How Long Does Nicotine Last?

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff. It's also present in e-cigarettes and vapes. Nicotine is legal in the United States, but selling tobacco products to individuals under 18 is illegal, with some states raising the minimum age to 21.

When nicotine is broken down in the body, it produces chemicals like cotinine, which drug tests can detect. Cotinine is only present in the body after nicotine has been processed and generally remains longer than nicotine itself.

How Long Does Nicotine Remain in Your System?

| Sample Type | Detection Time | | Urine | 3-20 days | | Blood | 48 hours-21 days | | Saliva | 24 hours-14 days | | Hair | Up to 90 days |

How Long Until You Feel the Effects of Nicotine?

Nicotine acts rapidly in the body. After taking a puff of a cigarette, the substance enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain within 20 seconds.

The amount of nicotine entering the body depends on the method of administration. For instance, chewing or snorting nicotine-containing products can release more of the substance than smoking.

Nicotine is a stimulant, causing an increase in adrenaline, blood pressure, and heart rate after consumption. Despite this, smokers often experience paradoxical feelings of relaxation.

Nicotine also elevates levels of the brain chemical dopamine, improving mood and enhancing feelings of pleasure.

Half-Life of Nicotine

Nicotine has a half-life of approximately two hours, meaning it takes two hours to eliminate half of the administered dosage from the body.

When nicotine is smoked as a cigarette or inhaled from another tobacco product, it is mostly absorbed through the lungs. Less commonly, nicotine is absorbed through the mouth and throat membranes. It can also be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract or skin if you chew tobacco or use nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches.

The liver primarily metabolizes nicotine, but the lungs and kidneys also play a role. Excretion occurs mainly through the kidneys via urine, with some nicotine being excreted in the feces. Traces of nicotine can also be detected in saliva and hair.

Detection Time in Different Samples

Urine

The amount of cotinine in your urine depends on the quantity and frequency of nicotine use. On average, nicotine can be detected in the urine for about three days. However, regular smokers may have detectable levels for as long as 20 days.

Blood

Nicotine, its metabolites (including cotinine and anabasine), can be detected in blood tests. Nicotine itself may be present in the blood for only 48 hours, while cotinine may be detectable for up to three weeks. After blood is drawn in a lab, results can take two to ten days to become available.

Saliva

Nicotine stays in your saliva for about 24 hours, making it detectable with saliva tests taken during this time. Cotinine can be detected for up to seven days after the last use or up to 14 days in heavy smokers. To perform this test, a technician swabs the inside of your mouth and tests the oral fluids for nicotine. Results can take 24 to 72 hours.

Dry mouth or excessive salivation can sometimes make it difficult to collect a saliva sample.

Hair

Hair follicle testing can detect nicotine for much longer periods than other methods. However, this method is less common because it is usually more expensive. The test requires removing a small amount of hair, which is then tested for repeated nicotine use over the last 90 days. Results typically take one to five days.

Factors Affecting Detection Time

The appearance of nicotine in your system at a detectable level depends largely on the type of test being used. And since each person's body processes nicotine differently, it is nearly impossible to determine a timeframe of detection with 100% confidence.

Factors that can affect how quickly your body gets nicotine out of your system include:

• Age: As you age, it becomes more challenging for your body to excrete nicotine, enabling it to stay in your system longer.

• Body mass: Nicotine can be stored in fatty tissue, so the more body fat you have, the longer nicotine may be detectable in your body.

• Genetics: Research has found that a person's genetic makeup can impact their nicotine metabolism rate.

• Hydration level: Drinking water can help speed up the excretion of nicotine.

• Level of physical activity: The skin helps regulate the excretion of metabolic waste products, so increased sweating during physical activity leads to increased excretion rates.

• Type, frequency, and history of use: Nicotine accumulates in the body, so the more you use, the longer it can take to leave.

Smoking vs. Vaping vs. Chewing

The method of nicotine administration can influence how much of it is delivered. One study comparing nicotine doses between heavy smokers and e-cigarette users found that vaping devices deliver nicotine at slightly lower levels than cigarettes.

Chew and dip tobacco, on the other hand, contain higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes. The exact amount absorbed (and therefore needs to be eliminated) can depend on the brand of tobacco, the acidity level of the product, and the amount chewed. Blood serum levels are about the same when comparing smokeless tobacco use to that of cigarettes.

How to Get Nicotine Out of Your System

The first step to getting nicotine out of your system and starting to detox from this substance is to stop using all products containing it completely.

Once you stop using nicotine, there are some steps you can take that may accelerate the excretion of the drug from your system:

• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help remove nicotine and its metabolites from your body through urine.

• Eat nutritious foods: Sticking to a healthy diet that includes plenty of antioxidant-containing foods may speed up how quickly nicotine is removed from your system. Foods high in antioxidants include several fruits and vegetables, almonds, sunflower seeds, salmon, and eggs.

• Exercise: Regular physical activity can increase your metabolism and the rate at which the drug is processed and cleared from your body.

You may see products and herbal supplements marketed to speed up the nicotine elimination process. However, none of these have been verified or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Symptoms of Overdose

Ingesting too much nicotine can lead to nicotine poisoning. Nicotine tests may be performed if nicotine poisoning is suspected. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning can include:

• Excessive salivation
• Elevated blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomachache
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Tremors
• Confusion

Most nicotine poisoning cases have traditionally involved young children who got their hands on nicotine gum or patches. Although most cases are still in kids, adult cases are also being reported more often due to e-cigarette use.

A spill of electronic nicotine solution (e-juice) can cause nicotine to be absorbed into the skin, also leading to poisoning.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) recommends the following safety tips for users of e-cigarettes:

• Protect your skin when handling the products.
• Keep e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine out of the reach of children.
• Follow the disposal instructions on the label.

If someone has been exposed, call 1-800-222-1222 immediately.

Getting Help

While there are no easy, pain-free ways to kick your nicotine habit, there are plenty of resources to help you develop a solid smoking cessation plan.

Because nicotine can lead to physical and psychological dependence, stopping your use of the substance can result in withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Intense nicotine cravings
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Increased hunger
• Poor concentration
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Anxiety

These symptoms can be intense at first but decline in severity after three to five days. There are a number of smoking cessation treatments that can help you get through the withdrawal period and improve long-term abstinence. Nicotine-replacement therapy, such as the nicotine patch, can help you slowly reduce your nicotine intake and ease withdrawal symptoms.