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How Long Does Norco Stay in Your System?

Cirque Lodge > Blog > Addiction > How Long Does Norco Stay in Your System?

Norco is a pain relief medication treated as a controlled substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration because of its high potential for addiction. Medicine listed as controlled should only be used in ways allowed by the government. Norco is listed as a Schedule II substance, in the same category as other medical drugs such as morphine, oxycodone, and amobarbital.

Norco is a narcotic analgesic that is abused for its euphoric effects or because people develop an addiction while using it to relieve pain. If you or a loved one is struggling to quit Norco, you should think about detox and rehab. Addiction is a mental health disorder that can be successfully treated by medical professionals.

What Is Norco?

Norco is a mix of acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate. It was approved for medical use by the FDA in 1982. It can help treat moderate-to-severe pain when taken at the prescribed dose.

Norco is a fixed-dose combination drug. This means it has two or more ingredients given as one dosage. Hydrocodone is an opioid with a high potential for addiction. Due to the widespread drug abuse of Norco, it was moved from Schedule III to Schedule II in 2014.

Hydrocodone is just one of many opioids available for medical use and abused by people with substance use disorders. Prescription opioids have a similar chemical structure to heroin, another opioid. Data shows that people often switch between heroin and prescription opioids.

The other ingredient in Norco, acetaminophen, is also sold as Tylenol. Abuse of acetaminophen is dangerous because taking too much can cause liver damage.

Norco, similar to other opioids, can have positive pain-relieving effects but may also cause drowsiness, nausea, and feelings of euphoria. The euphoric feeling increases the chances of misuse, and the opioid's effects can mask chronic pain, which can lead to severe dependency.

What Is Norco

How Is Norco Taken?

Norco is an oval-shaped tablet that is white, yellow, or orange in color. It is available in several dosage sizes.

When people abuse Norco, they may take it in tablet form. They may also grind it into powder and snort it or dissolve it into liquid and inject it. Taking too much Norco carries its own risks, such as severe respiratory depression. Snorting or injecting it adds to the dangers.

When a person snorts prescription opioids such as Norco over a long period, they damage the tissue in their nose. This can cause nose bleeds and a fissure in the septum.

The risks of injecting Norco include blood infections from sharing needles. A person may also develop scarring and other injuries where the needle punctures their skin.

How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay In Your System?

If you have been misusing Norco, you may wonder, how long does hydrocodone stay in the human body? The length of time that a drug will stay in your system depends on two things: its half-life and personal factors specific to you.

Personal Factors

  • Have you taken Norco alongside other drugs and alcohol?
  • How much Norco have you used, and for how long?
  • Do you have medical conditions, such as liver disease, that affect your body's ability to remove drugs?
  • What is your body fat percentage? A drug will stay in your system longer if it is stored in body fat.

The average half-life of hydrocodone is just under four hours. This means that, on average, it takes that length of time for the body to eliminate half of the drug. Remember that personal factors influence whether Norco stays in your body for longer than average.

How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay In Your System

How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay Visible to Drug Tests?

Although the average half-life of hydrocodone is just under four hours, it can remain visible to drug testing for much longer than that.

  • Hair follicle tests can pick up on hydrocodone up to 90 days after your last dose.
  • Hydrocodone is visible in a urine test up to 96 hours after your final dose.
  • A saliva test can detect hydrocodone 36 hours after your most recent dose
  • A blood test can tell if you've taken hydrocodone up to 12 hours after your last dose.

Acetaminophen, which alongside hydrocodone is a component of Norco, is likely to be tested for in situations where doctors suspect that taking too much has affected a person's liver. This drug test is a blood test and helps doctors to take steps to protect the person's health.

If you are worried about drug testing, this suggests that you could have a substance abuse problem. It is recommended that you seek professional medical advice.

Side Effects of Norco Use

Anyone who has handled Norco in a medical situation knows that this drug comes with health warnings. Drug use is not advised if the person has underlying health conditions such as liver or kidney disease, thyroid problems, breathing issues, and a history of seizures or head injury.

Norco is not recommended for anyone who has had a drug or alcohol addiction because the hydrocodone component is highly addictive. The side effects listed below are a risk even when people take Norco for proper medical reasons. When the drug is abused in excessive quantities, the risk is even greater.

Common Side Effects of Hydrocodone

  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Drowsiness
  • Headaches
  • Breathing problems
  • Nasal and sinus problems
  • High blood pressure
  • Chest pain
  • Migraines
  • Tinnitus

Signs of Acetaminophen Overdose

Anyone who has ever taken an acetaminophen tablet will also be aware of the medical disclaimer attached to this medicine. Taking too much acetaminophen is highly dangerous because too much of the substance in a person's body will damage the liver. The liver cleans your body of toxins, and when it is damaged, the toxins will stay in your system for much longer.

A person who takes too much Norco is effectively also taking too much acetaminophen.

Symptoms of Acetaminophen Toxicity

  • Yellow skin and eyes
  • Pain under the ribs
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Heavy sweating
  • Breathing problems
  • Digestive system cramping

Norco Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a person stops taking a drug that they have become dependent on. Norco is an opioid drug, and the withdrawal symptoms are similar to those found with other opioids. Symptoms of Norco withdrawal include digestive pain, chills, nausea, and agitation.

Every person's experience of withdrawal is unique to them. As with drug tests and detection times, your withdrawal from Norco will be shaped by factors that are personal to you. These include the following.

  • Your state of health
  • Whether you have used other drugs alongside Norco
  • How often you have taken Norco, and how heavily

If you have tried to quit Norco on your own and have found the withdrawal symptoms too difficult, you may worry about trying again. Recovery is possible, and you can try again.

At an addiction treatment center, licensed medical professionals can ease your withdrawal by monitoring your symptoms and giving you medication where appropriate.

After detox, you can receive rehab therapy to learn about the underlying reasons for your drug problem. Working with a therapist, you can develop strategies to resist drug use and maintain your sobriety.

Why Cirque Lodge

Why Cirque Lodge?

If you are worried about Norco and want to learn about help for yourself or a loved one, please get in touch. Detox and rehabilitation treatment are available at Cirque Lodge, a luxury alcohol and drug rehab center in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

Cirque Lodge offers specialized treatment for people who have abused or become addicted to hydrocodone or other prescription opiates. We can ease your symptoms of withdrawal with a medically assisted detox and treat you with therapies that are individualized to your needs.

Our treatment program is underpinned by the 12-steps model. We also offer cognitive behavioral therapy in groups and one-to-one. In addition to our talking therapies, we also help you to heal with experiences that rebuild your self-esteem.

Our experiential therapies enable you to benefit from the center's stunning natural surroundings. As part of your recovery process, you can take part in activities such as equine therapy, gardening, hiking, and snowshoeing.

To find out more about treatment options at Cirque Lodge, please contact us by phone or email, using the details on our website. We're here to help you start your journey to recovery.

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