What is Hydrocodone?
Hydrocodone is a potent semi-synthetic opioid drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is derived from a naturally occurring substance from the opium poppy and is available in various forms globally. In the United States, it is a controlled substance and preferred only when other pain-relief prescription medicines no longer work effectively.
How long does it take for Hydrocodone to take effect?
Hydrocodone’s pain-relieving effects kick off after it reaches the digestive system through your mouth. One can address its effects after one hour of consumption, and it comes to its peak levels in the blood. The 10 mg oral dose of the medication dissolves fully in the bloodstream after 1.3 hours of consumption.
How long does Hydrocodone stay in your system?
The average half-life of Hydrocodone in a healthy adult male is around 3.8 hours, which means that half of the drug clears off from the body after 3.8 hours from consumption. However, it requires several half-lives to fully dispose of the drug from the body of the consumer. In most cases, the drug clears off from the blood within one day, but doctors can detect it in saliva, urine, and hair tissues for a much longer time.
Factors influencing the life-time of Hydrocodone in your body
Various factors can influence how long Hydrocodone stays in your system, including weight, body fat percentage, liver function, metabolism, time for which one is taking the drug, familiarity of the body with opioids, dosage, and other medical conditions.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
If you stop consuming Hydrocodone abruptly or decrease consumption rapidly, you might face specific withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include irritability, muscle cramps, joint pain, sweating, chills, vomiting, fast breathing, uncontrollable heartbeat, and restlessness. Your doctor would be aware of these withdrawal symptoms and will manage the doses of the drug accordingly.