Skip to main content

How long does oxycodone stay in your system?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 3, 2025.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Immediate-release oxycodone has a half-life of just under 4 hours which means the pain-relieving effects of one dose will be gone within 6 to 24 hours, but it can remain detectable in saliva, urine, and hair for much longer. In saliva, oxycodone is detectable within minutes of taking it and lasts for up to 48 hours (2 days). Oxycodone is detectable in urine within 1 to 3 hours and will stay detectable for 1 to 4 days. Like most other opioids, oxycodone is detectable in hair for up to 90 days.

How long oxycodone can be detected by drug tests depends on your age, weight (including body fat content), kidney or liver function, dose, drug interactions, alcohol use, or other factors, such as if you are dehydrated. Controlled or extended-release forms of oxycodone are designed to release oxycodone over 12 hours, so will be detectable for longer.

Do all drug tests look for oxycodone?

If you are undergoing a urine drug screen, oxycodone may be one of the drugs you are tested for, but it is not a routine component of all urine drug tests.

Oxycodone is required in the urine drug tests requested by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Defence before employment.

Oxycodone may also be tested for in other sample types, such as:

  • blood
  • saliva
  • sweat
  • hair.

Urine is the most common type of sample used for drug testing. Many drugs can be detected in hair samples for up to 90 days or longer.

Oxycodone is classified as a Schedule II Controlled Substance by the DEA because it has the potential for abuse and addiction. For workplace drug testing it is typically the opioid (oxycodone) that is being evaluated.

References
  • Oxycodone [Product Information] Updated 02/2022 Major Pharmaceuticals https://www.drugs.com/pro/oxycodone.html
  • Hoffman R (author). Testing for drugs of abuse. Up to Date. Accessed Feb. 7, 2023, at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/testing-for-drugs-of-abuse-doas
  • How Long Do Opioids Stay In Your System? Updated Sep 9, 2022. American Addiction Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/prescription-drugs/how-long-in-system
  • Sadiq N, Dice T, Mead T. [Updated 2022 Aug 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482226/

Read next

Which drugs cause opioid-induced constipation?

Any drug that is classified as an "opioid" can cause constipation. Examples of commonly prescribed opioids that may cause this side effect include morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, methadone, hydrocodone, codeine and oxycodone. Continue reading

Oxycodone vs OxyContin - What's the difference?

Oxycodone (also known as Oxy IR) and Oxycontin both contain oxycodone, but the main difference is that Oxycontin is the brand name of a long-acting form of oxycodone. Oxycontin releases oxycodone slowly and continuously over 12 hours and only needs to be given twice a day. Oxycodone is shorter-acting, with an average half-life of 3.2 hours, which means that half the dose of oxycodone is eliminated in 3.2 hours, which is why it is usually given four to six times a day to provide all-day pain relief. Oxycodone is usually given for acute pain, such as that following surgery or trauma, whereas Oxycontin may be given for chronic or long-term pain, such as that caused by cancer. Oxycontin should only be considered in those with chronic severe pain that have already found a trial of oxycodone to be beneficial. Continue reading

How long does oxycodone take to work?

Immediate-release oxycodone starts to work quickly, within 10 to 30 minutes, but it may take up to 1 hour for it to be fully absorbed, and the full effects reached. Food can delay how quickly oxycodone takes to work, but not how much is absorbed. Continue reading

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups

Medical Disclaimer