I take Lortab 10, 4x day, but does not take care of my pain. dr. is going to take labs on me, will be 7 days since i took a methadone, only took for 5 days.
How long does Methadone stay in your system?
Question posted by geminigurl on 26 July 2011
Last updated on 11 September 2012
This question has also been asked and answered here: Does methadone show up on a drug test?
5 Answers
LaurieShay
24 Aug 2011
Depending on several factors like frequency and quantity of use and your metabolism methadone can stay in the system 5 to 7 days from last use.
Inactive
27 July 2011
I hate to tell you this, but a person can pop positive for methadone for a couple of weeks after the last use. It is a long acting med and metabolizes slowly and recedes from the receptors sites slowly. When we take opiates in general, even short acting ones, it can slow your metabolism down, making you test positive longer. You may be lucky and test clean, but you may also pop positive for a couple of weeks for methadone. Sorry, good luck. Pattishan
RealDalton
26 April 2012
Thank you finally somebody might be able to shed some light on an issue that I'm having. I was on 80 mgs of Methadone for about 5 months and then i switched over to Subutex. Stopping the methadone completely. its been about 2 weeks since my last dose on 80 mgs. and I'm still testing positive for MTD(Methadone), on a ten panel test. Everywhere else i search is saying that ti leaves the system after 3-5 days, but I say that's bullshit. Can you possibly give me a clue as to how long it might be???
Inactive
27 April 2012
A few weeks. Subutex, suboxone, methadone and benzos actually build in the fat layers in the body, plus most of those meds I just listed are supposed to act for a long time. Your brain is mainly fat, so these meds build up in there, making you test positive until you metabolize or burn them out. I know it is frustrating to keep testing positive for the methadone now that you aren't on it, but you still could pop positive for a couple more weeks and still be normal in every other way. If your dr is questioning you, please refer him to a pharmacist, or an addiction therapist, who will tell him that is normal for a while after coming off methadone. Any dr who takes the 8 hour subs training can then legally write a subs rx, from an opthamologist, to a dermatologist and all specialties in between. They learn about suboxone in that class, not necessarily addiction or what goes on as a result of that addiction. You can even print this out and tke it too him, so then at least he will know that a person tests positive for methadone for weeks after the last dose.patti
Cokeman25
3 June 2012
My doctor sent a letter saying I tested positive for Methadone and no trace of Butrans. I stopped taking Methadone (60mg) 1 1/2 weeks before test and started Butrans (20mcg/hour)1 1/2 weeks before test! Is there anyway the methadone would show-up and the Butrans would not? I'm always very tired and don't move around much. I'm upset because there making it sound like I'm a druggie and im so not. They even sent a letter to my other doctors warning them. Is it possible for me to register for Methadone and not Butrans only a week and a half after switching? I'm going to find any and all info to try and have them change there mind. I'm going to get info from my pharmacy to show any proof I can. I have an appointment in 4 days and I will get any info I can in hopes they reverse the letter! I thank you for any info you can help me with! Brian
Inactive
3 June 2012
Yes , unfortunately it is possible.the methadone is still built up in the brain, that might be why you still don't feel well, and the buprenorphine delivered by the patch, may still be being blocked. The patch delivers a small amount of bupe in a time release fashion, so, it still is going to have to build up more for you to test positive, you are likely metabolizing it faster than you would have metabolized the methadone. Have them send the sample to the lab, it should pick up the bupe and show a positive on the methadone too, but those levels should be dropping on the methadone. People on suboxone and subutex get a larger dose of bupe daily, you are getting a small amount continuously and yes, that will make a difference. Hang in there longer and when the methadone is gone from the body, you are probably going to feel a lot better on the patch.
This is not to scare you, but if you start swelling anywhere while you are using the patch, or have extreme joint or achiness, please let your dr know, thqt although this isn't a common side effect, it is a side effect of the patch in some. You may be able to take subutex instead and that has a generic, and actually would have been an easier switch for you. Suboxone, subutex, methadone, benzos and pot, all build up in the fat layers, and the brain is mainly fat. Tht is why people test positive for those things weeks after the last dose. You can NOT flush those out, they have to metabolize. Those with slower metabolisms will burn them off slower than someone with a fast metabolism. Hope you feel better soon. Patti
Cokeman25
5 June 2012
Patti, Thanks for all your help and info! I went to the pharmacy and gathered all the info I could! I have a doc appointment today and I'll see if I can convince him I'm not abusing my prescriptions! Also about the aching, my legs are aching and really restless the first few days after I put on a new patch. It makes it really hard to fall asleep those few days. Do you think it's because of the Butrans? It usually last 2-3 days! Again thanks for all your help! Brian (Cokeman25)
Inactive
6 June 2012
Dear Brian, that might be the patch, it also sounds like mild opiate withdrawal. Google the COWS test, stands for Clinical Opiate Withdrawal scale, if you are having a at least a couple of points on all those symptoms, subutex of suboxone might be a better choice. It is a harder transition from methadone to buprenorphine in general, but most of the problems will go away. I wish I could tell you definitively yes or no on whether it is the patch, it could be an adjustment thing also. If you are not getting full relief of all symptoms, at least ask your dr to try you on 2 mgs of subutex, to see if it relieves the aches, rls and insomnia. Most of the patch users who have complained, complained of edema and severe aches, those symptoms are likely related to the patch. Hang in there. Now that we are mutual friends, you should be able to ask me a private question if you need to.
Go to my page by clicking my avatar, look for the prompt saying ask a private question and then ask, remember to go to your own profile page later, click questions and answers, then look for where it says. "my private questions," click that and any private question you have asked, will be under thqt prompt. Hope you get more comfortable. Patti
somedocsarecriminals
11 Sep 2012
he is right-lots of water
longlinerz
26 July 2011
according to my former clinic they said 14-21 days before you can pee clean!
DzooBaby
26 July 2011
About 2-5 days in your urine depending on your rate of metabolism.
jk13
27 July 2011
Methadone is a really strange drug that effects everyone who takes it differently, thus the reason why you're probably asking this question cause there's no good answer. The longer that you take the drug, the more of the drug there is that builds up in your liver (it however doesn't harm the liver, just hangs out there). So... when you take it for the first week, the drug would be out of your system anywhere from 8 to 50 hours (according to one source). If you've taken the medication for a long time, then the clearance rate will of course be much much slower. Also, this is the same reason as to why there is no good conversion rate from methadone to anything else, it simply varies too much. I know that there are some sources that will quote a conversion, but these are never very accurate, and are really nothing more than a loose guess if it converts for long term usage. Hope that this is of some help!
Sincerely,
Jeff K
Springer10
27 April 2011
jk13, when I was on Methadone (13yrs), my clinic expressly stated that it was a 36hr period in one's system. There may be some active metabolites by then, but I would go into WD after 24hrs of no use. So, there are too many variables with the half-life of Methadone. The first week on it was just as you said, after about 8 to 10 hrs, I'd be feeling the ache, so to speak.
Related topics
Further information
- Methadone uses and safety info
- Methadone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Methadone (detailed)
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