How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Your System?
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid doctors prescribe to patients to treat pain. While this medication is effective at pain relief, there is also a potential for misuse. Many people who misuse oxycodone often want to know how long it stays in their system.
Understanding the mechanisms of oxycodone metabolism and the potential dangers associated with misuse can help you decide whether it’s time to seek help for yourself or someone else struggling with addiction.
What Is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic that doctors prescribe to patients after car accidents, serious injuries, or post-surgical pain. While oxycodone is similar to other opiates, it is a synthetic drug that is made in a lab rather than derived from the poppy plant. Oxycodone is prescribed either alone or in combination with other drugs like acetaminophen. The brand name for oxycodone/acetaminophen is Percocet.
Oxycodone is available in pill or tablet form. When used for supervised medical reasons, it is swallowed whole and released into the system as a time-released dose. Those who abuse oxycodone may crush or snort the tablets to create a stronger, quicker effect.
Oxycodone has significantly contributed to the current opioid crisis. The increased prescription of these medications has also led to widespread misuse of opioids. Because it is so powerful, the potential for addiction is a serious concern. Some people become tolerant of its effects and take more to achieve the same results. The highly addictive nature of opioids makes them a Schedule II drug, and they may cause respiratory distress or even death when they are taken in high doses or combined with other substances. How long oxycodone stays in your system is one of many concerns associated with this drug.
How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Your System?
If you’ve wondered how long oxycodone stays in your system, the following information may be of use. The detection window of this drug varies depending on several factors, including:
- Individual metabolism
- Frequency and duration of use
- Dosage
- The sensitivity of the test
- Organ health (specifically your liver and kidneys)
- Your overall general health
The half-life of a substance refers to the time that it takes half of the drug to exit the body. For oxycodone, this time can range from three to five hours. It may take up to 20 hours to completely eliminate it from your system. How long it remains detectable will depend on the method of testing used:
- Blood – Oxycodone is detectable within the bloodstream within 15 to 30 minutes of use and remains present for up to 24 hours afterward.
- Urine – Use of oxycodone may appear within a urine sample in a few hours and remain for up to three to four days afterward.
- Hair – Oxycodone becomes detectable in the hair within a week of the latest use and stays detectable for approximately 90 days.
- Saliva – Saliva tests can reveal oxycodone use for up to four days following use but is detectable within 15 minutes.
Urine, blood, and saliva tests have smaller windows of detection for oxycodone than hair tests. While oxycodone can be detected in blood and saliva within minutes after using the drug, it will stay detectable in the hair for much longer. Younger people usually metabolize Percocet more quickly than older adults.
Drug tests are often part of a company’s pre-employment screening procedures or for forensic or legal purposes. They are also used to monitor for substance use. The accuracy and reliability of each type of drug test can depend on various factors (the test’s quality and how the sample was collected and handled).
What Are the Dangers Associated With Oxycodone?
With drugs that contain oxycodone, like Percocet, there are serious dangers that become amplified if you are struggling with misuse. These risks include overdose. An overdose can occur when you take too much of a drug and it harms your body. Drugs like Percocet interact with your central nervous system, specifically, the parts that control heart rate and respiration. If you use too much, your breathing can slow and stop. Overdose may even be fatal.
Overdose symptoms associated with oxycodone include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Shallow breathing
- Coma
- Memory loss
- Slowed heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Slurred speech
Additionally, oxycodone is associated with acute liver failure. Additional long-term effects of opioids include chronic constipation, increased risk of bone fractures, and sleep-disordered breathing.
Oxycodone Withdrawal
If you use oxycodone regularly and decide to stop, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can affect you in many ways, both physical and psychological. Some of the most common physical symptoms are:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
- Hot and cold flashes
- Sweating and perspiration
- Trouble sleeping
- Fast heart rate
- Changes in blood pressure
- Seizures
Psychological symptoms
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
Withdrawal symptoms can last for more than two weeks.
Treatment for Oxycodone Withdrawal
Many people who struggle with oxycodone addiction start by taking the prescribed amount. As their body develops a tolerance to the medication, they may take more to feel the same effects. This can lead to an addiction or opioid use disorder. The transition from abuse to addiction is often quick and extremely dangerous.
Depending on your drug use history, the withdrawal process can be very uncomfortable. People even die from withdrawal. Some people may decide to take more oxycodone to ease their discomfort as they experience withdrawal. This behavior can be very dangerous and lead to overdose.
When it comes to oxycodone, it’s vital to seek medical assistance to detox safely, as withdrawal can become dangerous on one’s own. Medically supervised detox involves a team of healthcare professionals who can help you safely eliminate the drug from your body through withdrawal management. This level of care includes monitoring your vitals throughout the process and quickly intervening in case of an emergency.
Overcoming Oxycodone Addiction
If you’re struggling with oxycodone, it’s crucial to seek help. Recovery is possible through medically supervised detox, medication management, and treatment programs. By deciding to take the first step towards recovery, you can begin to understand the root causes of your substance abuse and learn healthier coping strategies to overcome addiction.
If you or a loved one are facing oxycodone addiction issues, call Vogue Recovery Center today. We have Las Vegas and Phoneix locations offering a full continuum of care and supportive service. We can help you get on track to lead a life of sobriety and free from addiction.
Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC
