How Long Does Vicodin Stay in Your System?

Directly following Vicodin’s creation, the use of hydrocodone skyrocketed. From 2005 to 2010, emergency room visits involving recreational use of hydrocodone more than doubled in the United States, increasing from 47,194 in 2005 to 82,480 in 2011. Today, the rise of Vicodin continues to climb. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, more than 136 million hydrocodone pills were dispensed in 2013, making it the most prescribed opioid in the United States.

Side effects associated with Vicodin use include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

Drug interactions are possible when taking Vicodin with alcohol, other pain medications, cough and cold relief medications, opioid antagonists, drugs for sleeping issues or anxiety and muscle relaxants. These interactions can affect how the medications work and put individuals at an increased risk for serious side effects.  These more serious side effects include slow/shallow breathing, severe dizziness/drowsiness and liver damage or failure.

Vicodin addiction is a serious matter. Vicodin can cause dangerous and detrimental effects. Even without an overdose, the high amounts of acetaminophen in Vicodin combined with hydrocodone can be extremely hard on the liver when taken in large quantities. Over time, it can cause inflammation, scarring and permanent liver damage. Additionally, the slowing of the digestive and respiratory systems can also cause chronic constipation and intestinal damage, leaving the individual more susceptible to respiratory infections and lung problems.

Vicodin overdose symptoms include:

• Pinpoint pupils
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Low blood pressure
• Weak pulse
• Drowsiness
• Coma
• Shallow breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• No breathing
• Blush-colored fingernails and lips

• Urine testing: The most common way to detect Vicodin, urine testing is a painless and simple way to test for Vicodin. Hydrocodone is detectable up to four days after Vicodin consumption. The window for detection is longer for chronic, heavy use.
• Blood testing: This method is not recommended to detect Vicodin use.
• Saliva testing: Saliva is the most convenient way to test for Vicodin use. Saliva testing must be conducted in the days directly after use, preferably between 12 and 36 hours after last use. Before 12 hours, Vicodin will not be detectable, and after 36 hours, traces of Vicodin will be gone.
• Hair testing: Testing a hair sample is the most reliable way to test the body for drugs because traces of substances stay in the hair follicles for up to 90 days after use. However, in the case of detecting the ingredient hydrocodone, it can take ten days for a hair sample to show the drug. For immediate testing results, salvia and urine are the most effective options.

• Testing date: The longer you wait to be tested, the lower the chances are Vicodin will show up.
• Dosage: People who use Vicodin sparingly will have a small amount of hydrocodone in their system, while people who use it regularly will have a larger amount for a longer period.
• Hydration: Drinking water can dilute urine, making the concentration of drug molecules lower and harder to detect.
• Metabolism: The rate of metabolism varies greatly from person to person. The faster your metabolism, the faster the drug residue will leave your organs. Metabolism is dependent on age, sex and other genetic predispositions and environmental factors.
• Overall health: If you have liver issues or damage, you may have trouble metabolizing Vicodin, which means the drug will stay in your system much longer. You may test positive for weeks after Vicodin intake.
• Exercise: Physical activity boosts your metabolism and cardiovascular system, affecting how long drugs stay in your system.
• Use of other medications or drugs: The past or present use of other substances can affect how long Vicodin stays in your system.
• Body mass/body fat content: Long-term, heavy use of Vicodin can cause the opioid to be stored in fatty tissue, keeping traces of the drug in the body for even longer periods. The more body fat an individual has, the more hydrocodone will be absorbed, especially if the liver is already damaged and the body’s metabolism is compromised.

United States Drug Enforcement Administration. “Drug Scheduling.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Prescription Opioids.”