How Long Does Codeine Stay in Your System?

How Long Does It Take To Feel the Effects of Codeine?

After taking Codeine, it usually takes about an hour to begin feeling its effects. Codeine changes how your nervous system and brain detect pain and slows down the activity in your brain that creates the cough reaction, which is why it’s used for pain relief and as a cough suppressant.

Codeine is a very addictive drug. Therefore, you must do everything in your power to avoid codeine addiction. One of the best ways is to time your doses right to avoid taking too much at once. The higher the dose or the more often you take the medication, the higher the chance of developing an addiction. Learning how long codeine is in your system makes it easy to plan your doses accordingly. 

How Long Does Codeine Stay in System?

How long does Codeine last? Codeine is metabolized mainly by the liver. The drug breakdown produces metabolites, including norcodeine, codeine-6-glucuronide, and morphine. Although the half-life of Codeine is relatively short, these metabolites stay in the system and can be detected in drug screening tests for up to three days.

How Long Does It Take To Feel the Effects of Codeine?

After taking Codeine, it usually takes about an hour to begin feeling its effects. Codeine changes how your nervous system and brain detect pain and slows down the activity in your brain that creates the cough reaction, which is why it’s used for pain relief and as a cough suppressant.

Codeine is a very addictive drug. Therefore, you must do everything in your power to avoid codeine addiction. One of the best ways is to time your doses right to avoid taking too much at once. The higher the dose or the more often you take the medication, the higher the chance of developing an addiction. Learning how long codeine is in your system makes it easy to plan your doses accordingly. 

Codeine is metabolized mainly by the liver. The drug breakdown produces metabolites, including norcodeine, codeine-6-glucuronide, and morphine. Although the half-life of Codeine is relatively short, these metabolites stay in the system and can be detected in drug screening tests for up to three days.

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Urine?

Your kidneys eliminate about 90% of the drug in urine. Urine drug tests are the most commonly used drug tests in many settings because they are relatively easy and cost-effective to administer—standard urine screen tests for various drugs, including opiates such as codeine. A positive result on a urine screening usually suggests that an individual has used morphine, codeine, or heroin (all opiates) in the past one to three days.

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Blood? 

Blood screenings are used less frequently because they are more costly and invasive than urine tests. However, they may be used when an individual cannot provide a urine sample or confirm an unexpected positive urine test result. The window for detecting Codeine on a blood test is only 24 hours.

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Saliva? 

Saliva screening can also be a convenient option. Codeine is detectable in oral fluid for up to four days after ingestion. However, several factors can affect 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 eating candy or chewing gum containing citric acid can significantly lower the levels of Codeine found in saliva.

How Long Does Codeine Stay in Hair? 

Codeine use can be detected by a hair follicle test for up to three months. However, use that happened within the last two to three before the test will not be detectable.

33 million

An estimated 33 million people use Codeine every year.

Source: NIH

48 to 72 hours

This is typically when, after quitting Codeine, withdrawal symptoms are at their height.

Source: NIH

False Positive Testing

Eating foods that contain poppy seeds can trigger a false-positive test result for opiates such as Codeine. Poppy seeds may contain trace amounts of codeine and morphine. 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 poppy seed consumption and proper opiate use. 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 cold and allergy medications), and doxylamine (an antihistamine often found in sleep aids and allergy medications) are all known to cause false positives for opiates on enzyme immunoassay (EIA) drug tests.

Let the testing laboratory know if you have eaten anything containing poppy seeds or are on any medications that might affect your test results.

• Runny nose
• Teary eyes
• Yawning
• Sweating
• Dysphoria
• Anxiety
• Goosebumps
• Insomnia

• Fever
• Restlessness
• Muscle and/or bone pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Dependence

If the proper doses of codeine aren’t followed, and the patient starts to use the drug more often, addiction has likely already begun. In addition, there is a strong chance that “use can create psychological dependence.” Many individuals who have used codeine for a long time begin to feel like they need the drug to function.

Depression

Codeine use over time can cause depression. According to a medical study, “two thirds of the subjects had sought help for mental health problems, most often depression” as a result of long-term codeine use 

Addiction

Codeine addiction is a real threat for somebody who has been using the drug long-term. Because codeine is habit-forming and causes dependence, people often build up a tolerance to the drug, needing to take more and more in order to feel its effects.

Physical Effects of Codeine Use 

Aside from the psychological effects, Codeine use also has strong physical effects. Because codeine slows down reactions in the body, use of the drug over a long period of time can cause major issues, such as:

Respiratory Depression

This is one of the most severe side effects of long-term codeine use. The person’s breathing becomes incredibly slow to the point of danger. “Difficulty breathing” or “noisy or shallow breathing” can be signs of codeine-induced respiratory depression. 

Constipation

Although constipation isn’t always severe, it can cause problems after a long period of time. Codeine use can cause long-term constipation, which may result in other complications.

Risk of Codeine Overdose

Abusing or taking more than the recommended dosage of codeine can lead to an overdose. Even a single misuse can be deadly, but those suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) are even more at risk of overdosing.

Codeine Withdrawal

Codeine withdrawal peaks at around day five, so you’re likely to feel the most extreme withdrawal symptoms. After day eight, the symptoms become a bit milder. However, they can last upwards of thirty days.

People with codeine dependence or otherwise at risk of experiencing opioid withdrawal can benefit from medical detox and pharmaceutical withdrawal management to ensure their opioid use disorder treatment efforts begin as smoothly, safely, and comfortably as possible.

Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT)

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

Please, do not try to detox on your own. The detox process can be painful and difficult without medical assistance. However, getting through the detox process is crucial for continued treatment. We Level Up provide proper care with round-the-clock medical staff to assist your recovery through our drug addiction treatment program medically. So, reclaim your life, and call us to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our counselors know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Drug Rehab Near Me

Drug addiction is a condition that can cause significant health problems, such as an overdose. We Level Up NJ rehab treatment & detox center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from this with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition and clarify issues like drug withdrawal symptoms. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please understand that each call is private and confidential.