
Can Heroin Be Detected In A Urine Test?

Question: whats the longest time two snorted lines of heroin could be detected in your urine for a person who has only tried it 3x in their life. 5'7, 138 lb, fairly active, VERY hydrated
Brief Answer:
about 1 week.
Detailed Answer:
This is an upper estimate and 3 to 5 days is a more reasonable amount.
Perhaps with some degree of liver impairment it might be a bit more than 1 week.
Frankly one would have to also consider the type of test (they are set up specifically to detect this more than prescription drugs) the cut off for declaring positive (US army takes a LOT to be declared positive). Hydration won't help much and can actually hurt (*if the urine is TOO diluted it is declared invalid). And the dipstick has false readings both positive and negative mistakes. Just had someone call about a false reading an hour ago.
about 1 week.
Detailed Answer:
This is an upper estimate and 3 to 5 days is a more reasonable amount.
Perhaps with some degree of liver impairment it might be a bit more than 1 week.
Frankly one would have to also consider the type of test (they are set up specifically to detect this more than prescription drugs) the cut off for declaring positive (US army takes a LOT to be declared positive). Hydration won't help much and can actually hurt (*if the urine is TOO diluted it is declared invalid). And the dipstick has false readings both positive and negative mistakes. Just had someone call about a false reading an hour ago.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


it was New Years Eve around 10pm and my test is at a pain management clinic tomorrow at 9am. I really am honest about my frequency and I did get rid of the guy that introduced me to it. Do you think I will be ok. I got a sinus infection and went Urgent Care, they gave me a script (PM clinic apv it) for cough syrup with codeine so I can't buy a drug test at the drug store because it shows the same right? Im so worried, Ive been compliant for 9 yrs
Brief Answer:
double uhoh.
Detailed Answer:
The codeine is a problem too. They somewhat overlap. The codeine is metabolized to morphine in the brain for it to work. The morphine breaks down to overlapping metabolites to heroin (which is chemically derived from opium poppies like morphine is). Be sure to show the prescription for the codeine which if taken within 3 days of the test is BOUND to show up.
This starts to bring up other issues if someone is having multiple issues on compliance in one week.Cannot say in your particular case but personally would put a patient in this context onto suboxone in this context for a while until things were more straightened out.
To summarize, a full 7 days is a long time for heroin to be detectable, not impossible but not very likely. The type of test matters for what is detected and how sensitive the test is. The better tests might or might not show something at about the lmit of their sensitivity 1 week out. They would be able to somewhat distinguish between heroin and codeien but there would be some overlap. Poorer quality tests like dipsticks for opioids, would show positive for codeine and not distinguish it from heroin.
double uhoh.
Detailed Answer:
The codeine is a problem too. They somewhat overlap. The codeine is metabolized to morphine in the brain for it to work. The morphine breaks down to overlapping metabolites to heroin (which is chemically derived from opium poppies like morphine is). Be sure to show the prescription for the codeine which if taken within 3 days of the test is BOUND to show up.
This starts to bring up other issues if someone is having multiple issues on compliance in one week.Cannot say in your particular case but personally would put a patient in this context onto suboxone in this context for a while until things were more straightened out.
To summarize, a full 7 days is a long time for heroin to be detectable, not impossible but not very likely. The type of test matters for what is detected and how sensitive the test is. The better tests might or might not show something at about the lmit of their sensitivity 1 week out. They would be able to somewhat distinguish between heroin and codeien but there would be some overlap. Poorer quality tests like dipsticks for opioids, would show positive for codeine and not distinguish it from heroin.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


I got permission for the codeine prescription, it followed a z-pack, Ive been very sick. I go to the pain clinic for severe Crohn's disease which has given me arthritis and ddd disease, Ive had 13 surgeries in 11 years. They prescribe pain medication for my back and neck and give me injections as well. I have NEVER had a dirty urine just a bad boyfriend. So your telling me that there is a possibility that the two lines I snorted last Thursday night could show up tomorrow morning? That would be 7 full days. Is it because the codeine? I think I am giving myself a flair-up
Brief Answer:
Unlikely but possible.
Detailed Answer:
The codeine if it is within 3 days of the test WILL SHOW UP. but, that's apparently been cleared. That muddies the water a lot. personally, I wouldn't have run the test and would have put it off until the codeine wouldn't be there.
7 full days is a long time. It is UNLIKELY. I can't say no chance, but it's unlikely. And, the codeine is going to show up and that complicates things a lot. SOME of the heroin breakdown products will be the same as the codeine breakdown products (hydromorphone). Have no idea how that's going to be interpreted. Sometimes I've gotten questions from people who've had breakdown products from their legit drugs get their pain doctors upset. Unlikely here, but possible. I think problems here are UNLIKELY but cannot guarantee there won't be a problem.
Unlikely but possible.
Detailed Answer:
The codeine if it is within 3 days of the test WILL SHOW UP. but, that's apparently been cleared. That muddies the water a lot. personally, I wouldn't have run the test and would have put it off until the codeine wouldn't be there.
7 full days is a long time. It is UNLIKELY. I can't say no chance, but it's unlikely. And, the codeine is going to show up and that complicates things a lot. SOME of the heroin breakdown products will be the same as the codeine breakdown products (hydromorphone). Have no idea how that's going to be interpreted. Sometimes I've gotten questions from people who've had breakdown products from their legit drugs get their pain doctors upset. Unlikely here, but possible. I think problems here are UNLIKELY but cannot guarantee there won't be a problem.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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