Oxycodone, widely used as a prescription painkiller, can stay in the bloodstream for anywhere from one to two days after the last dose. This is because the half-life of oxycodone, the time it takes for half of the drug to break down and exit the body, is between 3.5 and 5.5 hours. Despite its quick clearance from the blood, oxycodone and its metabolites can still be detected in hair samples for much longer, up to 90 days after the last use.
The duration of oxycodone stay in the blood is influenced by several factors, including the dosage amount, the route of administration (oral, intravenous, or nasogastric), the individual's metabolism, the number of doses taken before cessation, age, and other medications the person is currently taking. Additionally, the testing method employed can significantly impact the detection of oxycodone in the blood.
It is worth noting that the detection window for oxycodone in blood tests may vary depending on the specific test kit and the cut-off value used by the laboratory. Some kits may be more sensitive and detect oxycodone for shorter periods, while others may have a narrower window of detection.
Due to its potential for misuse and addiction, oxycodone is classified as a Schedule II Controlled Substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As such, regular monitoring of oxycodone levels in blood or plasma may be necessary in certain clinical settings, such as follow-up for patients with chronic pain or following detoxification from opioid dependence., while oxycodone rapidly clears from the bloodstream after the last dose, it can still be detected in blood and hair tests for up to 90 days or more due to its metabolites. The detectionwindow and intensity of oxycodone in blood tests depend on various factors, including the test methodology and the individual patient's characteristics.