Prescription Drug Detection Times

Over 100 million Americans use prescription drugs, many of which can appear on drug tests required by employers or the legal system. The most common testing methods include urine, blood, saliva, and hair follicle tests. Knowing how long a drug stays in your system is important if you’re subject to drug screening.

Factors Affecting Detection Times

How long a drug remains detectable depends on several factors: the type of drug, the type of test used, the dosage and frequency of use, the drug’s half-life, and how recently it was taken. Personal characteristics such as age, body fat percentage, metabolism, and hydration also influence how quickly a drug is processed and eliminated from the body.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are used to treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Common examples include Cymbalta (duloxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), and trazodone. These medications are typically detectable in urine for up to 5 days, in blood and saliva for 3 to 4 days, and in hair for 30 to 90 days depending on the specific drug.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates, used to treat conditions like headaches, seizures, anxiety, and insomnia, include drugs such as Amytal, Seconal, and Nembutal. These can be detected in urine for up to 6 weeks, in blood and saliva for about 3 days, and in hair for up to 90 days.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are prescribed for anxiety, seizures, and insomnia. Common options include Ativan (lorazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). Depending on the drug, they may stay detectable in urine from 4 days to 6 weeks, in blood for 1 to 7 days, in saliva for several hours to 10 days, and in hair for up to 90 days.

Opioids

Opioids, or opiates, are pain relief medications with a high risk of addiction. Common types include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol, Percocet, and Suboxone. These drugs may be detectable in urine for 3 to 14 days, in blood and saliva for 1 to 10 days, and in hair for up to 90 days. Fentanyl typically does not show up in saliva tests.

Stimulants

Prescription stimulants such as Adderall, Vyvanse, and Desoxyn are used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. These stimulants are usually detectable in urine for 2 to 4 days, in blood for a few hours to several days, in saliva for up to 2 days, and in hair for up to 90 days. Ritalin (methylphenidate), another stimulant, is detectable for about 2 days in urine, up to 12 hours in blood, and up to 2 days in saliva.

Medications

Other medications that may appear on drug tests include Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), which is detectable in urine for up to 8 days; Lyrica (pregabalin) and Neurontin (gabapentin), both used for nerve pain and typically detectable for up to 3 days; and lisinopril, a blood pressure medication detectable for up to 3 days across various test types. All these drugs may show up in hair tests for up to 90 days.

Getting Help for Prescription Drug Use

If you or someone you care about is struggling with prescription drug use, support is available. We offer professional services including medical detox, therapy, and support groups to help individuals overcome substance use and move toward recovery.