Percocet contains the over-the-counter medication acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and the opioid painkiller Oxycodone. It is a prescription medication dispensed to treat moderate-to-severe pain. Percocet is meant to be taken every six hours as needed to manage pain. Percocet can remain active in the bloodstream for up to 12 hours, and it often takes about 24 hours to fully process out of the body (more on Percocet withdrawal).
Percocet’s Half Life
How long a drug remains active in the system is its half-life, which is half the duration of time the drug is actively working. Percocet has a half-life of 3.5 hours, meaning this is the amount of time it takes for half a dose of Percocet to leave one’s system. It will take an average of 19 hours to eliminate all of the Percocet from the system. However, this can take longer for those who are long term users of the drug.
How long does Percocet stay in your system?
- Blood: Up to 24 hours
- Saliva: Up to two days
- Urine: Up to four days
- Hair: Up to 90 days
Factors That Determine How Long Percocet Stays in the System
Several things determine how much percocet is in a person’s system at any given time, such age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). The amount of the drug taken, as well as the duration also play a significant role. If someone has been abusing Percocet by taking heavy doses for an extended period of time, it will accumulate in the fatty tissue, where it will be stored for several days.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the length that Percocet remains in someone’s system depends on several different factors, including the type of drug test administered and individual biological factors of the patient. Different drug tests will provide different time frames, with a hair follicle test typically being able to detect the presence of drugs much longer than a urine or saliva test. The dosage, as well as the length of time the patient has been on the drug also determines how long the drug remains in the system, among other factors.
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