Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid doctors prescribe to guests 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 guests 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 windows vary across different drug tests and can also be influenced by individual factors such as liver function, kidney function, body composition, dose, frequency and duration of use, test sensitivity, and overall health.
The half-life of a substance refers to the time that it takes half a dose of the drug to exit the body, and it generally takes about five half-lives to clear oxycodone from the body. For oxycodone, the half life of oxycodone can range from 3 to 6.5 hours, though the oxycodone half life is usually shorter with immediate-release oxycodone and longer with extended release products. Immediate release formulations act faster, and short acting oxycodone has a quicker onset, while extended release formulations are designed to release medication over a longer period. Most immediate-release formulations, such as immediate release tablets, begin working within about 10 to 30 minutes, while extended-release oxycodone is used for longer-lasting pain relief, including chronic pain, can last 12 to 24 hours, and may stay detectable longer because these formulations extend detection windows. How long oxycodone detection lasts will depend on the testing method used:
Blood – Blood tests detect oxycodone within the bloodstream within 15 to 30 minutes of use and for up to 24 hours afterward, mainly in emergency or medical settings for recent use.
Urine – Urine tests can detect oxycodone in a urine sample within a few hours, and making urine testing a common option because it is noninvasive and practical; results may stay positive for up to three days or sometimes 1 to 4 days after the last dose depending on use patterns and urine concentration.
Hair – Hair follicle tests can detect oxycodone within about a week of use, and it may stay detectable for up to 90 days.
Saliva – Saliva tests can detect oxycodone within 15 minutes of use and for 1 to 4 days afterward.
Urine, blood, and saliva tests have smaller windows of detection for oxycodone than hair tests. While blood tests can detect oxycodone and saliva within minutes after use, hair testing is the longest-window option for longer-term detection. Younger individuals metabolize oxycodone faster than older adults. Other factors affect detection time too, including higher body fat percentages, hepatic or renal impairment, and changes in liver enzymes that influence oxycodone metabolism. Impaired liver function, weaker kidney health, higher doses, and chronic use can make oxycodone metabolites remain detectable longer, and body fat percentage can also affect retention.
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. Oxycodone is prescribed either alone or in combination with other drugs like acetaminophen, and oxycodone brand names include single-ingredient products as well as combination products such as Percocet. Oxycodone is available in different dosage forms, including immediate release versions and extended release versions used for longer-lasting pain relief, including chronic pain. 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). In many cases, drug tests detect metabolites as well as the parent drug, which can affect drug test results, and a person may test positive even when screening errors or cross-reactivity create false positives. Certain foods or medications, including poppy seeds, have been reported in some opioid screens, so confirmatory testing matters. There is no safe way to flush oxycodone out faster, since hydration may change sample concentration but not actual elimination. Getting help from an opioid addiction treatment program can be the best thing to do.
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 addiction and misuse, even though oxycodone is used to relieve pain, especially moderate to severe pain. 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 by binding to opioid receptors, specifically mu opioid receptors, which changes pain perception and can also contribute to euphoria, trigger cravings through its effects on the brain, and increase misuse risk, especially in the parts that control heart rate and respiration. If you use too much, your breathing can slow and stop. Overdose may even be fatal, particularly when taking oxycodone with other medications or substances that increase dangerous drug interactions.
Opioid abuse involving prescription opioids and other prescription opioids can raise the risk of dependence, overdose, and a transition to illicit drugs.
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.
Need Help For Oxycodone Addiction?
Our admissions team is available around the clock to help you or a loved one get the help you need.
Oxycodone Withdrawal
Even with prescribed oxycodone, physical dependence can develop at prescribed doses after 2 to 4 weeks of regular use, and stopping can lead to oxycodone dependence-related withdrawal symptoms. Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms may begin within 12 hours of the last dose. Withdrawal can affect you in many ways, and common opioid withdrawal effects can be both physical and psychological. Some of the most common physical symptoms are:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Dilated pupils
Stomach cramps
Joint pain
Muscle aches
Hot and cold flashes
Sweating and perspiration
Trouble sleeping
Fast heart rate
Changes in blood pressure
Seizures
Psychological symptoms
Anxiety
Agitation
Hallucinations
Symptoms often last several days to a week, though severe or prolonged cases of opioid withdrawal may last longer.
Treatment for Oxycodone Withdrawal
Many people who struggle with oxycodone addiction start by taking the prescribed amount to manage chronic pain. As their body develops tolerance to the medication, they may need higher doses to get the same pain-relieving effects, often in chronic pain management, which can contribute to opioid use disorder; even cancer patients who receive longer-term opioid treatment under close medical supervision can develop tolerance over time. 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 may experience opioid withdrawal symptoms after stopping oxycodone, and some people may decide to take more oxycodone to ease their discomfort. This behavior can be very dangerous and lead to overdose.
When it comes to oxycodone, it’s vital to seek help from a healthcare provider to detox safely, as professional care and medical supervision are important to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and reduce overdose risk during opioid withdrawal. 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 24-hour nursing supervision during withdrawal, monitoring your vitals throughout the process, and quickly intervening in case of an emergency. medication-assisted treatment may also use buprenorphine and naltrexone for stabilization.
Oxycodone use disorder is treatable through programs that can also address co-occurring mental health or medical conditions.
Does Insurance Cover Rehab For Oxycodone?
One of the most-asked questions when it comes to treating drug addiction is whether or not insurance will cover the cost of treatment. If you’re wondering how to pay for rehab, the good news is that insurance can cover part or all of the cost of treatment. All insurance providers and policies are different, but a free insurance verification with the team at Vogue Recovery Center can offer more information about what treatment options for substance abuse and mental health issues you have available based on your policy.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction the hallucinogens or psychedelics, don’t hesitate to contact the admissions team at Vogue Recovery Center. We can help you get started with your recovery journey!
Overcoming Oxycodone Addiction
If you’re struggling with oxycodone addiction, 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
