Made out of oxycodone and acetaminophen, Percocet is designed to relieve moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone is an opioid pain reliever, so it affects the way the body responds to pain. Unfortunately, this means that some people use Percocet for recreational purposes. Over time, recreational use can lead to an opioid addiction and drug dependence.
How long does Percocet stay in your system? If you have been using Percocet recreationally, you may be concerned about it showing up on a drug test. The drug’s elimination time can vary based on how long you have been using the drug, your physical chemistry, and the amount you used. The only way to completely avoid having Percocet appear on a drug test is to quit taking it. Because withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, it is important to quit using drugs under the guidance of a trained medical professional.
Table of Contents
Percocet: Half-Life and Elimination
The half-life of a medication is the amount of time it takes for half of the initial dose to leave your body. There are many things that can affect how fast your body metabolizes a drug, so this figure is just a general estimate. For the drug to completely leave your body, it will take multiple half-lives.
For the typical person, Percocet has a half-life of 3.5 hours in the bloodstream. Because of this, it would take around 19 hours for your body to get rid of all of this medication. If your liver is not functioning properly, it could take even longer to eliminate this medication completely.
Urine tests can pick up the presence of Percocet for an even longer period of time. In general, Percocet can be detected in your urine for 24 to 48 hours after you took your last dose. Because your body has to process the drug before it appears in your urine, you generally cannot detect Percocet in your urine until two hours after you took it.
If you are using immediate-release oxycodone, you can expect a half-life of 3.2 hours. When oxycodone metabolizes in the liver, it becomes a metabolite known as oxymorphone. Then, it metabolizes into noroxymorphone. Afterward, the metabolites will finally leave your body through your urine.
How Long Does Percocet Stay in Your System?
Each person has a different physical chemistry, so Percocet can stay in your body for a different amount of time. For the majority of people, Percocet can be found in the bloodstream for 24 to 48 hours after they take their first dose. It can be found in your hair for up to 90 days after your last dose. Meanwhile, Percocet can be discovered in your saliva for two days after your final dose.
How Long Does Percocet Appear in a Urine Test?
Many employers and drug rehabs use urine tests to detect addictive drugs. Because of this, most people primarily care about whether Percocet can be detected in their urine. While each person has a different metabolism, your urine test should be clean within four days after you take your last dose of Percocet.
What Affects Your Metabolism Rate?
Your metabolic rate is impacted by a variety of factors. Physical activity, age, and hydration can speed up or slow down how fast your body excretes different medications. If you are over the age of 40, your body will clear Percocet at a slower rate.
Your addiction history can also impact how quickly Percocet leaves the body. If you have been using Percocet to treat pain for an extended period of time, it will be stored in your body for longer. Because of this, you will need to spend more time detoxing before you take a drug test.
Finally, your kidney and liver health can impact your drug metabolism. Drugs are processed out of the body using the kidneys and liver. If these organs do not function properly, it will be difficult for your body to metabolize any type of drug. This can be a major issue for some people because Percocet can cause long-term harm to your liver function if it is not taken according to the prescription.
The Withdrawal Process From Percocet
How long does Percocet stay in your system after you begin detox? Unfortunately, there are not a lot of things you can do to speed up your body’s metabolism rate. Drinking extra fluid can dilute your urine and slightly boost your metabolism, but it will not make a major difference. The same thing is true for exercise. Despite providing a moderate boost to your metabolism, exercise is not enough to impact whether you pass a drug test or not.
The best way to deal with a drug test is to stop taking Percocet. You should always talk to your doctor first because the withdrawal process can be extremely unpleasant. Over time, your body will develop a physical dependence on Percocet and other opioids. If you suddenly quit using the drug, you may develop some of the following withdrawal symptoms.
- Irritability.
- Yawning.
- Runny nose.
- High blood pressure.
- Restlessness.
- Tremors and shaking.
- Watery eyes.
- Depression.
- Muscle aches.
- Anxiety.
- Diarrhea.
- Rapid heart rate.
If you are addicted to Percocet, you should talk to a medical professional before you quit. Withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, and cravings are often difficult to manage. Once you are in a treatment center, medical professionals can safely wean you off of opioids. They can also use medications to alleviate some of the major side effects of withdrawal.
What Are the Symptoms of an Overdose?
Percocet contains oxycodone and acetaminophen. Unfortunately, both of these drugs can lead to an overdose. You should avoid taking any drugs that contain acetaminophen while you are using Percocet. Because many medications use acetaminophen as an ingredient, it is very easy to overdose.
You should never take more than 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen during a 24-hour period. If your pain medication no longer seems to be working for you, you should talk to your doctor. When someone overdoses on acetaminophen, it can cause long-term damage to their liver and death.
Oxycodone can also cause a drug overdose. If you suspect that someone has overdosed on Percocet, you should call 911 right away. A medication known as naloxone can alleviate the overdose if it is given soon enough. The following symptoms are indications that an overdose may have happened.
- Fainting and dizziness.
- Depressed breathing.
- Slow heartbeat.
- Weak muscles.
- Clammy skin.
- Excessive sleepiness.
- Blue lips, skin, or fingernails.
- Coma or loss of consciousness.
How Long Do Pain Pills Stay in Your System?
How long does Percocet stay in your system? Is this time period longer than it is for other drugs? Ultimately, each pain pill stays in your system for a different amount of time. Your physical chemistry, addiction history, and other factors can affect how long a drug remains in your body.
- Hydrocodone: Hydrocodone can stay in your urine for two to four days. It remains in your bloodstream for up to a day after you take it.
- Heroin: Heroin remains in your urine for two to seven days and in your blood for six hours.
- Fentanyl: While fentanyl remains in the blood for just 12 hours, it can be found in your urine for up to a day after you take it.
- Codeine: This drug can be found in the urine for a day or two after you take it. Meanwhile, it can be found in your bloodstream up to a day later.
- Morphine: Morphine can be found in the urine for up to two to three days after your last dose. It can be discovered in your blood up to 12 hours later.
Get Help Overcoming an Opioid Addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with an opioid addiction, you do not have to go through the withdrawal process alone. At Long Island Interventions, we have experience helping clients overcome substance abuse disorders. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your recovery.
FAQ
How long do pain pills stay in your system?
Published on: 2022-08-31
Updated on: 2024-03-08
