higher doses,?? which can lead to dangerous interactions with many other medications and substances. If you have ever had COPD, asthma, a head injury, or any breathing problems, you must be closely monitored when you start on hydrocodone or change your dose. You must not drink alcohol or use any medications containing alcohol while you are on hydrocodone. Your doctor needs to know all the medications you have been taking, as well as any that you discontinue or start taking while taking hydrocodone as they can affect how hydrocodone works in your body, and vice versa. Dosages might need to be adjusted to prevent dangerous interactions. Be especially cautious with: AntibioticsAntifungal medicationsBenzodiazepinesCarbamazepineCimetidineNarcotic pain medicationsMuscle relaxantsPhenytoinRifampinSedativesSleeping pillsTranquilizersMedications for mental illnessMedications for nauseaMedications for HIVSt. Johns WortTryptophan Getting Help Whether youre taking hydrocodone as prescribed or misusing the drug, quitting cold turkey can result in physical and psychological withdrawal. Symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on how much you’ve been taking and for how long, and can include the following: Muscle, bone, and joint aches and painFlu-like feelingSweatingRunny noseHeadacheChillsNausea or vomitingCramping or diarrhea  Insomnia or disturbed sleepTeary eyesTremorsAnxiety or restlessness  GoosefleshHeart poundingAgitationSkin crawling   What to Know About Hydrocodone Withdrawal If you suspect that you might be dependent or addicted to hydrocodone, talk to your doctor. They can help you taper off the drug, find another medication to alleviate your pain, and refer you to a mental health professional who specializes in addiction and recovery. Your doctor may also recommend an inpatient or outpatient residential addiction treatment center or a local support group like Narcotics Anonymous or SMART recovery. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357 or try their  online tool  to locate a treatment resource in your area.