Fentanyl usage has exploded over the last few years. It’s a very potent opioid drug used for severe pain pain relief. Unfortunately, street-made versions of this drug have become extremely popular across America.
Because of this recent surge in usage, knowing how long does fentanyl stay in your system is crucial. Different factors can affect this time, like body type and how much someone took. Street versions versus those prescribed by doctors can also make a difference.
Let’s take a detailed look at how long the fentanyl drug can be found in the body.
How Long Does Fentanyl Stay in Your System?
Small amounts of Fentanyl can still be found in your system up to 90 days after you take it. Detection depends on what test is being used. Here are the current fentanyl tests, including their testing windows.
- Urine Fentanyl Tests: The drug fentanyl can be detected by urine tests for 24 to 72 hours after use. It’s the most common testing method to detect recent usage.
- Saliva Fentanyl Tests: Currently, there are no saliva tests that can detect fentanyl. Researchers are working to develop one.
- Blood Fentanyl Tests: Blood tests have a shorter fentanyl detection window than urine tests—the window is usually 5 to 48 hours after use.
- Hair Fentanyl Tests: These tests have the longest fentanyl detection time, with detection up to 90 days after use. Hair tests require a long sample of hair, and there needs to be enough of it. It’s important to note that these tests are better at showing history of use rather than recent usage.
Factors That Can Extend or Reduce Fentanyl in Your System
Different factors can change how long fentanyl stays in your body. Several tests are available to detect this drug. Fentanyl’s short half-life gives it a small testing window for recent use. Half-life refers to how long the amount of a drug like fentanyl can be reduced in half by the body. Fentanyl’s half-life is between 3 and 7 hours after use.
- Fentanyl consumption type, such as injection or patch, can vary the length of the drug stays in the system.
- How much is taken by the user will also change detection times. The more fentanyl that is taken, the longer it stays in the body.
- The frequency at which someone takes fentanyl will also determine the length it stays in the body. If this drug is taken on a regular basis, the length of time it stays in the body and is able to be detected extends.
- Body type and how healthy someone is will also change how long this drug stays in the body. For slower metabolisms and people dealing with liver or kidney issues, there might be a more extended period of time the fentanyl can be seen on a test.
In Conclusion
With fentanyl usage at an all-time high, understanding how it affects the body is vital. How long does fentanyl stay in your system can vary depending on your body type and what version of the drug you take. Proper awareness and efficient testing can help bring awareness to this pandemic.