How Long Does Lorcet Stay In Your System?

Lorcet stays in your system and can be detected by standard DOT 5-panel drug screens 2-4 days after last dose. More on drug testing for Lorcet here.

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Reviewed by: Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. Dr. Juan Goecke, M.D.

Lorcet can be detected in urine for 2-4 days after last dose.  Learn more about peak levels, half life and drug testing for Lorcet here.

What Is Lorcet Used For?

Lorcet is a semi-synthetic opioid pain killer which is derived from opium. The main ingredient in Lorcet is hydrocodone bitartrate.  Hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen and is distributed only with prescription. Lorcet is prescribed for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain and can also suppress or relieve coughing.

How Do You Take Lorcet?

Lorcet is taken orally as a tablet. But Lorcet can also be abused outside of medical use by crushing, chewing, snorting, or injecting the dissolved product. These modes of administration pose risk of drug addiction, overdose or death.

Peak Levels And Half Life Of Lorcet

After oral administration of standard 10/650 tablet of Lorcet, levels of hydrocodone and acetaminophen peak and then start to leave the body. Peak levels of Lorcet are most often associated with short term drug side effects which can give you and your doctor more information about whether or not Lorcet is the right medication for you. The half life for the ingredients in Lorcet give you an estimated time at which half of hydrocodone and acetaminophen have left your body. Following are the peak level and half life times for both hydrocodone and acetaminophen.

Hydrocodone – Average peak concentrations of hydrocodone occur in the body at 1 – 1.5 hours after taking Lorcet. The half-life of hydrocodone has been determined to be around 3.5 – 4 hours.

Acetaminophen – Acetaminophen is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is distributed throughout most body tissues quickly. The plasma half-life of acetaminophen is 1-3 hours, but may be increased by liver damage.

Lorcet Drug Testing

Lorcet (actually the hydrocodone in Lorcet) can be detected on a DOT standard 5-panel drug test. In general, drugs are eliminated from the system at different rates and thus detectable for different periods of time. Sometimes the “detection window” of Lorcet even longer than the drug’s effect. In fact, as an opioid, hydrocodone can be detected for a certain amount of time after ingestion during which evidence can be detected by a drug test.

Hair – Up to 90 days after last dose

Saliva – 12-36 hours after last dose

Urine – 2-4 days after last dose

It’s also helpful to know that the detection window for Lorcet is the same as the hydrocodone drug test detection period.  Drug tests that laboratories order to test for the presence of Lorcet include an opiates immunoassay (urine test) with GC/MS or LC/MS/MS for opiates to confirm. So if you’re wondering how long Lorcet can stay and be detected in the body … the bottom link is that the main ingredient in Lorcet (hydrocodone) can be detected in urine for 2-4 days after you take Lorcet.

Lorcet And Addiction

Lorcet can be habit forming. Even if you take Lorcet as prescribed, you can become physically dependent on Lorcet, experiencing tolerance and withdrawal. But chemical dependence is different than addiction. Addiction has an element of psychological craving, or mental need, in addition to physical dependence. Is hydrocodone addictive? How much?   And who is at highest risk of Lorcet addiction?

If you like the euphoric effect of Lorcet and take it for non-medical reasons, your risk of Lorcet addiction is higher than if you were taking it as prescribed. Additionally, if you take Lorcet by crushing, chewing, snorting, or injecting the dissolved product, your risk for addiction increases even further.

Problems With Lorcet?

If you think that you’re taking too much Lorcet, or want to stop taking Lorcet…seek medical help. Abruptly stopping opioid medications like Lorcet will result in uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and possible complications. Medical supervision is always suggested when you stop taking Lorcet. But sometimes detox is the easy part.

You can detox from the drug and get it out of your system. Then, you will need to learn how to live without it. If you need help getting started, please leave us a message here. We can help refer you to local and national resources so that you can get the treatment you need. We’ll also help you by answering any questions that you have about Lorcet use, abuse or addiction.

Reference sources: Daily Med drug info for Lorcet
AMDG Interagency Guideline on Opioid Dosing for Chronic Non-cancer Pain
Drug testing in child welfare SAMHSA guidelines

 

 

About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
Medical Reviewers
Dr. Dili Gonzalez, M.D. is a general surgeon practicing women's focused medici...
Dr. Goecke is a medical doctor and general surgeon with personal experience of...

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a licensed medical professional.

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