How Long Does Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Stay in Your System?

The length of time that oxymorphone hydrochloride stays in the body can vary depending on the individual’s metabolism and overall health. Oxymorphone hydrochloride is primarily processed by the liver. Liver impairment can significantly increase the length of time that it takes to excrete the drug. For most patients, oxymorphone hydrochloride is cleared from the system within three days of the last dose.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride is a semi-synthetic opioid and analgesic pain reliever. It’s commonly prescribed for the management of severe pain following major surgery. For example, oxymorphone hydrochloride is frequently administered to patients following invasive heart surgery. It may also be administered in small doses before surgery to alleviate patient apprehension. Oxymorphone is an effective treatment for pain associated with acute left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema.

Clinicians are advised to exercise extreme caution when initially administering oxymorphone hydrochloride therapy. Individuals should be monitored closely for respiratory depression for the first 24 hours following the initial dose.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride is a highly addictive substance. It’s significantly more potent than similar opioid pain relievers like oxycodone and morphine. Oxymorphone’s addictive potential and high rates of overdose led the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the injectable version of the substance in June 2017. Today, only generic extended-release tablets are available by prescription in the US.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride is too potent to be combined as a single pharmaceutical with other compounds. However, oxymorphone may be mixed with other pain medications in small doses during detox. Individuals who are already taking extended-release oxymorphone hydrochloride tablets may be administered immediate-release tablets to treat flare-ups of pain.

People who are addicted or dependent upon the drug often resort to injecting street heroin, as this is the cheapest variety of opiates and the easiest to access without a prescription. Heroin and oxymorphone hydrochloride both produce pleasure-inducing effects that can be nearly identical. Combining oxymorphone hydrochloride with other substances that depress the central nervous system can lead to life-threatening complications including respiratory depression.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride achieves its effects by binding to and activating opioid receptor sites in the brain. At low to moderate doses, oxymorphone hydrochloride reduces the perception of pain and induces feelings of well-being. Oxymorphone hydrochloride relaxes both the skeletal muscles and the smooth muscles of the intestinal tract. Oxymorphone’s effects on digestion can lead to chronic constipation. Drinking plenty of water can help to improve the flow of bowel movements.

The half-life of oxymorphone hydrochloride depends on the route of administration. Extended-release tablets of doses between 5 mg to 40 mg have an average half-life of 9 to 11 hours. During this time, blood plasma levels of the drug are reduced to 50%. Peak concentrations of oxymorphone hydrochloride can be reached within three hours of consumption. Immediate-release oxymorphone hydrochloride has a slightly faster half-life of 7 to 9 hours and reaches peak concentrations within 30 minutes of ingestion.

Opiates exit the body rapidly compared to other substances due to their short half-lives. The amount of time that oxymorphone hydrochloride can be detected in the body can vary, depending on several factors. Oral versions of oxymorphone hydrochloride take longer for the body to metabolize than injectable versions. This is because the drug must first pass through the digestive system before taking effect. Slower metabolism causes the body to take longer to clear the drug.

Other factors that affect the length of the half-life include body fat content, weight, metabolic rate, kidney health, age, how frequently the drug is taken, and the amount of water in the body. Liver health is especially influential in oxymorphone hydrochloride metabolism. The liver is responsible for processing 90% of the drug. Oxymorphone hydrochloride is extensively metabolized. Less than one percent of the administered dose is excreted through the urine.

In rodent studies, approximately 90% of the administered oxymorphone is excreted after five days. For humans, the average time of clearance from the urine is just under three days. Testing for opiates in the blood has a much shorter time frame. Heroin, for example, can only be tested for in the blood within the first eight hours following ingestion. Oxymorphone can be tested for in hair follicles within 90 days of the day of last use.

If you or someone you love is dealing with a substance use disorder, The Recovery Village is ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have. We are available 24/7.