In 2020, hydrocodone was the most commonly misused prescription pain medication in the United States. Despite its risks of misuse and dependence, it remains one of the most frequently prescribed pain medicines by clinicians.
The opioid dispensing rate in Arizona was 37.1 per 100 persons in 2022. Some counties have relatively high dispensing rates, including Maricopa, Pima, Mohave, and Yavapai. While prescription opioids aren’t the leading factor in opioid-related overdose deaths, they still contribute to the opioid problem. They also carry risks of their own, particularly when they are combined with other medications or taken in higher doses.
Understanding how long hydrocodone stays in your system is important for health, safety, and legal reasons, including preventing overdose and misuse. If you’re wondering, “How long does hydrocodone stay in your system,” we have the answers you need to stay informed.
How Hydrocodone Is Metabolized in the Body
After oral ingestion, hydrocodone is absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract. It reaches peak blood concentration levels within 1 to 2 hours after administration. The substance is then transported through the bloodstream to various tissues, including the brain, where it exerts its pain relieving effects by binding to mu-opioid receptors.
Hydrocodone is metabolized in the liver, where enzymes break it down into both active and inactive metabolites. Some individuals may have genetic variations in these enzymes that affect how efficiently they metabolize hydrocodone. After metabolizing in the liver, both hydrocodone and its metabolites are distributed throughout the body, particularly to tissues rich in fat and the brain. This distribution contributes to hydrocodone’s pain-relieving effects, as well as other effects like sedation and euphoria.
Hydrocodone and its metabolites are primarily eliminated through the kidneys. Approximately 26% of hydrocodone is excreted in the urine after 72 hours, mostly in the form of inactive metabolites.
How Long the Effects of Hydrocodone Last
The duration that hydrocodone lasts in the body depends on several factors, including the form of the substance, the frequency and dosage of use, and individual factors. The immediate-release formulations of hydrocodone (such as Norco or Vicodin) typically provide pain relief for 4 to 6 hours after ingestion. Extended-release versions (such as Hysingla ER or Zohydro ER) are designed to release hydrocodone gradually over a longer period, providing pain relief for 12 to 24 hours.
How Long Hydrocodone Stays in Your Body
The half-life of hydrocodone—the time it takes for half the substance to decrease by half—is about 3.8 to 6 hours. However, it takes several half-lives for hydrocodone to be completely cleared from the body. In the case of hydrocodone, the substance may take 12 to 24 hours to clear from the system, but traces can still be detectable in drug testing for several days.
Saliva Tests
It’s possible to detect hydrocodone in saliva for 12 to 36 hours after the last dose. Saliva testing is used in situations where a shorter detection period is preferred. Higher doses or chronic use of hydrocodone can cause it to stay in the saliva longer, while brushing teeth, drinking water, and using mouthwash may reduce the concentration.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are primarily used in medical or legal situations where recent use needs to be detected. Hydrocodone remains in blood for up to 24 hours after the last dose. Individuals with faster metabolisms may clear the substance from their blood sooner, though factors like heavy or chronic use and impaired liver function can slow down the process.
Urine Tests
Hydrocodone can typically be detected in urine for 2 to 4 days after the last dose. Higher or more frequent doses may cause the substance to stay in the body longer, as can poor liver or kidney function. Staying hydrated can help speed up the process.
Hair Tests
Hair follicle tests have the longest detection time at 90 days. On average, hair grows about 0.5 inches per month, and a 1.5-inch hair sample is typically analyzed to detect hydrocodone use within the last 90 days. Hydrocodone can even be detected after bleaching, dyeing, or washing the hair excessively.
Factors That Affect Hydrocodone Detection Time
Several factors influence how long hydrocodone stays in the body and how long it can be detected in various drug tests. Some of these factors are in your control, and others are not. Knowing what they are can provide a clearer picture of how long hydrocodone stays in your system.
Dosage and Frequency of Use
The dosage and frequency of use are the biggest predictors of how long hydrocodone stays in the body. Higher doses of hydrocodone take longer for the body to metabolize and eliminate, leading to longer detection times. Lower doses clear from the system more quickly.
Individual Factors
Individual factors, such as age, metabolism, liver and kidney function, body mass and concentration, and hydration levels, all affect how long hydrocodone can be detected in the body. People with faster metabolisms, lower body weight, and a healthy working liver and kidneys tend to metabolize and eliminate the substance faster than those with slower metabolisms, higher body weight, and impaired liver or kidney function.
Ingestion Method
The ingestion method of hydrocodone can impact how quickly the substance is metabolized and eliminated from the body. Most people take hydrocodone orally, where it enters the gastrointestinal tract. It can then be detected for several hours or days in urine, blood, or saliva.
Some individuals misuse hydrocodone by crushing and snorting the powder, chewing or crushing the pills, or dissolving the pill and injecting it directly into the bloodstream. These methods can lead to more rapid effects, which can increase the speed of absorption. However, this doesn’t drastically affect detection times in drug testing.
Getting Hydrocodone Out of Your System Faster
Removing hydrocodone from your body faster is largely determined by the body’s natural processes, such as metabolism, liver function, and excretion through the kidneys. While there is no guaranteed way to speed up the elimination of hydrocodone from the body, there are steps you can take to support and optimize these processes. For instance, you can eat a healthy diet rich in nutrients to support organ function, drink water to stay hydrated, exercise regularly to boost metabolism and improve circulation, and get plenty of rest for recovery.
Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment in Prescott, AZ
Hydrocodone addiction help starts by recognizing the severity of the problem. Due to the opioid epidemic, there are more treatment options than ever before. This makes it easier to find a path that leads you to freedom.
The first phase of the recovery process is detox, which is where hydrocodone is eliminated from the body. It’s normal to experience withdrawal symptoms as the body learns to adjust without hydrocodone, but there are medications to ease cravings and help you feel better. The psychological symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal last longer, sometimes weeks or months. It takes the brain longer to heal as it helps to balance the neurotransmitters.
Other treatment options for hydrocodone dependence include medication-assisted treatment, therapy and counseling, support groups like Narcotics Anonymous, relapse prevention and lifestyle changes, and family therapy. It’s also important to manage co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. You can work with a care team to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs.
Wolf Creek Recovery specializes in treating substance use and mental health disorders in sunny Prescott, AZ. Our staff is in recovery, giving you a reliable support network from the beginning. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of therapies, including outdoor therapy where we spend time in nature and playing sports like disc golf and pickleball. To learn more about starting treatment, contact Wolf Creek Recovery today at 833-732-8202. Build a life you love.
FAQs About How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System
How is hydrocodone metabolized in the body?
Hydrocodone is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract where it is transported to the bloodstream and various tissues, including the brain. It’s then metabolized in the liver, where it’s broken down by various enzymes and excreted through the kidneys.
How long does hydrocodone stay in the system?
The effects of hydrocodone last 4-6 hours for immediate-release versions and 12-24 hours for extended-release formulations. While most of the substance clears from the system relatively quickly, hydrocodone can be detected in the body for several days.
Is hydrocodone detectable in urine?
Hydrocodone is detectable in urine for 2 to 4 days from the last dose. Higher doses or more frequent uses can cause the substance to show up in urine longer.
How long can you detect hydrocodone in blood?
Blood tests are typically used in medical or legal situations to determine recent use. Hydrocodone can be detected in blood for up to 24 hours.
Can you test for hydrocodone in saliva?
Saliva testing is best for determining recent use, detecting hydrocodone for 12-36 hours.