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How long does Loretab stay in your system?

asked Aug 8, 2012 by anonymous
edited Aug 14, 2012 by cassandra

1 Answer

0 votes
Loretab is a brand of hydrocodone, an opiate that has a half life of about 4 hours. However, the half life of opiate elimination after a dose of lortab is somewhat greater because  the liver converts hydrocodone to hydromorphone, also an opiate. Hydromorphone has a half life about 2-3 hours. Altogether the opiate elimination half-life after a dose of hydrocodone would therefore be somewhere between 4 and 7 hours, probably around 5-6 hours on average.

This means that direct physiological opiate effects from a dose of Lortab (assuming a non-sustained release formulation) would dissipate within a day although traces of opiates may remain in the body for significantly longer. And indirect effects, like withdrawal symptoms in those who was on it for a long time, could continue for significantly longer too.
answered Aug 14, 2012 by cassandra (2,940 points)