Deandree asked
How long does oxycodone last in the body? I want to know specifically how long it will be detectable in tests.
Answer
We will discuss two points here, how long oxycodone lasts as a detectable drug in your body and how long you can expect oxycodone to work for pain relief.
How Long Does Oxycodone Last In The Body?
The part of the drug profile we are going to look at to determine how long it stays in your system is 'half-life'. 'Half-life' simply refers to the time it takes the body to metabolize 50% of the drug. In other words, for every one half-life, 50% of the drug remaining the body is reduced. We have illustrated this below:
While the half life of a specific drug is very indicative of how long the drug is detectable, there are other variables can influence the amount of time a drug remains detectable including:
- Type Of Test Being Used
Different tests have different sensitivities and this is a huge determining factor in whether or not a small amount of drug is detected.
- Whether Or Not The Drug Has Detectable Metabolites
Many drugs, as they get metabolized and broken down by the body, have constituents of the original drug that are active. A good example of this is the drug codeine. Codeine, as it is metabolized, is broken down into morphine.
- Dose Taken & Length Of Time Using The Drug
Many drugs, depending on their specific profile, can build up in the body. This is especially true of a drug like marijuana, which stores itself in fat the longer it is used. This greatly extends the period of time the drug is detectable in the body. Also, first time users of a specific drug can pass that through their system much more quickly than someone who takes the drug consistently.
- Body Composition
The amount of water you are carrying and the amount of fat tissue you possess greatly affects how long drugs stay in your body. If you are dehydrated, you body looks to retain water, which in turn will retain drugs for a longer period of time. If you have excess fatty tissue, drugs that are fat soluble will stay around longer as well.
For oxycodone, and most drugs, it has been mostly determined that drugs are detectable on a standard urinalysis tests for about 5-6 half lives.
The half-life of oxycodone in the body is around 3-5 hours. Extended release formulations of oxycodone have a slightly longer half life, about 6 hours.
So theoretically, oxycodone will be detectable on a standard urinalysis about 1-2 days, based on the test that is being used. Most drug tests for opioid medications test not only for the parent compound (oxycodone) in this case, but also the drug metabolites, which tend to stay around longer. Studies have shown that oxycodone metabolites will show up on a tests for about 2-4 days.
How Long Does Oxycodone Last In The Body In Terms Of Pain Relieving Effectiveness
Below, we have included some general data regarding oxycodone and how it is metabolized in the body:
Administration:
Formulations of oxycodone may be taken with or without food, except the extended release capsules. The extended release capsules should always be taken with food.
Metabolism:
Metabolism occurs in the liver and is excreted mostly in the urine.The half-life, as discussed above, is about 5-6 hours.
