How Long Do Opioids Stay in Your System?

Why Opioid Detection Matters

Opioids are a highly effective form of pain management for those recovering from major injuries, surgery, or living with severe pain. However, these drugs are highly addictive, and dependence can occur even with doctor oversight. The rate of opioid addiction has increased over the past few decades to the point that opioid overdose is considered a significant health concern in the United States. Opioid detection is a critical tool to help prevent deaths and help those struggling with opioid addiction.

Clients in opioid addiction treatment rely on detection and monitoring methods as a way to prevent lethal toxicity. This is especially important during phases of treatment, such as medical detox and aftercare planning. At all stages of treatment at an accredited addiction treatment center, testing will be used to help mitigate potential medical emergencies.

Understanding the Importance of Timing, Testing, and Treatment

Therapeutic drug monitoring is a process in which a patient’s blood is tested to analyze medication levels. In the case of opioids, this testing is essential to prevent toxicity, which can result in opioid overdose, in patients who require long-term opioid use.

This is utilized similarly to clients recovering from opioid addiction, especially during detoxification and substance abuse treatment. These tests vary, from blood to urine, or even hair, as a way to fully record a complete detox or act as an early warning system for relapse. The timing of which varies depending on the individual and the drug that was abused. At Infinite Recovery, drug testing and monitoring are critical to ensure safe stabilization and recovery.

What Are Opioids and How Do They Affect the Body?

Opioids are a class of drugs that are designed for pain management. Prescribed opioids are used for treating chronic pain and other sources of severe pain. The pain-relieving effects of opioids come from their ability to attach to and activate opioid receptors in your brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. This blocks pain signals between the brain and body.

Opioids in general are highly addictive, as they also target parts of the brain that process pleasure. They can affect the limbic system, the part of the brain that regulates happiness and relaxation. Opioids also cause neurons to produce more dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is part of our reward system. This is also where the feeling of “high” or “euphoria” comes from.

The brainstem is also affected by opioids. This is part of the body that regulates automatic functions, such as breathing. When a person overdoses on opioids, it can interfere with these functions and cause someone to stop breathing.

If prescribed and used correctly with the oversight of a doctor, opioids are effective in bringing pain relief. However, there are side effects that a person may experience when using opioids, such as:

• Difficulty focusing or concentrating
• Sleepiness or, in extreme cases, loss of consciousness
• Loss of awareness
• Confusion
• Euphoria
• Slowed reaction times
• Impaired judgement

A Breakdown of Opioid Types, Effects, and Risks

You may have heard of opioids and opiates when referring to pain-relieving prescription medication. They are technically similar, but differ enough to need a clarified category. All opiates are opioids, but not all opioids are opiates.

Opiates are naturally occurring substances derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). Examples include morphine and opium.

Opioids, however, can be semi-synthetic (produced in a lab using opiates) or fully synthetic. Examples of semi-synthetic opioids include oxycodone, heroin, and hydrocodone. Fentanyl, Methadone, and Tramadol are all examples of purely synthetic opioids.

Both opioids and opiates have the same effect on the body in that they block pain signals, induce feelings of euphoria, and affect the brain stem. Not everyone who takes prescription opioids will develop an addiction. However, the risk of addiction or opioid overdose increases the longer opioids are used. Using opioids recreationally increases these risks exponentially.

What Affects How Long Opioids Stay in Your System?

Opioids are typically divided into short-acting and long-acting opioids. Short-acting opioids (ex, Vicodin or Percocet) get medication into your system quickly, typically for post-surgical recovery pain management. Long-acting opioids (ex, OxyContin) give small amounts of medication over a longer period and are used for managing chronic pain. Short-acting opioids will leave the body quickly compared to long-acting opioids.

There are, however, other factors that affect the amount of time an opioid will stay in your system.

Factors That Influence Opioid Metabolism and Detection

Other than short and long-acting opioids, many other factors influence how they are metabolized. The specific drug, as well as its formulation, is one such factor. How often and how heavy your opioid use is another factor, as well as when you last used.

Other factors can include:

• Metabolic rate
• Body mass and weight
• Liver and kidney health
• Age
• Body fat
• Hydration
• The presence of co-occurring conditions

For example, we can look at Methadone vs OxyContin. OxyContin has a very short half-life at about four hours, so it tends to metabolize quickly. Methadone, on the other hand, has a half-life of 15-20 hours. Because of this long half-life, this type of opioid is used in the treatment of opioid addiction, as it can reduce opioid cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and blunt or block the effects of opioids.

How the Body Breaks Down Opioids

Simply stopping opioid use is not enough to make it leave the body. The body must first break it down. Even so, opioids can linger in the body for several days and be detectable via several kinds of tests.

Understanding Opioid Half-Life, Metabolism, and Elimination

A drug’s half-life refers to an estimation of how long it will take said drug’s levels of concentration in the body to decrease by half. As an example, if a 50mg dosage has a half-life of four hours, a doctor can estimate that 25mg will remain in the body after four hours have passed. For opioids, it gives a good estimation of how long it will take for the body to metabolize them.

Opioids are primarily metabolized in the liver. First, the opioid is broken down into active metabolites. These are small molecules produced or used by the metabolism to affect the body. Once these metabolites are broken down or fully exert their effects, they are passed out of the body through urine or feces.

Metabolites can linger for a while after initial use. They often find storage spaces in body fat, so the less body fat you have, the quicker they will leave. This also means that the drug detection window for finding the presence of drug metabolites can vary.

Opioid Drug Testing: How Detection Works

How long opioid metabolites can be detected also depends on the timeframe, dosage, frequency of use, last use, and method of ingestion. Higher doses linger in the body for longer. Opioids that are injected will metabolize faster than those that are digested. This wide range of variables can make testing tricky, but not impossible.

A Guide to Drug Testing Methods and Their Detection Windows

Four main types of tests are used for drug detection. These are blood, hair, saliva, and urine tests.

Urine testing is the most common and is frequently used in medical and treatment settings. It’s affordable, so many clients will choose it for monitoring. Opioids are typically detected in urine for one to two days, except for Methadone, which can be detected for up to a week.

Blood testing is the most accurate form of testing, but it has a shorter detection window of between five and six hours. Methadone is an exception and can be detected from 30 minutes to three days in blood.

Saliva testing is less invasive and is best for detecting recent opioid use. However, how long opioids can be detected in saliva tests ranges widely between a few hours after use and up to a few days.

Hair testing has the longest detection window and can detect opioid usage up to 90 days after last use.

How Long Do Specific Opioids Stay in the System?

It’s hard to give a generalized answer to the length of time an opioid will stay in your system. There are hundreds of opioids used for prescription medication, and all of them vary in half-lives and detection times. Looking at the most commonly used types of opioids can give a better general idea of how long these substances can persist in the system.

Comparing Detection Times by Drug Type

Please note that exact times will vary depending on dosage, usage frequency, and other bodily factors.

Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco)

• Half-life: 3-9 hrs
• Blood: Up to 1 day
• Urine: 1-3 days
• Saliva:12-36 hours
• Hair: 90 days

Oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin) 

• Half-life: 3-6 hours
• Blood: 30 mins to 24 hours
• Urine: 1-3 days
• Saliva: 1 to 4 days
• Hair: 90 days

Fentanyl 

• Half-life: 3-30 hours
• Blood: 12-24 hours
• Urine: 1-7 days
• Saliva: 24 to 48 hours
• Hair: 90 days

Methadone

• Half-life: 15-55 hours
• Blood: 5 days
• Urine: 1-14 days)
• Saliva: 10 days
• Hair: 90 days

Tramadol

• Half-life: 4-11 hours
• Blood: 24 hours
• Urine: 1-4 days
• Saliva: 2 days
• Hair: 90 days

Codeine

• Half-life: 1-4 hours
• Blood: 24 hours
• Urine: 1-3 days
• Saliva: 4 days
• Hair: 90 days

Buprenorphine (Suboxone)

• Half-life (24-72 hours
• Blood: up to 9 days
• Urine: up to 14 days
• Saliva: 24–36 hours
• Hair: 90 days

Opioid Withdrawal and the Detox Process

Detoxification is an essential part of opioid addiction treatment. So much so that addiction treatment centers, like Infinite Recovery, will often have medically supervised detox centers available for clients. Detoxing from prescription opioids, however, is not an easy process, and can even be dangerous. 24/7 medical oversight is crucial to a safe and comfortable detoxification process.

Infinite Recovery further supports stabilization by providing personalized detox and trauma-informed care. Addiction does not occur in a void and typically comes about from an underlying cause. Trauma, by far, is one of the most common factors that lead to addiction. Offering trauma-focused care, a supportive environment, and comprehensive safety protocols ensures optimal stabilization.

What to Expect Physically and Emotionally When Stopping Opioid Use

The experiences a person will have when they stop using opioids vary depending on frequency and dosage. Higher doses and more frequent use will usually result in more intensive and distressing withdrawal symptoms. Once you stop using opioids, cravings will begin immediately, often around the time you regularly use them. Cravings are a persistent and increasing urge to use and can be overwhelming to experience.

Some common withdrawal symptoms a person may experience include:

• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Hyperventilation
• Hyperthermia
• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Excessive yawning

How quickly these symptoms intensify depends on whether you were using a short-acting or long-acting opioid. Withdrawal symptoms intensify a day after short-acting opioid use, while long-acting opioid use will peak a day or two after you stop use. Typically, withdrawal symptoms will reduce over seven to ten days.

From Detox to Recovery: Your Treatment Options

Once detox is complete and the client is stabilized, the next step is to seek specialized treatment. What this treatment entails depends entirely on the individual, as personalized treatment plans are required for the best chance of successful recovery. Infinite Recovery is a comprehensive care facility, providing all levels of care from detox to aftercare. Speaking with your mental or medical health care provider will help you decide the next step in your recovery journey.

What Comes After Detox — And How to Build Lasting Recovery

Treatment programs vary according to the client’s specific needs. Typically, clients will start in inpatient treatment before transitioning into outpatient treatment. This can include residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and outpatient care. Aftercare is also important, which includes access to support groups and relapse prevention for extra recovery support.

Treatment plans include therapies that address both opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorders. These can include therapies such as psychotherapy, family therapy, and group therapy. Infinite Recovery blends evidence-based holistic modalities and clinical therapies to create individualized treatment plans to address drug use. The goal is not just for a client to recover, but to leave treatment as healthier individuals with access to continuous support.

How to Help a Loved One Struggling With Opioid Use

Helping a loved one find help for substance use and abuse starts with support, not judgment.

Guidance for Family and Friends Who Want to Support Recovery

Addiction can be isolating to an individual. Having a strong and supportive family can be life-changing for someone entering treatment. Seeking help first starts with a conversation. Always approach a loved one from a place of love and understanding, not judgment. When they do seek treatment, there are plenty of opportunities to support them.

Infinite Recovery helps by providing resources to families, such as intervention services, family programs, virtual sessions, and aftercare support. If you would like to know more about getting opioid addiction help for your loved one, contact Infinite Recovery today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long do opioids stay in your system on average?

It depends on whether it’s a short or long-acting opioid, dosage, usage frequency, how the opioid was consumed, and the last time of use. Individual factors such as body fat can also make opioids linger for a longer period.

On average, opioids can stay in the system between a few hours and several days, but can be detected in the blood, urine, and saliva between a few hours and several days. Hair tests have the longest detection window and can detect opioids for up to 90 days after last use.

How soon do withdrawal symptoms start after opioid use ends?

On average, within several hours of you stopping opioid use. This usually begins as cravings that intensify as time goes on. Withdrawal symptoms typically become the most intense a day after use has stopped. Long-acting opioids, however, may peak at a day or two after use has ceased. Within seven to ten days, withdrawal symptoms will gradually begin to reduce.

What’s the safest way to stop taking opioids?

The safest way to stop taking opioids is to seek help at an accredited addiction treatment facility or hospital with medically supervised detox facilities. These places will be able to help you detox and manage withdrawal symptoms safely and prevent unnecessary pain and discomfort. Once stabilized, you must seek addiction treatment, which can help you address the underlying causes of your opioid addiction.

It’s generally advised not to attempt to detox from opioid use alone, as withdrawal symptoms can be painful and even dangerous. Always seek the help of a mental or medical healthcare professional before attempting to stop taking opioids.

Opioids are a class of drugs that, when prescribed, can help people living with severe pain. However, when abused, opioids can cause severe damage to the body, brain, and psyche. Understanding opioids is the key to recognizing the signs of addiction in yourself and loved ones, helping you know when it’s time to seek help. Infinite Recovery is an addiction treatment facility that has specialized treatment plans for those struggling with opioid addiction. Along with medically supervised detox, you or your loved one will have all the tools they need to recover and heal from opioid abuse. Don’t wait to start your recovery journey. Take the first step today by calling (844) 928-1502.