How long does Lortab stay in your system?
Lortab is most likely to be found on a drug test or opiate screen if you’ve taken Lortab within the last 24 hours. After that, the amounts of Lortab metabolites in blood and urine are low enough that many labs won’t pick up on them. Still, if you get high on Lortabs, Lortab use can be detected. Heavy or chronic use Lortab can be detected for longer periods of time.
Here, we’ll look more at how Lortab is metabolized and how it stays in the body. We also review the detection window for Lortab using different types of drug screens. Finally, we invite your questions about Lortab use at the end.
Main Lortab uses
Lortab uses include treating moderate to severe pain. As an opioid, Lortab works by affecting the central nervous system and changes the way the body and brain respond to pain. As an adverse side effect, Lortab can also cause feelings of euphoria, which is why some people take Lortab to get high. But, abuse of Lortab can result in addiction, which is why it is screened for in routine drug tests.
How do you take Lortab?
Lortab is a tablet containing the narcotic pain medication hydrocodone and the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen. Lortab is intended to be taken orally, but some people crush and snort the pill for illicit purposes. Other people may take Lortab in combination with alcohol, which can be extremely dangerous and raises the risk of serious adverse effects, including coma or death.
Peak levels and half life of Lortab
The half life for the hydrocodone in Lortab in the typical adult is just under 4 hours. Hydrocodone reaches its peak level in the blood after about 1.3 hours. However, the amount of Lortab in someone’s system will vary on the amount of the medication taken.
Lortab drug testing: How long does Lortab stay in the body?
Lortab is metabolized fairly quickly in the body. This is why it’s difficult to detect Lortab in someone who isn’t a heavy or habitual user, especially after more than 24 hours. However, some methods of testing such as hair sample drug screens can identify Lortab use for up to 3 months after last dose. Still, the more common blood toxicology or urine drug screens for Lortab have a very short detection period.
How long does Lortab stay in blood?
Because of its short half-life, Lortab is unlikely to be detected in the blood after about 24 hours. A blood test for Lortab would mostly be useful in cases of medical emergency, impaired driving, or any other situation where there’s reason to believe someone is currently under the influence of Lortab.
How long does Lortab stay in hair?
Lortab can also be detected in hair samples. Hair testing can usually detect substance abuse that occurred up to 90 days before, but the test can’t show how long ago the drug was taken. Plus, hair samples for Lortab are relatively expensive, making these tests less likely during pre-employment or probation drug screens.
How long does Lortab stay in urine?
Lortab reaches its peak concentration in urine after about 8 hours. At that point, levels in urine begin to taper off. Depending on the dose taken, Lortab may only be detectable for 6-24 hours after ingestion.
Lortab and addiction
Lortab fosters a physical dependence, even in people who are using it for legitimate medical purposes. This means that Users can develop a tolerance to Lortab, leading them to take Lortab in progressively larger doses. Additionally, if you are physically dependent on Lortab, you cannot stop taking Lortab abruptly without causing physical side effects. But physical dependence does not necessarily indicate addiction.
Like all opiate medications, Lortab is addictive. Lortab addiction occurs when you cannot stop taking Lortab, even if it is no longer in your body. Mental obsession and craving Lortab occur, even in spite of negative life consequences. Lortab addiction is especially risk because Lortab contains acetaminophen. So habitual Lortab abuse can cause serious liver damage or even liver failure.
Problems with Lortab?
If you’re a patient with a Lortab prescription and you’re having to take large doses for pain relief, speak to your doctor about adjusting your dosage or trying a different medication. If you’ve developed a dependence on the drug, but want to quit, your doctor can help you slowly wean yourself from the drug. Or if you think that you’re addicted to narcotics, there are support groups and medical treatments available to help. Again, your family doctor can help refer you to addiction treatment services in your area.
Lortab in your system questions
Do you still have questions about the length of time Lortab stays in your system? Please leave your Lortab questions here. We do our best to answer all legitimate questions with a personal and prompt reply.
4:02 pm
July 26th, 2012
for an habitual user that has been addicted for several years, how long will it take to get hydrocodone out of your system for a drug test? Taking 10-12 10/500 mg a day for a year? I know this is bad and I want to detox but I need to know if I have waited too late
12:10 am
July 31st, 2012
Hi Perry. Thanks for your question. From what I’ve read, it takes about 24 hours for hydrocodone to pass through the system of even chronic users for a urinalysis screen. However, high doses for long periods of time may take a few days or even (cautiously) up to a week to clear the urine.
Does this help?
6:58 pm
September 17th, 2012
Yes I would like to know how long dies it take to not have withdrawal effects from lortab been off it 3 weeks mentally it’s been challenging was not taking large amounts but when on it was feeling U needed more I was taking it for back pain mostly really would like some info in this probably taking it a little over a year didn’t graduate off ut
11:16 am
September 22nd, 2012
Hi Kathy. Acute withdrawal from Lortab occurs in the first 7-10 days after cessation of dosing. However, protracted withdrawal symptoms can persist for 3-6 months later. What kinds if side effects from withdrawal are you experiencing?