Oxycodone is an opioid and a controlled substance due to its risk for abuse.
Opioids are often confused with opiates, which are painkillers derived from the poppy plant, whereas opioids are synthetically made in a lab to have the same effects.
Thinking about how long does oxycodone last, and showing up on a drug screen, understand that expelling a drug from your system takes time. A wide variety of factors can affect how long it takes for your body to expel a drug. It is important to be aware of these factors when taking this drug to avoid accidental overdose and lessen the risk of addiction.
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Drug Half-Life
The half-life of a drug is basically the amount of time it takes your body to eliminate 50% of the drug. This number can vary based on the amount of the drug and the frequency at which you take it but there are some standard estimates that medical professionals use when treating patients. So, how long does oxycodone last? On average the estimated time is a half-life of 3-5 hours. Depending on your tolerance levels, you may or may not feel the effects of the drug as strongly but it is still in your system.
Your Kidneys And Liver
Your kidneys and liver are responsible for cleaning out your body of toxins. As oxycodone metabolizes in your system, it is processed through your liver and kidneys where a good portion of the drug is removed through urination. People who suffer from kidney or liver-related diseases will have a harder time removing the chemical from their body which means that oxycodone could be traceable in their system for a potentially longer time than a healthy individual.
Metabolizing Oxycodone
Everyone’s metabolism is different and should be reviewed on an individual level. The faster your metabolism, the faster your body can expel the drug from your system and the opposite can be said for those with slower metabolisms. Individuals with a high body mass index (BMI), or overall fat percentage, often take longer to metabolize the drug. So in considering how long oxycodone lasts, understand that having a high BMI can extend the amount of time that oxycodone is traceable in your system.
Oxycodone Testing
Testing for oxycodone can be done in several ways: urine testing, blood testing, hair follicle testing, and saliva testing. Urine testing is by far the most common drug testing because it is cheaper and relatively faster to produce results; you can typically detect oxycodone 3-4 days after use via urine testing. Blood testing and saliva testing are more expensive and can detect oxycodone in your system for about a day after it was consumed. Hair follicle testing is a more extensive process but to the trained eye, it can show a drug use timeline that goes back about 3 months.
Drug Awareness
To avoid the risk of injury or the well-known risk of abuse, it is important to the effect it has on your body. Whether you are prescribed oxycodone for a medical reason or you happen to be taking it illicitly as a recreational drug you should pay attention to dosing recommendations and be familiar with the half-life of the drug. Never take more of the drug than is reasonably prescribed and be sure to drink plenty of fluids to care for your liver and kidneys.