A 45-year-old member asked:
How long does it take to get nicotine out of your system?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
Addiction Medicine 51 years experience
2-3 days: nicotine is a very short-acting drug, and its main metabolite cotinine is too. After a single cigarette, levels will usually only be detectable for 24 hours, and most regular smokers will be detectable for 3 days or so. Depends on how it is tested, with oral swabs picking it up for longer, blood tests have a shorter window, urine is in the middle. Hair tests can go back months.How about stopping?
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 33-year-old member asked:
How long does nicotine take to get out of your system?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Michelle Kinganswered
Psychiatry 28 years experience
After a cigarette: the average smoker with 1 MG of nicotine, after an hour or two, a trace is still left. The nicotine is metabolized in the liver and there is nothing to interfere with the breaking down of the substance.
The metabolite of nicotine is eliminated in the kidneys, which can be detectable in the urine for at least a week in the typical smoker. Insurance companies may test for the metabolite.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
How long does it take the nicotine from cigarettes to get out of your system?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Stuart Wasseranswered
Addiction Medicine 37 years experience
Pretty quick: For the chemical to leave but the withdrwal will peak in1-2 days, last for weeks and cravings go for months or years.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Kansas City, MO
A 51-year-old female asked:
How long does it take nicotine out of your system to take a tobbacco test?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Paul Grinanswered
Pain Management 38 years experience
Blood test: It takes 7-8 days to pass contine test. Good time to explore how and why to quit.
Good luck.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
How long will it take nicotene from cigarettes to get out of your system?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Marybeth Lambeanswered
Travel Medicine 47 years experience
Variable: Depends what you mean by "out of system". Nicotine can clear within 2 days but its metabolic product from the liver-- "cotinine" --is cleared more slowly. Cotinine is often tested for in urine & blood tests and it can be found many days later, especially in heavy smokers. However, people experience nicotine withdrawal within a few hours & most nicotine suffering is very severe within 20 hours.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 27, 2019
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