How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System? Codeine in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 06, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on November 25, 2019 More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Detection Times Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Codeine is a prescription opiate medication used for mild to moderate pain relief?? and to reduce coughing. Knowing how long it remains in your system can ensure that you get the needed effects while reducing the risk of an overdose by using  the dosage and timing recommended by your doctor. Codeine is also found in Tylenol #3, Tylenol with codeine, Robitussin A-C, Fiorinal with codeine, Triacin-C, Tuaistra XR, Codate, Codophos syrup, Promethazine with codeine cough syrup, and other formulations. Street names include Captain Cody, Sizzurp, and Purple Drank. Codeine is a controlled substance and its use is regulated by the Controlled Substances Act. It is classified as a Schedule II, III, IV, and V drug depending on its formulation and use because of its high potential for misuse and physical dependence. As an opiate, codeine is detected in screening tests for drugs of abuse. If you have been taking a prescription medication that contains codeine, its important to let your employer or a relevant person know if youre subject to an employment or forensic drug screen. Verywell / Cindy Chung   The Risks of Opioid Pain Medications How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects? After ingestion, it usually takes about an hour to begin feeling the effects of the drug. Codeine changes the way your nervous system and brain detect pain and slows down the activity in your brain that creates the cough reaction, which is why its used for both pain relief and as a cough suppressant. Codeine is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is distributed to different tissues throughout your body. Its often provided in combination products with Tylenol (acetaminophen), aspirin, Soma (carisoprodol), and promethazine, as well as many cough and cold medications. These combinations may affect the dosing, timing and ways your doctor will recommend its use, so be sure to follow your doctor or pharmacists directions exactly. Side effects of codeine include: LightheadednessDrowsinessHeadache??Mood changesStomach painConstipation??Difficulty urinating How Long Does Codeine Last? Codeine has a half-life between two-and-a-half to three hours. This means that it takes about three hours for half of a dose of codeine to be eliminated from your system. Codeine is primarily metabolized by the liver. The break-down of the drug results in the production of metabolites including codeine-6-glucuronide, norcodeine, and morphine.   While the half-life of codeine is relatively short, its metabolites stay in your system longer. Many drug tests screen for these metabolites, which means that codeine can be detected in your system for up to three days on a standard urine test. The pain-relieving effects of codeine usually last for around three to four hours depending on the dose taken. Urine About 90%  of the drug is eliminated by your kidneys in urine.?? Urine screenings are the most commonly used drug tests in many settings because they are relatively easy and cost-effective to administer. A standard urine screen tests for a range of drugs including opiates such as codeine. A positive result on a urine test usually suggests that an individual has used codeine, morphine, or heroin (which are all opiates) in the past one to three days. Blood Blood tests are used less frequently because they are more invasive and costly than urine tests. However, they may be utilized in situations where a person is unable to provide a urine sample or to confirm an unexpected positive urine test result. The window for detecting codeine on a blood test is only 24 hours. Saliva Saliva testing can also be a convenient option, with codeine detectable in oral fluid for up to four days after ingestion. However, a number of factors can impact sample collection, including low levels of oral fluid due to a range of physiological factors, including side effects of the drug itself.  Research also suggests that chewing gum or eating candy containing citric acid can significantly lower the levels of codeine found in saliva. Hair Codeine use can be detected by a hair follicle test for a longer period of up to three months. However, use that occurred within the last two to three weeks just prior to the test will not be detectable. False Positive Testing Eating foods that contain poppy seeds can trigger a false-positive test result for opiates. Poppy seeds contain trace amounts of morphine and codeine. While not enough to produce the same effects as prescription opiates, research has shown that consuming just one poppy seed muffin or two poppy seed bagels is enough to show up on a standard drug screen.?? Additional analysis using methods such as mass spectroscopy can sometimes help differentiate between true opiate use and poppy seed consumption. Certain medications can also trigger a false-positive test result on drug screening tests. Verapamil (a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension), diphenhydramine (an antihistamine commonly found in allergy and cold medications), and doxylamine (an antihistamine often found in allergy medications and sleep aids) are all known to cause false-positives for opiates on enzyme immunoassay (EIA) drug tests.   Let the testing lab know if you have eaten anything containing poppy seeds or if you are on any medications that might affect your test results. Factors That Affect Detection Time How long codeine is detectable in your body after a dose depends on a variety of factors, including which kind of drug test is being used.?? Other variables include: How often you use the medicationThe dosage you takeYour weightYour ageYour metabolism??Your hydration levelYour level of activityOther health conditions you may have Because each individual will have different variables, its almost impossible to determine the exact time codeine will show up on a drug test. Drug testing may be used in a variety of situations and settings including screenings for employment, sports organization participation, monitoring opiate use, and legal and forensic purposes. How to Get Codeine Out of Your System There are some things that may slightly increase the speed that codeine is metabolized and excreted from the body. The first step is to stop taking the drug, although this may be difficult if you have become physically dependent. Always talk to your doctor before you stop taking a prescription containing codeine in order to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may want to slowly taper you off the medication or switch you to another type of pain reliever. Once you have safely stopped taking your medication, make sure that you stay well-hydrated, eat healthily, and get regular physical activity as these lifestyle modifications may help speed up the rate at which the drug is cleared from your system. Symptoms of Overdose With a half-life of only three hours, half of the dosage taken would be metabolized and eliminated from the body within three hours. Codeine medications are usually taken every four to six hours to maintain a therapeutic level. It is important to take codeine exactly as prescribed because taking more before your previous dose has metabolized or taking a larger dose than youre supposed to can increase the risk of an overdose. Symptoms of a codeine overdose can include: Bluish-colored fingernails and lipsBreathing problemsCold, clammy skinComaConfusionDizzinessDrowsinessFatigueLightheadednessLoss of consciousnessLow blood pressureMuscle twitchesTiny pupilsSpasms of the stomach and intestinesWeaknessWeak pulse Some of the above symptoms can occur even when you take codeine exactly as prescribed. If you suspect someone has overdosed on codeine, call 911 immediately or the national toll-free Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Understanding Opioid Overdoses Important Precautions Codeine should not be taken with alcohol or other drugs that can affect your respiration rate, such as benzodiazepines.?? Examples of benzodiazepines include Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications youre taking, whether theyre over-the-counter, prescription, vitamins, supplements, or herbal remedies. Due to serious risks of slowed breathing and death in children, codeine medications are now restricted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children under the age of 12 years. Codeine medications are also not recommended for teens between the ages of 12 and 18 years who are obese or who have breathing problems such as sleep apnea or severe lung disease. The FDA warns against the use of codeine medicines by breastfeeding mothers, citing risks to the infant like excess sleepiness and breathing problems. Getting Help Codeine is an opioid pain reliever, which means it can be habit-forming. Taking more codeine than prescribed or taking it longer than directed can increase the risk of developing a dependence on the drug. Codeine has a high risk of physical dependence even when you take it exactly as prescribed. Unfortunately, people often do not recognize the signs that they are becoming dependent on the drug. Some signs that can indicate a problem include: Developing tolerance, meaning you need higher doses of the drug to feel the same effectsFeeling preoccupied with getting more of your medicationFeeling compelled to take the drugExperiencing symptoms of withdrawal when you stop taking the drug Some of the common symptoms of codeine withdrawal may include: IrritabilityRunny noseChills and sweatsRapid heartbeatMuscle achesDifficulty sleepingPoor appetiteNausea and vomiting If you or a loved one has an addiction to codeine, its important to get help to treat it. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options, which may include over-the-counter medications to relieve withdrawal symptoms. For more severe symptoms, your doctor may suggest other drugs that are designed to treat opiate-withdrawal including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Your doctor can also refer you to a mental health professional or addiction treatment facility for longer-term treatment. You can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA) National Helpline to get free, confidential information on substance use recovery and referrals to treatment clinics at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Treating Opioid Addiction