OxyContin is a brand name for extended-release Oxycodone, which is very useful for relieving pain. Rather than the use of OxyContin, it is important to know How Long Does OxyContin Stay In Your System to cure pain safely. Because the people who use it on a long-term basis should know the adverse effects associated with it. In this article, you will get a clear knowledge of how OxyContin completes its life cycle in the body. The process is not same for everyone, but having a primary idea of the timing will help to avoid drug interactions as well as negative reactions of the pill OxyContin.
Overview of OxyContin
OxyContin is popularly known for it’s generic name, Oxycodone hydrochloride which belongs to opioid analgesic drug class. If you have been used Oxycodone pill before, then OxyContin pill is not a different pill for you. It is the extended-release version of Oxycodone that gradually relieves pain over the time. OxyContin pink pill is generally prescribed for chronic pain conditions in which the patient needs around-the-clock pain solution without taking frequent doses. Although OxyContin has been proven safe for use, it’s long-acting formula could be harmful for someone. So it is important to know how safely it complete it’s life cycle and flushes out from the system.
How Long Does OxyContin Stay In Your System?
If you are suffering from severe pain conditions and planning to take OxyContin, then it important to know how much time it will stay in your system. Because if you have any other medical issue and taking any high-power pills, then the pill OxyContin will impact badly. Similarly, if you have metabolic issue then also OxyContin can harm your kidneys as well as other organs. Staying longer in your system it can cause dependence, therefore taking the pill in right way is important to you. Knowing the timeframe is important to avoid drug interactions, withdrawal symptoms, and addiction.
The Journey of OxyContin In your System
After intake, the OxyContin pill starts working and how it eliminated from the system plays an important role in the treatment process. The journey of OxyContin is not same for everyone. Some factors are there that affects how long oxycodone stays in your system. Let’s discuss those in below.
- The patient having lower metabolic power will take more time to eliminate the OxyContin.
- Improper functions of any organ, especially kidney or liver can significantly affects the OxyContin flushing up process.
- The other diseases like blood pressure, diabetes, or cardial issues etc, can slow down the working of OxyContin.
- Certain medications also affect the OxyContin metabolism process.
Despite these factors, let’s know how OxyContin completes its life cycle, common to everyone.
How Long Does OxyContin Take To Kick In?
OxyContin is generally prescribed as an oral pill and is prohibited for ingestion and snorting. How long does it take to kick in, or its onset action timing depends upon how the patient takes it. It is okay to take with a glass of water after the meal. Without breaking the pill, swallow it and it will start working within 30-60 minutes. The body will get relief from pain after 45 minutes or maybe earlier. As you know, it is an extended-release tablet that slowly releases and relief from pain over the time.
Working of OxyContin
The OxyContin tablet goes to the stomach after swallowing and dissolves gradually there. It is absorbed by the bloodstream and makes a steady level in blood for gradually releasing over the time. After this the OxyContin pill containing Oxycodone as active component reaches to central nervous system and the brain. Mu-opioid receptors are present there which works as natural pain killers of the body. The Oxycodone affects those receptors and enhances the working of these opioids, as a result the perception of pain alters. OxyContin doesn’t affect the source of pain rather than it only changes the feelings of pain. As a result, it helps to heal during the treatment.
Metabolism of OxyContin
Liver metabolise OxyContin through CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 enzymes present in it. For the rapid metabolism of the pill, hydration plays a key role. Taking more amount of water eases the metabolism of OxyContin in liver. The metabolism process might be delayed due to other medicines that kill CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 enzymes. After metabolism the waste part of the pill goes for excretion. So it is an important part of how much time the pill will stay in your system.
How Long Does It Take for the Effects of OxyContin to Wear Off?
After metabolism kidneys act as a filter for all metabolites from our body. For this reason, the Oxycodone is excreted in kidneys and 50-60% of the pill is eliminated on this process. Half-life of the pill overall calculates the timeframe for wearing off the OxyContin effects. Here half-life means how much time the pill takes to metabolise its 50% of its active components. The pill OxyContin has 4.5–7 hours of half-life, and it takes 4 to 5 half-lives for complete wearing off. That means, although the effects of OxyContin has gone within a day but it will stays for some extra hours in your body.
Detection of OxyContin
After completing the life span the pill OxyContin is still detectable on different drug tests. Detection of the pill is important for knowing any alergic reactions for newly starting pill or if you have any medical testing for official purpose. Lets know the timing in detail:
- If you do a blood test it is detectable for a very short period up to 24 hours.
- In urine test the drug can be detectable for 3 to 4 days.
- In saliva test the drug is detectable for 1 to 4 days.
- In hair test the timing of detection is much longer, up to 90 days or longer.
Safe Detoxification of OxyContin
The people who need chronic pain management always have a question that Can I Speed Up OxyContin Elimination? Although the OxyContin takes some time for eliminating, you can fasten this process by taking some precautions.
You can speed up the detoxification of OxyContin naturally by maintaining proper hydration and a balanced diet. Do not take any food that disturbs your digestion during taking OxyContin pill. Some exercise, meditation, or breathing exercises will be helpful for eliminating the drug quickly. Avoid sugar, caffeine, and processed foods that might enhance the excretion of the pill. Besides them you can go for medical supplements under the doctor’s guidance that boost the detoxification of OxyContin.
Conclusion
As you know from the above, OxyContin is a magical pill for treating pain conditions. It is also a smart choice for the people who needs long term pain management with least side effects and without frequent dosing. But due to its CNS acting property ,the patient should know how long does OxyContin stay in your system. For which he/she can avoid drug interactions and withdrawal symptoms.