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Hydrocodone is an opioid that is famous for blocking pain signals that are going to the brain. This helps in considerably reducing the pain. That is exactly what has made this drug famous. It is so effective that it can even reduce the severity of pain caused by diseases such as arthritis and cancer.

However, should one really trust this drug blindly?

OR

Does one need to be wary of its consumption?

Human experiences and research support the latter!

Hydrocodone stays in the body for a considerable amount of time

Even though the duration for which Hydrocodone stays in the body varies considerably, addiction resource states that it stays in the body for around 18-24 hours.

It basically stays in different parts of the body for varying durations.

In the blood, Hydrocodone can be detected for up to 24 hours after it has been consumed.

In the saliva, it is possible to detect it for around 12 to 36 hours after the dosage has been taken.

In the urine, Hydrocodone can be detected for almost 2 to 4 days after it has been taken.

In the hair, surprisingly enough, Hydrocodone can be detected for up to 90 days after its consumption.

Hence, even though there is no fixed time period as to how long Hydrocodone stays in the body system, the maximum it can stay is for up to 90 days which is not a good thing. In fact, it is something that the patient needs to be wary of before starting the dosage of Hydrocodone. A pharmacy blog has explained it in proper detail regarding its uses and dosage. Click here to know how to use them and how long they remain in the body.

Why do these timings wary so considerably?

There are a couple of reasons why the time it takes for Hydrocodone to leave the body varies considerably. Some of these reasons are variation in one of the following factors:  

• Dosage: Not everyone is prescribed the same dosage of a drug. The same is the case with Hydrocodone. Different people are prescribed a different dosage of this drug depending on their age, height, weight, gender, and medical history. The higher the dosage is, the longer it stays in the body.
• Age: There exists consensus in the medical fraternity that the time for which Hydrocodone stays in the human body depends on the age of the person who has consumed it. Younger people have a healthier digestive system which makes it easier for them to digest the medicine as compared to the older adults. Therefore, Hydrocodone stays for a shorter duration of time in the body system of younger adults as compared to older adults.
• Genetics: There are enzymes present in the body which help in processing drugs. Two such enzymes that are responsible for breaking down Hydrocodone are CYP450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. Not everyone has the same quality and quantity of these enzymes present in the body. Hence, how quickly Hydrocodone gets digested and for how much time it stays in the body depends on the presence of these enzymes.
• Frequency of intake: For how long a person has been taking a drug also determines the duration for which it stays in the body system. This is the result of pharmacodynamic tolerance. It simply means that the longer you have been taking a drug, the longer it will take for that drug to leave your body as your body will become accustomed to the mechanism of that drug. On the other hand, the shorter the duration for which you have been taking a drug, the quicker it will get excreted from your body. This mechanism applies to Hydrocodone too. 

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!

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