Pain has become the most common problem for every third person among the five. People take it lightly as they underestimate the fact that pain can be severe if not diagnosed and treated appropriately. When pain occurs the first thing people do is they usually take any kind of painkiller medicine without acknowledging the complications of the drug.
One of the most known painkillers Oxycodone makes its identity here as a pain reliever drug for any kind of pain whether it is moderate or severe. This medicine is a part of class of Opioids(kind of drug).
With so widely being used there are many questions being asked and answered about Oxycodone. One such question frequently asked is How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in Urine, and here in this blog, we will be answering it for you.
But before jumping directly to the question, let’s start with the basics first.
What is Oxycodone?
Oxycodone is one of the few medications that has a great potency for pain control or we can say the most powerful drug that people greatly use as a pain reliever. It is an opioid pain medication which is also called a narcotic or narcotic analgesic painkiller. It is also an ingredient in the prescription of numerous pain relief medications.
Oxycodone functions by stimulating the opioid receptors which are specifically based in the central nervous system and that activates the responses which range from analgesia to respiratory depression and euphoria.
The doses of Oxycodone are officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is a prescription-only medicine for the management of moderate to severe pain.
Uses of Oxycodone Drug for Short and Long-Term Pain Management?
The active ingredient available in Oxycodone medicine is Oxycontin which also helps in the battle of diagnosing and treating any kind of pain. This drug helps in dealing with pain whether it’s average, medium, or harsh. It is also used as a cough suppressant similar to Codeine, Morphine, and Hydrocodone.
Oxycodone drug is a controlled-release formulation of oxycontin or oxycodone hydrochloride that handles pain complications whether moderate or severe when a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is necessitated for an extended period of time.
This medication is an opioid agonist and a Schedule II unified substance with a potential of abuse most similar to morphine.
Dosage of Oxycodone Drug:
Prescription is the prior requirement for this drug and take it precisely as prescribed. Oxycodone is available in the form of oral pills, tablets, capsules, and oral solution formulations. This medication is available in two variants Immediate-Release (IR) and Extended-Release (ER) and the dosage strengths vary.
In the case of using IR, its efficacy starts working within 30-60 minutes and lasts for 4-6 hours although some find the effects even last longer. On the other hand, by taking the dosage of ER you can feel relief from pain in about 1 hour and it stays active for up to 12 hours.
Immediate-Release (IR) Dosage Strengths:
- Tablets are available in the form of 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg.
- Capsule: 5 mg
- Oral Solution: 5 mg / 5 ml
- Oral concentrate: 100 mg / 5ml
Note: 160 mg dose of IR is not available anymore in the market due to high misuse.
Extended-Release (ER) Dosage Strengths:
Tablets: 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg and 80 mg
Side Effects of Oxycodone:
Oxycodone usually starts showing its effects in about 30 to 60 minutes of consumption and generally, people feel pain relief even before 60 mins but they might also feel some side effects during this time which are as follows:
- Constipation
- Sleepiness
- Relaxation
- Nausea
- Drug allergy
- Extreme sense of excitement
- Increase or decrease in heartbeat (changes in breathing rate)
Some additional common side effects include:
- Clammy skin
- Convulsions
- Confusion
- Cold
- Sighing
- Shivering
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Sweating
- Muscle Stiffness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
How Long Does Oxycodone Stay in the System- Urine, Blood, Hair, and Breast Milk?
We all need to understand that the pain-relieving properties of the drug may fade away after a time period but the traces of the medicine may still remain in the body and knowing the stay period of these medicines is also necessary.
Typically, how much time oxycodone stays in the system depends upon several factors, which are mentioned below:
- Depends upon dosage
- In which form person is taking it (oral, intravenously, or nasally)
- Metabolism of the person
- Age, Size, and Weight of the person
- Count of doses they consumed before stopping
- Taking the dosage of any other medications rather than Oxycodone.
Here, we will consider the four major elements of the body. And learn for which time period Oxycodone stays in our system:
Duration of Oxycodone in Urine:
According to a 2013 study and research it was found that Oxycodone stays in urine for an average duration of 30 hours following a single dose. But after that, it was discovered and medically analyzed by some healthcare experts that on average Oxycodone stays in urine for almost 2-4 days following the last dose.
However, there are several factors that vary the actual detection:
- Metabolism: Some individual’s body metabolizes drugs faster in comparison to others.
- Hydration: Drinking water in large amounts may result in diluted urine which can lessen the chances of actual detection.
- Dosage: Ordinarily body can metabolize a single dose faster than compared to many doses and a small dose leaves the body more quickly.
Oxycodone Duration in Blood:
Oxycodone stays in the blood for 4.5 – 6.5 hours. But this duration can easily vary depending upon the dosage form you’re taking.
Stay Duration of Oxycodone in Hairs:
The examinations of Oxycodone in hair are described as the most sensitive tests of all. Because there is a maximum range of possibility that the hairs can be damaged even if the person has stopped using oxycodone and it can remain for months or even years on the end of the hairs.
Oxycodone Duration in Breast Milk:
Some noticeable levels of Oxycodone were found in breast milk for 4, 12, and 36 hours after the last dose while the concentration in the milk varied. These levels were detected by a small study. Whereas, according to some other guides and references it is suggested that women can still breastfeed during the usage of Oxycodone but the dosage should not exceed the limit of 30-40 mg in a window of 24 hours.
Summary:
Testing method, metabolism power, and some other factors play a vital role in detecting the literal length of time Oxycodone remains in a person’s body(in urine, blood, etc.), and may change in any individual’s body over time.
Testing laboratories, health care experts, or your physician/doctor can provide you with the proper practical guidance about how long does oxycodone stay in urine, hair, etc.
Read More: