Opioids can stay in your body (and detectable via drug tests) for up to 90 days. The time frame can vary widely. How long an opioid stays in your system depends on the type you take, how you take it, how often and how long you have been taking it, and your metabolism.
Opioids can stay in your body for much longer than you might expect. In fact, some drugs can remain in your body at low (but detectable) levels, even when you no longer feel their effects.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include illicit drugs (like heroin and fentanyl) and prescription painkillers (like morphine, oxycodone and hydrocodone). Opioid drugs bind to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking pain sensations, elevating mood and suppressing central nervous system functions.
All opioids are highly addictive. An estimated 2 million Americans have an opioid use disorder (OUD) triggered by prescription painkillers.[1]
Common opioids include the following:
Many people are concerned with how long opioids last because they’re trying to pass drug tests at work. Most drug testing companies use urine for opioid drug testing, but some test saliva, blood or even hair. Each method comes with a different detection period.
How Long Opioids Are Detectable by Test Type
Biological SampleAverage Detection Duration Urine 3 days Blood12 hours Saliva 2 daysHair90 days
While they all work similarly, opioids can stay in your system for different amounts based on their half-life. This is the amount of time it takes for your body to break down half of the original dose of the drug and metabolize it. The half-life of opioid medications can range from less than an hour to 36 hours.[5]
Chemists place opioids in groups based on how quickly they work and how long they last. The following three groups apply:
All opioids are detectable in hair for about 90 days, but how long they appear in other test types can vary.
How Long Different Types of Opioids Are Detectable by Drug Type
Type of DrugUrineBloodSalivaOxycodone1-4 days1 dayUp to 2 days Hydrocodone1-4 days1 day 12-36 hours Codeine1-4 days1 day1-4 daysMethadone2-7 days2-3 daysUp to 10 daysHeroin1-4 days6 hours5 hoursMorphine1-4 days12 hours4 daysFentanyl1 day12 hoursResults are unreliable
Along with the type of opioid and its elimination half-life, there are other contributing factors to how long the drug will remain in your system.
The factors include the following:
We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about how long opioids stay in your system.
How long does it take for opioids to work in my body? It depends. Fast-acting opioids like heroin work almost immediately. Oral painkillers like Vicodin can take about an hour to work.
How can I clear opioids from my system? Organs like your liver and kidneys will clear opioids from your system, but they need time. There’s no reliable way to clear opioids from your system quickly.
How can I tell if someone is abusing opioids? People who misuse opioids may have periods of unexplained sedation. They may also experience flu-like symptoms when they try to quit. Someone who moves between these two extremes could be misusing opioids.
How can I get treatment for opioid addiction? Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) programs use prescriptions like Suboxone to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor to see if this is right for you.
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role of the brain dopamine system in substance use disorders and in aging. He also studies brain function in obesity and eating disorders.
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