How Long Does Methadone Stay In Your System?

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace expert medical or mental health advice. Methadone prescription and dosage require a comprehensive evaluation by a qualified clinician. So, always refer to a board-certified physician for specific direction or treatment.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder. How long methadone stays in your system typically depends on the dose, frequency, and metabolism. On average, it stays in your body for up to 59 hours after the last dose. However, depending on the type of test used, it can be detected for even longer periods of time.

Methadone's half-life is estimated to be around 7 - 59 hours. This means that it takes this period of time for the medication to be reduced in your system by half, then half of the remaining half, and so on.

Methadone stays in your system for 7 - 59 hours, but depending on the drug testing methods used, it can be detected for even longer periods of time.

How Long Does Methadone Stay In Your Urine?

Methadone (and its metabolites) can be detected in your urine for up to 14 days after the last dose. As urine tests are easy to conduct and inexpensive, they are one of the most commonly used tests to detect methadone in your system.

How Long Does Methadone Stay In Your Saliva?

Methadone can be detected in your saliva for up to 2 days after the last dose. As saliva tests for methadone are not reliable, they are not as commonly used as urine tests.

How Long Does Methadone Stay In Your Blood?

Methadone can be detected in your blood for up to 59 hours after the last dose. As blood tests are slightly more invasive than the other drug tests, they are not as commonly used except in clinical settings.

How Long Does Methadone Stay In Your Hair?

Methadone can be detected in your hair for up to 90 days after the last dose. As hair tests are time-consuming and expensive, they are not as commonly used except to establish a history of substance use or misuse.

While methadone can stay in your system up to 59 hours (roughly 2.5 days), some factors can impact this time period:

• Dosage and Frequency: Higher doses and frequency of use can lead to longer retention times.
• Metabolism: Metabolism rates impact how long methadone stays in your system, as they are responsible for breaking down the opioid agonist.
• Age: Age slows down metabolism, so aging can lead to slower elimination rates. This is why maintaining a certain level of physical activity is crucial.
• Liver and Kidney Functioning: The liver and kidneys are responsible for metabolism and excretion, respectively. Pre-existing liver and kidney conditions can impact how long methadone stays in your system.
• Body Mass: Higher body mass leads to longer methadone retention times.

While the aforementioned factors impact how long methadone can stay in your system, eating nutritious meals, keeping your body hydrated, and regular physical exercise can support your overall health and facilitate eliminating methadone from your system.

Methadone shows up on drug tests, often abbreviated as “mtd.” However, a drug test for methadone is not typically conducted for legal reasons, so it will not show up on typical urine or 5-panel or 7-panel tests meant for other misused opioids like heroin or fentanyl.

As methadone can only be obtained via certified opioid treatment programs, these tests are typically conducted to check whether a person is complying with their treatment or not.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that methadone is effective in treating opioid use disorder. It is effective as it reduces cravings and opioid withdrawal symptoms, which is crucial in preventing relapse when integrated with behavioral therapies.

This is why methadone is integral to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) - the first line of treatment for opioid use disorders.

Methadone is used in two ways to treat opioid dependence:

• Maintenance Treatment: You switch from other illicit or prescription opioids to methadone and stay on it.
• Detoxification: Once you switch from other illicit or prescription opioids to methadone, you slowly withdraw from methadone until you are not using either of these substances.

Please note that methadone is only prescribed and monitored under the close supervision of a board-certified physician or psychiatric practitioner.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid, so it can be addictive like other opioids. However, as it is only provided under a doctor’s supervision, it is safe to use and withdraw under the same medical supervision.

However, as methadone comes with a risk of misuse and dependence, one must only take it as prescribed by the doctor and under the doctor’s supervision.

Methadone is integral to treating opioid use disorder, but comes with a risk of misuse and dependence. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use or methadone use - reach out to the NuView Treatment Center today. We offer a full continuum of personalized outpatient care that enables you to rest and focus on your healing - at your own pace.

Please do not hesitate to call us at (323) 307-7997 to connect with our experts and explore your healing options today!

Why is methadone prescribed?

Methadone is prescribed for chronic pain and opioid use disorders.

How long does it take for methadone to show effect?

Methadone is a longer-term treatment. The timeline for opioid use disorder is typically 12 months at least.

Is there a quicker way to get methadone out of your system?

There is no quicker way to get methadone out of your system, but by eating nutritious meals, keeping your body hydrated, and maintaining a certain level of physical activity - you support your body’s overall health, which can facilitate methadone elimination rate.

Why is methadone not addictive in the same way as other opioids?

Methadone is not addictive in the same way as heroin or fentanyl, as it is a long-acting medication that prevents the intense euphoria or withdrawal that commonly follows other opioids.

Can methadone dependence be treated?

As methadone comes with a risk of misuse and dependence, methadone dependence can be treated with a slow, medically supervised taper or by switching to other medications like buprenorphine.