Oxycodone hydrochloride is a popularly prescribed pain relief medicine. It belongs to the opioids and is a controlled substance. Opioids are one of the most commonly tested drugs. You may face drug testing for your pre-employment screening, in your office, during sports, or post-accident. So if you are dealing with pain and have taken Oxycodone you must have an idea about how long does Oxycodone stay in your system? Oxycodone is available in different combinations under different brand names such as Tylox, Percodan, Oxycontin, Percocet, Roxicet, Endocet, Percodan, Endodan, Roxicodone, Oxynorm, Endone, and Proladone.
In this article, you will get a complete idea of the workings of Oxycodone, its effects on your body, withdrawal symptoms, and factors responsible for the elimination of Oxycodone from your body.
Working Mechanism Of Oxycodone:-
Oxycodone affects the Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and then the GABA receptor inhibits the hormones dopamine and serotonin. Oxycodone affects the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain and controls the pain signals. It blocks the pain signals between the body and the central nervous system of the brain and provides relief.
How Long Does Oxycodone Take to Kick In?
The drug Oxycodone comes in different forms, these are Capsules in the dosages of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg, tablets in the dosages of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg, and liquid form in the dosages of 5 mg of Oxycodone in 5 ml and 10 mg of Oxycodone in 1 ml of liquid. It is available as a slow-release and extended-release form. All of these have different durations to show their effect and to wear off. It may take 30 to 60 minutes to show its effects for standard tablets while the extended form may starts working in 60 minutes but may take 24 to 48 hours to show its effect and it will provide relief for a longer duration.
Half-Life Of Oxycodone:-
The half-life of a medicine is the duration that the body takes to remove half of the dosage of the medication. In the case of Oxycodone, it is between 3 to 5.5 hours. The half-life of Oxycodone depends on its formulation as the half-life of extended-release Oxycodone is longer than immediate-release. You should also keep in mind that the elimination of the drug from your body depends on several factors and it takes different time frames for different people.
Oxycodone Addiction:-
Addiction to a drug can be defined as the physical and psychological dependency of a person on that particular drug. If you are feeling like you are not able to stop taking Oxycodone when you do not want to continue this medication, it means you are addicted to Oxycodone. You can not even think of stopping this medication and start getting panic. In this case, when people try to stop taking this medication forcefully then they can face withdrawal symptoms which can impact them personally and socially.
Misuse Of Oxycodone:-
Since the early 1960s misuse of Oxycodone pain medication has been an issue in the USA and till today it is an issue among teenagers as they abuse this medication for its euphoric effects. It is abused in the form of power and solution, Oxycodone tablet is crushed and then snorted in powder form while for injecting this medication this powder is mixed with water and then injected for euphoric effects. They even go to different doctors to get a prescription for the same issue so that they can get enough medicine. However, misuse and abuse of Oxycodone may lead to addiction and an individual may face severe withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal Symptoms:-
If You suddenly stop taking Oxycodone, you may experience severe withdrawal symptoms. So whenever you plan to quit this medication ask your doctor and your doctor will guide you and show you the right path to stop this medication properly.
- Cravings:- You may experience intense cravings for this medication after stopping this medication suddenly.
- Physical issues:- Physical symptoms you may face are dilated pupils, goosebumps, yawning, and runny nose.
- Anxiety issues:- Increased anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and agitation during withdrawal can be experienced by an individual.
- Flu-like issues:- Muscle aches, joint pain, sweating, chills, and fever are flu-like symptoms that you may experience during withdrawal.
- Gastrointestinal issues:- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps are common during withdrawal of Oxycodone.
- Sleeping issues:- Sleeping-related problems are very common among all withdrawal symptoms of Oxycodone.
- Mood swings:- You may experience depression, mood swings, and emotional instability during withdrawal from oxycodone.
Effects Of Oxycodone:-
Oxycodone is a narcotic analgesic that is used for pain relief. People misuse this medication for its euphoric effect. When this pain medication is used without the consultation of a doctor it may have side effects. The side effects of Oxycodone tablet may be severe and need medical assistance. Side effects of Oxycodone may include the following symptoms.
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Fever, sweating, and confusion
- Fast heartbeat and shivering
- Severe muscle stiffness
- Loss of coordination or diarrhea
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness or dizziness
- Irregular menstruation
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling of the hands or lower legs
- Seizures
- Extreme drowsiness
How Long Does It Take Oxycodone To Leave Your System?
How long Oxycodone takes to leave your system depends on how frequently you are taking the doses of Oxycodone. When people take next dose of medicine they do not feel the effect of the previous dose and may feel that the drug is not present in their body but in reality, the drug remains in the body and is detectable through drug tests.
- Urine:- Generally, Oxycodone is detectable in the urine for 2 to 4 days after the last dose of this medication. The detection window may vary due to factors like hydration, dosage, and metabolism of the person.
- Blood:- Depending on the dosages the half-life of this medication is about 4.5 to 6.5 hours. It takes this much time to decrease the concentration of this drug in blood by half. It means after 24 hours the concentration of this medicine in the blood is negligible.
- Breast milk:- According to the studies the concentration of Oxycodone is the maximum after 1 to 2 hours. However, the levels of concentration may vary with time.
- Saliva:- Saliva provides a very short detection window for Oxycodone, due to this reason saliva test is not preferable in most cases.
- Hair:- It is very sensitive among all tests because This medicine may contaminate the hair follicles even if you are not taking this medicine because of sweat and other contamination mediums. Even if you stop using Oxycodone, it can be detected through your hair follicles after several months or years while through hair roots it can be detected till three months.
Factors Responsible For How Long Oxycodone Stays In Your System:-
Different factors affect the fact that how long Oxycodone stays in your system. So while you are taking Oxycodone be careful and keep these facts in your mind.
- Age:- Blood concentration increases with age so younger individuals can eliminate Oxycodone faster.
- Metabolism:- Metabolism of a drug means changing it to its simpler form so that it can be easily absorbed and eliminated from the body. High metabolism will be helpful to remove Oxycodone from the body.
- Gender:- Plasma protein concentration and kidney or liver functions are different in males and females so gender is also a considerable factor for the removal of Oxycodone from your system.
- Dosages:- The frequency of dosages and the time duration are responsible for the concentration of the Oxycodone in your body and the time taken for the elimination depends on the concentration of the drug.
- Weight:- Weight affects the concentration of the drug in the body fluids and its action sites.
- Other medications:- Taking different medications together affects the elimination process because it chemically affects the metabolism of Oxycodone.
- Kidney and liver functions:- The metabolism of water-soluble components of a drug takes place in the kidney and fat-soluble components in the the liver, so when these organs function properly then only they will be able to eliminate Oxycodone faster from your system.
Conclusion:-
Oxycodone is a pain-reducing medication that belongs to the analgesic drug class. It works on the central nervous system of the brain. How long this medication stays in the body depends on different factors and may vary from person to person. So if you are taking Oxycodone and going to appear for any drug detection activity keep in mind that even if are not feeling the effect of this medication, it is detectable in your body.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Oxycodone Make You Sleepy?
Some people may experience drowsiness or sleepiness after taking Oxycodone. Due to this reason, you should avoid driving and dealing with machines till you notice the effect of this medication.
What Is The Best Time To Take Oxycodone?
You should take Oxycodone according to your prescription. You can take it any time, but make sure to take this medication every day at the same time.
What Not To Take With Oxycodone?
Avoid taking Oxycodone with other sedatives like alcohol and benzodiazepine medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, etc. Taking these together may cause extreme dizziness or drowsiness.
Can You Take Tylenol And Oxycodone Together?
Tylenol is a brand for acetaminophen and Oxycodone with acetaminophen is prescribed for pain relief. But never take these medications without consulting a doctor because these are high-alert medications and may cause an overdose.
Does Oxycodone Help You Sleep?
It may help some people to sleep as it causes drowsiness and makes them sleepy after taking Oxycodone. But it does not work the same for all, for some people, it may also cause insomnia.
Does Oxycodone Help Anxiety?
Oxycodone reduces anxiety up to some extent but the it is not a prescription medication for the treatment of anxiety so you should not take Oxycodone without asking your doctor for any reason and in any condition otherwise, you may experience its side effects.
Is Oxycodone The Same As Morphine?
Both Oxycodone and Morphine are efficient to reduce pain. However, Oxycodone has much potential and it has fewer side effects than Morphine.
Does Oxycodone Raise Blood Pressure?
It does not raise blood pressure rather it may cause low blood pressure and slow breathing in a person. If you are facing these issues after taking oxycodone then contact your doctor immediately.
What Are The Best Foods To Eat While Taking Oxycodone?
While taking Oxycodone you should eat simple homemade food with high fiber like vegetables and whole grains. Do not eat spicy food because you may feel sick after eating eating spicy food.
How Does Oxycodone Affect Emotions?
Yes, it affects your emotions, you may experience a feeling of relaxation after taking Oxycodone. But sometimes it may also cause mood swings, paranoia, and anxiety so be careful while you are taking Oxycodone and take your medications according to your doctor’s guidelines.
