How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System?

Jump to a section
Table of contents
Expand list

Morphine can stay in your system for up to three months. Morphine is a naturally-occurring opiate derived from the opium poppy and is a powerful medication used to manage pain. The knowledge of how long morphine stays in the body can be crucial for doctors, patients, and anyone concerned about drug testing. In this blog post, we'll explore how long morphine stays in your system, how it appears in urine and blood, factors influencing its duration, the lasting effects of morphine, its half-life, and how long it can be detected in drug tests.

How Long Does Morphine Stay In Your Body?

The amount of time that morphine remains in your body can vary, and it’s important to note that the presence of morphine in your body may continue even after the effects have worn off. The specific amount of morphine detectable in your system is influenced by the type of drug screening conducted and the sample that is tested.

How long does morphine stay in your urine?

Morphine tends to exit the body relatively quickly through urine. In a urine test, traces of morphine can typically be detected for a period ranging from one to three days after use.

How long does morphine stay in your blood?

The plasma half-life of morphine, which is the time it takes for half of the substance to be reduced in the blood, falls between 1.3 to 6.7 hours. This means that traces of morphine can show up on a blood test screening for up to three days following its last use.

How long does morphine stay in your hair?

Morphine has a longer presence in hair. Even as new hair grows, the older sections can retain traces of the substance. It’s not uncommon for a hair follicle test to detect morphine up to 90 days after the last use.

How long does morphine stay in your Saliva?

Saliva is often collected through a mouth swab test. These screenings generally detect the usage of substances within a few hours to two days after the last use.

How long does morphine stay in your breastmilk?

Morphine epidural injections are frequently administered before surgery and during cesarean childbirth deliveries. Research indicates that the half-life of morphine in breast milk is about three hours.         

Factors That Affect How Long Morphine Stays in the System

The duration of morphine's effects can vary from person to person and depend on several key factors. These factors include the dosage amount, the method of administration, age, metabolism, and more. Morphine is a prescription-only opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. The form of morphine used and how it is administered affect how quickly the body absorbs the drug and the time it takes to clear it from the body. Additionally, underlying health conditions, and genetic background can contribute to how long morphine stays in your system. All these factors become important considerations when using morphine for pain management or when undergoing drug testing to ensure accurate and safe use of this medication.

Half-Life of Morphine

A drug's half-life helps us understand how long it takes for a substance to be reduced by half in the body. In general, it requires approximately four to five half-lives for nearly 97% of the substance to be eliminated. In the case of morphine, its half-life falls within the range of 1.3 to 6.7 hours, with an average of about 2 to 3 hours. This means that, under normal circumstances, it can take anywhere from 5 to 34 hours for the body to completely clear morphine. However, traces of the drug may linger for a bit longer due to its short elimination half-life, which can extend to over 15 hours. 

How Long Does Morphine Last? 

The duration of morphine's effects can vary depending on many factors, including the method of use, the dose taken, and whether the individual has developed a tolerance from long-term use. The way morphine is administered plays a significant role in determining how quickly the body absorbs the drug and how long the effects persist.

  • Injected Morphine: When morphine is injected, it typically takes between 5 and 20 minutes to relieve pain. Its pain-relieving properties reach their peak around 60 minutes after administration and generally last for about 3 to 4 hours.
  • Oral Solution: Morphine in the form of an oral solution takes longer to kick in, but its pain-relieving effects peak around 60 minutes after use and usually wear off after approximately four hours.
  • Morphine Sulfate Extended Release: This form of morphine comes in various capsules and tablets designed to release the drug slowly. Depending on the specific version of extended-release morphine sulfate, the peak effect from a single dose varies, ranging from 2.5 hours to 10.3 hours. The duration of effects for extended-release formulations also varies significantly.

How Long Does Morphine Show Up on Drug Tests? 

The amount of time that morphine can be detected in drug tests varies depending on the type of test conducted. In blood tests, traces of morphine can be detectable for up to three days after use. Urine tests may reveal its presence for a similar duration, lasting up to three days. Saliva tests can detect morphine for up to four days after its last use. When it comes to hair follicle tests, morphine has a longer detection window, as it can be revealed in these tests for up to an extended period of ninety days following use. Understanding the duration of morphine’s presence in different types of drug tests is important because it aids in accurate testing and assessment, providing essential information for healthcare professionals and individuals undergoing drug screening.      

 

Conclusion:

Understanding how long morphine stays in your system is important for medical reasons and when considering drug tests. It typically remains in your system for 1 to 3 days, with variations due to individual factors. Keep in mind that the effects of morphine may not last as long as its presence in your system. Always consult with a healthcare professional for accurate information on your specific situation.

If you or your loved one are struggling with morphine use or addiction, hope and help are within reach. Avenues Recovery Centers provide the support and treatment needed to overcome the challenges associated with substance abuse. Our highly trained and experienced addiction counselors will provide you with professional assistance and guidance to help you break free of your addiction. Our skilled staff have helped thousands of people regain control of their lives, and they can help you too! Reach out to us today and take the first step toward a healthier, happier future. You don't have to go through this journey alone—there is hope, and our successful staff are here to assist you.

Check your insurance

Thanks,
We received your insurance request!

We will get back to you shortly. While you wait... you may find our resource blog helpful. Take a look below:

VIEW ALL ADDICTION RESOURCES