How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System

Use of hydrocodone in painkillers is quite common. Hydrocodone is listed under 'controlled substances'. Distribution and consumption of this drug is controlled by the government. What is hydrocodone? Simply speaking, it is a narcotic painkiller. For medicinal use, it is combined with some other less effective drugs like paracetamol and ibuprofen and it is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

Use of Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is obtained from one of the two naturally occurring narcotic drugs that contain opium, namely codeine and thebaine. These opioids (opium derivatives) offer hydrocodone its typical properties. The drug acts as a pain reliever and cough suppressant. Tablet, capsule, and syrup form of hydrocodone is used as pain killer. When taken with alcohol, it increases drowsiness. People experience euphoria, sedation and somnolence after taking hydocodone. It is one of the common but most abused prescription drugs in America (like oxycodone). People addicted to hydrocodone pretend to be suffering from pain and get prescription from their doctors. Hydrocodone is therefore the most abused drug in the market. Addicts exhibit hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it.

Drug Test

A drug test helps detect the presence (or absence) of certain drugs forbidden by the law. A biological specimen is analyzed during a drug test. In case of sports personalities, dug tests help detect presence/absence of performance enhancing steroids, the use of which is actually prohibited by the law. Drug abuse can be detected by testing urine, sweat, hair, blood, saliva, breath, etc. The type of test and test results may vary according to the drug class, amount of the drug, the length of time the drug has been taken, how frequently the drug has been taken, diet, metabolic rate, body mass, age, overall health, and urine pH. Sometimes, drugs are detectable only for few hours after their use but then the tests are conducted to detect their metabolites. The time for which hydrocodone will stay in your system is directly proportional to the quantity taken.

Detecting Hydrocodone in Your System

• How long does hydrocodone stay in your system: 1-7 days.
• How long does it stay in your system for a urine test: 3-7 days
• For a hair test: up to 90 days
• For a blood test: 3-7 days
• For a drug test: 3-7 days

As explained above the time depends upon a number of factors. Drinking plenty of water or juices helps get rid of the drug from your system fast. Hydrocodone metabolizes into hydromorphone, which can be detected only in tests designed to detect hydrocodone. A standard opiate test can hardly detect hydrocodone. Most opiate tests are designed to detect morphine only, since morphine is the metabolite of heroin and codeine.

Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone (misc. names: Vicodin, Dilles) is not available in its pure form in the United States as its use is controlled by law. It is made available with an NSAID, acetaminophen, antihistamine, expectorant, or homatropine. This ensures that the quantity of hydrocodone received (to relieve pain) is very small. This helps reduce its side effects and helps prevent a person from being an addict. Now that you know how hydrocodone can be detected in urine, blood and hair, you should stop taking it. You should consult your physician to know how you should gradually lower the dose of this drug.