Introduction
Hydrocodone, or Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, Lorcet, and various other brands is a prescription medication with many users experiencing discomfort stemming from arthritis or cancer. Although hydrocodone is very useful in managing severe pain. There are risks that it will be taken for purposes other than medical and lead to dependency. In 2014 the Drug Enforcement Administration DEA figured out that Oxycontin was highly prone to overuse and psychological dependency; therefore, the drug was placed under the Schedule II category. Let’s explore how long hydrocodone stays in urine and other bodily fluids.
Duration in the Body
Hydrocodone users can find out how long it takes for the drug to leave their system by considering certain factors affecting drug metabolism. Here are the key points:
- Urine: Hydrocodone medical examinations can confirm the drug in urine for at most 1-4 days after its consumption.
- Blood: This is because hydrocodone, which has an elimination half-life of about 3.5 hours, peaks in the blood after approximately one hour of ingestion. 3 hours to peak plasma concentrations. Depending on the drug and assay method, it can be measured for as long as 24 hours after ingestion.
- Saliva: According to Salisbury’s chemistry book, saliva tests can detect hydrocodone between 12 to 36 hours after taking the drug.
- Hair: Hydrocodone can be identified in hair for up to 90 days, even if the substance has been used only occasionally.
Factors Influencing Duration
Several factors impact how long hydrocodone stays in the body:
1. Dosage
It formed the basis of the argument that higher doses lead to longer retention and metabolism in the body.
2. Genetics
Since hydrocodone is metabolized through enzymes (CYP450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases), individuals have different genetic types warranting its metabolization.
Conclusion
The trace amounts of hydrocodone can also be found in urine samples up to 4 days of substance use. Awareness of this illness’ duration is one of the important elements of its existence in healthcare and caring for patients. It is also important to know there may be certain differences between subjects, so you should contact a doctor to get more details.
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