How Long Does It Take For Opioids to Get Out of Your System?

Opioids are a class of drugs often prescribed for pain relief. Unfortunately, the US has experienced an opioid crisis because of unnecessary prescription increases for these drugs, many of which are derived from the poppy plant. The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s reports show annual opioid-related overdoses grew by 13,587 in the US from 1999 to 2017.

For Long Island residents, it’s critical to understand how long opioids remain in the system. Taking too many opioids is a sign of opioid use disorder and could lead to medical or legal complications. For individuals who wish to recover from opioid use disorder, it’s paramount to know how long the effects of this class of drugs last, how the medication will affect them, and what it takes to quit misusing them. Read on to answer the question, how long does it take for opioids to get out of your system?

How Opioids Are Processed in the Body

Opioids metabolize in the liver through a two-phase process. The liver produces enzymes to metabolize the opioid, starting with cytochrome P450 or CYP. In phase one, the purpose of the CYP liver enzyme is to detoxify the body of harmful substances, cause cellular metabolism to convert organic materials into energy, and cause homeostasis to balance body system functions.

In phase two, the metabolizing enzymes conjugate the opioid to hydrophilic substances. Essentially, the enzymes create a compound to join the opioid with other substances that mix with water in the body. Glucuronic acid is a primary example of these hydrophilic substances.

This detoxification process ends as the compounds created by the liver are converted into urine and excreted from the body. However, what you must remember is that these metabolic processes are both active and inactive, and there is a risk of drug-to-drug reactions if the opioid is still in the body when other drugs are introduced.

Short-Acting Versus Long-Acting Opioids

Short-acting opioids are immediate-release drugs used for acute or intermittent pain because they don’t last more than a few hours. Doctors limit the patient’s maximum dosage per 24-hour period of short-acting opioids because of gastrointestinal and liver toxicity risks and effects. Examples of these short-acting opioid drugs include hydrocodone, oxymorphone, codeine, and immediate-release morphine. These pain relievers are also combined with common NSAIDs like acetaminophen or Tylenol. Some common opioids include Percocet and Vicodin.

Long-acting opioids have a more prolonged analgesic effect on the patient, and doctors prescribe these drugs for patients with severe pain. These medications are categorized as sustained, controlled, or extended-release. This modified version of the opioid is released into the bloodstream over a period of eight to 72 hours. Examples of these long-acting opioids are oxycodone and fentanyl. OxyContin is a brand name for a long-acting oxycodone.

Detection Times for Opioids in the Body

For medical, legal, and recovery purposes, it’s critical to understand the detection window for opioids in the body. For example, doctors may conduct opioid testing to determine if the patient is misusing their prescribed opioid, and measuring these levels in the body helps doctors prescribe medications safely and ensure effectiveness without harming their patient.

If the person is facing legal or criminal circumstances, opioid testing determines signs of opioid use disorder, intoxication while driving, or if the person used medication that was unlawfully in their possession. Individuals suffering from opioid use disorder and entering into a treatment program undergo testing to verify their detoxification progress so they can start their recovery. The following are the detection times for opioids in the body:

• Urine tests: 1 to 4 days after use, depending on the type of opioid.
• Blood tests up to 24 hours
• Saliva tests 1 to 4 days
• Hair tests up to 90 days

Factors That Influence How Long Opioids Stay in the System

There are a few factors that play a role in how long do opioids stay in your body. Reviewing these factors helps you understand why opioids may affect you differently than other people. These factors may also explain why opioids could remain in your body longer period and cause prolonged effects. Here are the factors that influence how long opioids stay in your system:

• Dosage and frequency of use: Immediate-release opioids may not remain in your body as long as extended-release options. However, if you take the medications more frequently than prescribed, you’ll have higher opioid levels in your body, and the medication stays in the body longer. If you take higher doses of extended-release opioids, the drug is continuously released in your body for up to 72 hours.
• Type of Opioid: The type of opioid that you take determines how long the drug lasts and will stay in your body. For example, fentanyl remains active in your body for up to 10 hours, and oxycodone’s effect can last up to 6 and a half hours.
• Metabolism, Age, and Weight: Your metabolism, age, and weight determine how long opioids stay in your body. A person’s metabolic rate determines how quickly opioids are processed through the liver. As you age, your metabolism declines significantly and can slow the liver’s metabolization of opioids. Your weight determines how fast your liver processes opioids, and if you are overweight or obese, it takes longer to metabolize the drugs and detoxify your body.
• Hydration: The body’s hydration levels could slow down the second phase of liver metabolization, preventing liver enzymes from creating necessary compounds and converting opioids into urine.
• Liver Function: Proper liver function is essential for metabolizing opioids. If you have liver disease, opioids aren’t processed properly and could remain in your body, building toxins.

Why Understanding Detection Times Matter

The reasons why detection times matter start with emergency medical care. If you experience a medical emergency, the doctor would need to know the opioid levels in your bloodstream. Most hospitals conduct bloodwork to measure these levels; however, if it’s life-threatening, they may not have time to wait for the test results to treat you.

If you’re conscious, it’s critical that you tell the doctor what opioid you take, your dosage, and the last use. Without this information, there could be further complications and life-threatening effects.

Workplace drug testing assesses risks to all employees and the business. Employees who are prescribed opioids can provide prescription information to their employer so they can expect certain levels of these medications in the test results. However, if you are misusing your prescribed opioids, detection times determine if you will fail a drug test due to higher opioid levels in your bloodstream.

Employer-requested drug tests show the current opioid levels in your system. If the test results indicate signs of opioid use disorder, your employer has two options. They can terminate your employment or require you to enter into an opioid rehabilitation program. Once you’ve completed the rehabilitation program, your employer may continue to perform random drug testing.

Legal situations, like DUI, could lead to blood testing to determine your level of intoxication. The presence of narcotics or controlled substances, including opioids, in your bloodstream could lead to a DUI conviction. If the DUI caused a fatality or serious injuries, you could face more serious charges like manslaughter. The detection time of opioids and how you’re tested could determine the outcome of your case.

Misuse of opioids could lead to other criminal charges like illegal possession of narcotics if the opioids in your possession weren’t prescribed to you. Selling opioids is another criminal charge individuals with opioid use disorder may face before their recovery journey.

The Importance of Addressing Misuse or Dependency to Avoid Health Risks

The signs of opioid use disorder include drowsiness, sleep changes, weight loss, persistent flu-like symptoms, decreased libido, improper hygiene, isolation, and new financial difficulties. The person may begin stealing, especially from loved ones, friends, or stores. Misusing opioids can lead to coma or death. An opioid overdose can be reversed with naloxone, but it’s critical to seek immediate medical attention.

How Long Island Interventions Can Help

Long Island Interventions can provide resources for anyone struggling with opioid misuse or addiction. The rehab facility offers inpatient and outpatient opioid addiction treatment programs. Patients can get medically assisted detoxification in a safe environment to flush opioids from the body and manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Patients have access to individual, family, and group counseling services, and they can get help finding support groups to increase the success of their recovery. Aftercare services provide long-term recovery and help patients make further lifestyle changes that hinder their sobriety.

Opioid addiction presents many health risks and could lead to legal, medical, or employment difficulties. Doctors prescribe opioids for pain management; however, both short and long-acting opioids are addictive and could lead to overdose, coma, or death. The type of opioid and the dosage determine how long opioids remain in the system, and slowing liver metabolism could increase risks of drug-to-drug interactions that could become fatal. Your age, weight, metabolism, liver function, and hydration levels can determine detection times.

There are many signs of opioid use disorder, and it’s important for families and friends to speak up when they see these signs. Professional addiction help is the only way to recover from opioid misuse, and choosing to enter into an opioid rehabilitation center is a brave and life-changing decision. Contact Long Island Interventions for support and guidance on fighting opioid use disorder.

Published on: 2024-12-31
Updated on: 2024-12-31