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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, help is available. Speak with a Recovery Advocate by calling (855) 602-7202 now. Hydrocodone is an opioid medication used to treat pain and is often combined with acetaminophen. It has a high potential for misuse and abuse, making it a Schedule II medication under the Controlled Substances Act. It is completely metabolized in the body after 20 hours but can be detected in a drug test for longer periods of time, depending on the type of test.The three most common brand names that contain hydrocodone-acetaminophen combination tablets are:Lortab (oral tablet)Norco (oral tablet)Vicodin (oral tablet)Two extended-release hydrocodone products are also available:Zohydro ER – approved in 2013Hysingla ER – approved in 2014Article at a GlanceHydrocodone is fully metabolized in the body in about 20 hours.Hydrocodone can be detected in a drug test for 1-–90 days, depending on the type of drug test (urine, saliva, blood or hair).Hydrocodone’s half-life is about four hours for immediate-release products.The only way to remove the drug from the body is time; nothing can speed up the metabolism.How Long Does It Take Hydrocodone to Kick In?Hydrocodone or hydrocodone/acetaminophen typically start to work within 30–60 minutes of taking a dose and peaks, or reaches the highest concentration in the blood, within an hour for immediate-release formulations. For extended release formulations, peak concentration is reached after about 14–16 hours. As with other medications, this can be impacted by a variety of factors like other medications taken, age and whether these medications are taken with food.How Long Does Hydrocodone Last?The effects of hydrocodone peak after about one hour and continue for between four and six hours for immediate-release hydrocodone products. Extended-release hydrocodone products can last between 12 hours (Zohydro ER) to 24 hours (Hysingla ER). For these products, the time it takes for a consistent concentration to be present in the blood, called steady state, is approximately two days. After this time, hydrocodone is present at consistent and therapeutic levels in the blood as long as the medication is taken.As with any medication, many factors can influence the amount of time a medication lasts. Age, height, weight, body surface area, gender, smoking, alcohol use and tolerance to any other opioids can all affect how well this medication works for you and how much of it you will need to take.Hydrocodone Half-LifeA drug’s half-life is the amount of time it takes the body to metabolize half of the original amount of the drug. Half of the original drug remains after one half-life, one-quarter remains after two half-lives, and the body has completely removed the drug after five half-lives. Hydrocodone half-life is four hours, so the drug is completely metabolized in 20 hours.The
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