How Long Does Methadone Stay in Your System?

Answers and Guidance on the Duration of Methadone in the Body

If you have ever used methadone, you might ask yourself: How long does methadone stay in your system? You might ponder this thought out of concern for a loved one who may receive a random drug test at work or wonder about drug screenings as an employer.

Methadone use is a double-edged sword: It can help those with severe opioid addiction stop using heroin or other opioids. Conversely, it can be addictive itself. That means that taking methadone legally requires guidance from a medical professional.

Purpose Healing Center, offers the Greater Phoenix area’s leading drug and alcohol addiction treatment facilities, with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, and has firsthand knowledge of how methadone treatment can help with addiction recovery.

We also know how it, like other opioids, can become problematic for some people. The medical professionals at our treatment center have helped many with effective Opioid Use Disorder treatment as well as with methadone detox.

Discover more about how doctors often prescribe methadone for legitimate purposes, when it becomes methadone abuse, and how long it stays in the body to appear in drug testing.

Methadone Half Life: How Long Does Methadone Stay in the Body?

What is methadone’s duration in the body? To answer that conclusively, let’s look at the drug’s half-life, an indicator of how long a drug stays in your system.

Half-life is the time it takes for methadone’s blood concentration to decrease by half. Methadone has a pretty long half-life when you stack it up against other medications similar to it. The half-life of methadone has a large range: from 8 to 59 hours, with an average half-life of 24-36 hours.

Several Factors Influence the Half-Life

Here are some of the things that can make a difference in methadone’s half-life. Thus, it may change the test detection window – or how long tests may detect methadone:

• Individual metabolism: Those with a naturally faster metabolism often have a clear test faster than those who don’t.
• Dosage and frequency: Frequent or higher doses can extend the half-life of methadone as it accumulates in the body.
• Age and general health: Older adults, pregnant women, and anyone with poor liver function should expect a longer half-life; methadone remains in the system longer.

These are just a few factors that can make a difference in methadone drug tests. If you’re concerned about how methadone can be detected or think you or a loved one needs help, reach out to a healthcare provider right away.

What Drug Test Can Detect Methadone?

You might wonder what drug tests can be used for methadone testing. Each of the testing methods has a low likelihood of methadone false positives (false positive results are rare; this situation requires a confirmation test.)

Here are some common tests that can answer the question of how long might methadone show in the body:

Urine Tests Can Detect Methadone

How long does methadone stay in urine? The detection window for methadone in urine is approximately seven to ten days after the last use.

Employers often prefer urine tests and will sometimes require it as part of a pre-employment physical. It’s also helpful to know that urine tests look for methadone and additional opioids.

Blood Tests for Methadone Use

Methadone blood tests have a relatively short detection window and appear in the blood for 24 to 48 hours after the last dose. You would most likely encounter this not in an employment test but in a clinical or emergency room setting.

Saliva Tests for Methadone

Methadone can remain detectable for 1 to 10 days after the last use when using saliva tests. The quick mouth swap is increasingly popular. Saliva tests offer the most convenient and noninvasive way to test for methadone.

Because methadone can be detected by saliva tests in minutes. That makes these tests a favorite solution for both employers and law enforcement officers.

Hair Tests for Methadone Abuse (Methadone Can Be Detected Longest)

Hair tests have a long detection window of up to ninety days or more, depending on hair length. The hair test provides a long-term record of drug abuse. This testing method is uncommon in employment settings; you would most likely find it helpful in forensics or legal contexts.

Legitimate Reasons Doctors Have Prescribed Methadone

Methadone is a legal prescription medication when used under the care of a licensed physician. It’s a Schedule II substance. That means it does have a recognized, FDA-approved use as a prescription drug but has a high potential for drug abuse.

Here’s why doctors prescribe it to their patients:

Opioid Addiction Treatment (Medication-assisted Treatment)

Methadone clinics in Arizona exist to help people end their addiction to opioid drugs. It can help reduce the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms as the person stops using other, more powerful opioids. Think heroin or prescription painkillers.

Because it is a long-acting opioid agonist, doctors may also use it as a daily maintenance medication to help people trying to quit other opioids. Methadone replaces their drug of choice (typically heroin or fentanyl) with oral administration of methadone to reduce harm.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests that a crucial practice when treating Opioid Use Disorders is medication-assisted treatment plus professional therapy.

Methadone and Chronic Pain Management

A less frequent but also legitimate reason doctors might prescribe methadone for chronic pain that has not responded to other pain medicines. Some conditions that might be considered appropriate to treat include severe cancer pain, neuropathy, or severe arthritis.

How Methadone Addiction Starts

The risk of developing an opioid addiction and needing opioid addiction treatment when using methadone can be high, especially if taking the synthetic opioid without following a physician’s guidance or when taking it recreationally.

Initial Use of the Synthetic Opioid

Like all substance abuse, addiction starts with a single use. People taking methadone enjoy the relief it gives them. For some, that can be the relief from withdrawal symptoms from other drugs. For others, the pain relief becomes appealing.

Substance Abuse Continues as Tolerance Develops

As the person continues to use methadone, they become “tolerant” of it. Tolerance means the body needs higher, more frequent doses to continue providing the same euphoric effects.

Dependence Leads to Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms

The body had become dependent on methadone. Methadone binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, making people start to physically and psychologically depend on the drug.

When the person doesn’t take it for a certain time, they start to go through drug detoxification; this can trigger certain withdrawal symptoms:

• Aches and pains
• Sweating and chills
• Runny nose
• Watering eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Elevated heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Sleep loss
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Intense cravings
• Mood swings

These usually mean that someone requires a professional to eliminate drugs. Quitting cold turkey is dangerous, thanks to the risk of heart issues and dehydration.

What if You Have a Drug Test and a Valid Methadone Prescription?

What if you have to submit to drug testing for a probation or parole officer or employer but have a prescription for methadone from your doctor?

Honesty is the best policy. The test will detect methadone, there’s no way around it. Notify the testing administrator that you have a valid prescription before testing. Have your doctor’s office send the testing center documentation that includes your full name, the doctor’s contact data, the reason for the prescription, and the dosage and frequency of your medication.

You are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for using legally prescribed medications and are protected from discrimination by law.

Connect With Purpose for Methadone Detox and MAT Support

If you are taking methadone and have concerns about how long methadone stays in your body, we can help. You may have an Opioid Use Disorder, a disease that has allowed methadone use to take control over your life.

Both methadone and any other attractive substance can come from an underlying mental illness. At Purpose Healing Center, we use customized, evidence-based treatments to help end methadone addiction.

Call us today – we are always here to help.