As with other substances, hair follicle testing can detect nicotine for much longer periods of time. This method tends to be less common, however, because it is usually more expensive. The test requires the removal of a small amount of hair that is tested for repeated nicotine use over the last 90 days. Results typically take one to five days.
How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?
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The time nicotine stays in your system depends on how long and how often you’re exposed to it. It also depends on whether you smoked it, chewed it, or inhaled it second-hand.
Whenever you smoke or chew tobacco or inhale secondhand smoke from a cigarette, nicotine is absorbed into your bloodstream.
From there, enzymes in your liver break most of the nicotine down into cotinine. The amount of cotinine will increase with the amount of nicotine you ingest. These substances are eventually eliminated through your kidneys as urine.
Cotinine, nicotine’s main breakdown product, may be used to determine if someone was exposed to nicotine.
According to a 2016 review of literature , cotinine has high sensitivity and a longer half-life compared to other breakdown products of nicotine. Testing for it can usually differentiate people who smoke cigarettes from people who may have had indirect exposure.
How long it stays in your system will depend on how you ingested the nicotine and how frequently it is ingested.
Keep reading to learn how long nicotine can be detected in your urine, blood, saliva, and hair.
Q:
If I smoke one cigarette, how much nicotine will I ingest?
A:
1 milligram (mg) of nicotine per cigarette
Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Cotinine has a half-life of about 16 hours , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it may be as long as 40 hours , according to a 2016 research review. A half-life refers to the number of hours before half of the cotinine will have left your system.
However, tests for this metabolite can detect cotinine even after it has reached this point.
Concentrations of cotinine in urine are about 4 to 6 times higher than in blood plasma or saliva.
A 2019 study used cotinine urine tests on people preparing for bariatric surgery to determine adherence to pre-surgery instructions. According to the study’s authors, the cotinine urine test provided high sensitivity and specificity for smoking in at least the previous 72 hours.
Another study from 2020 found that cotinine may still be detectable in urine for at least 8 weeks .
However, the way each person’s body metabolizes nicotine to create cotinine is different. Genetic differences can also affect the amount of time cotinine is detectable in your body.
According to research summarized by the CDC , non-Hispanic Black Americans may metabolize cotinine more slowly than non-Hispanic white Americans.
A positive urine test can depend on when you provide a urine sample relative to the last time you ingested nicotine. If you’re a current smoker, the test show urine cotinine levels of 1,000 to 8,000 ng/mL.
People who smoke but go 2 weeks without nicotine exposure before testing may show urine cotinine levels of less than 50 ng/mL.
Each lab may have different reference ranges for positivity, so it’s important to discuss the results with a doctor or technician.
People with heavy exposure to secondhand smoke may test at levels between 1 and 10 ng/mL .
Nicotine can be measured in your blood and saliva, but because cotinine has a longer half-life, testing for cotinine is typically preferred. According to 2016 research , the half-life of cotinine is the same whether tested for in your blood plasma, urine, or saliva.
However, all of these molecules have different cut-off points for detection. Some sources estimate that it may be detectable at least 3 days after exposure.
A 2012 review that looked at methods for assessing environmental exposure to cigarette smoke found that blood cotinine levels may reach their half-life in less than 1 day.
Saliva and blood have a lower concentration of cotinine than urine. The amount of cotinine in your saliva or blood may reach cut-off levels for detection sooner than testing using urine samples.
The exact length of time that cotinine is detectable in your blood may vary depending on your genetic makeup and the amount of nicotine that you were exposed to. Testing with blood may also be less sensitive than testing with urine. This could lead to false negatives or positives.
Nicotine in your blood can be detected using tests that are qualitative (whether or not nicotine is present) and quantitative (how much nicotine is present). These tests can detect nicotine, cotinine, and another breakdown product called anabasine.
Traces of nicotine can generally be found in your hair follicles for up to weeks, months, or even years after your last exposure, according to a 2021 review of literature . This can depend on the hair test administered as well as genetic factors.
But the authors of the review suggest that the results of hair testing may not correlate with blood testing. Hair testing may also show passive or environmental exposure to tobacco smoke.
Although hair testing is possible, it is not used as frequently as urine, saliva, or blood testing.
How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?
Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
If you are applying for a new job or looking for life or health insurance, don’t be surprised if you have to take a drug test, which may include testing for nicotine. This makes it important to know how long nicotine stays in your system, which can vary from 24 hours to 90 days based on several factors (which we will discuss) and the type of test used.
In fact, smoke-free hiring practices have become increasingly common in the workplace. Depending on where you live, you may even legally be denied a job due to your nicotine habits.
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in all tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff. E-cigarettes and vapes contain nicotine as well. While nicotine is not considered a controlled substance, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 in the United States, with some states raising the minimum age to 21.
Your body breaks nicotine down into many chemicals, including cotinine , which can be detected in certain drug tests. Cotinine is only found in your body if you have processed nicotine and, in general, stays in the body longer than nicotine itself.
How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?
- Urine: Three to 20 days
- Blood: 48 hours to 21 days
- Saliva: 24 hours to 14 days
- Hair: Up to 90 days
How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects?
Nicotine acts quickly in the body. After taking a puff from your cigarette, the substance enters the bloodstream and makes it to the brain within 20 seconds.
The amount of nicotine that enters the body varies based on how the drug is administered. For instance, chewing or snorting nicotine-containing products can cause more of the substance to be released than if it is smoked.
Nicotine is a stimulant. After it’s taken, people quickly experience a surge in adrenaline that causes blood pressure and heart rate to go up. Even though the substance actually increases central nervous system activity, smokers often experience paradoxical feelings of relaxation.
Nicotine also increases the levels of a brain chemical called dopamine. This can improve mood and increase feelings of pleasure.
How Long Does Nicotine Last?
Nicotine has a half-life of about two hours. A drug’s half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the dosage administered to be eliminated from the body.
When nicotine is smoked as a cigarette or inhaled from another tobacco product, it is mostly absorbed through the lungs. Less often, nicotine is absorbed through mouth and throat membranes. If you chew tobacco or use nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches, nicotine can also be absorbed in your gastrointestinal tract or skin.
Nicotine is mainly metabolized in the liver, but also in the lungs and kidneys. It is primarily excreted by the kidneys via urine, with some nicotine being excreted in the feces. Nicotine can also be found in saliva and hair.
As your body metabolizes nicotine, liver enzymes break this drug down into metabolites that include cotinine. Nicotine tests usually look for cotinine rather than nicotine itself.
Urine
The amount of cotinine in your urine will vary depending on the amount and frequency of nicotine use. On average, nicotine shows in the urine for about three days. Although, regular smokers may have detectable levels for as long as 20 days. Urine tests can be done at home or in a lab, with results returned within 24 hours to five days.
Blood
Nicotine shows up in blood tests, as do its metabolites, including cotinine and anabasine . 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 from two to 10 days.
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 it was last used or up to 14 days in heavy smokers. To perform this test, a technician swabs the inside of your mouth and tests oral fluids for nicotine. Results can take 24 to 72 hours.
Dry mouth or excessive salivation are two issues that can sometimes pose problems with collecting a saliva sample.
Hair
As with other substances, hair follicle testing can detect nicotine for much longer periods of time. This method tends to be less common, however, because it is usually more expensive. The test requires the removal of a small amount of hair that is tested for repeated nicotine use over the last 90 days. Results typically take one to five days.
False Positive Testing
A compound called thiocyanate —which is found in some medications and foods such as broccoli, garlic, radishes, almonds, and cabbage—can result in a false positive blood test result. Vegetarians may have elevated levels of this substance in their blood due to increased consumption of thiocyanate-containing foods.
Exposure to secondhand smoke is usually not enough to trigger a false positive result. Although, being exposed to frequent or very high levels of secondhand smoke may cause someone to test positive for nicotine use.
One study involving 25 children who were living with a person who smokes found that all but one of the kids had a detectable cotinine level, with all of the children having a detectable level of nicotine on their hands.
Factors That Affect Detection Time
How long nicotine appears 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 get older, it becomes more difficult for your body to excrete nicotine. This enables 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 secretion of nicotine.
- Level of physical activity: The skin helps regulate the excretion of metabolic waste products. So, with increased sweating during physical activity comes increased excretion rates.
- Type, frequency, and history of use: Nicotine accumulates in the body. The more you use, the longer it can take to leave.
Smoking vs. Vaping vs. Chewing
How nicotine is administered may have an impact on how much of it is delivered. One study that compared 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, contains 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 in getting nicotine out of your system and starting to detox from this substance is to completely stop using all products that contain it. The longer you keep using tobacco products, the longer the substance can be detected in your body.
Once you stop using nicotine, there are some steps you can take that may speed up how quickly the drug is excreted 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 healthful 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 result in nicotine poisoning. Nicotine tests may be performed if nicotine poisoning is suspected. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning can include:
- Excessive salivation
- Elevated blood pressure
- Increase 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 now 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, which can also lead 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
If you are worried about whether nicotine will show up in a drug test, it might be the perfect time to get serious about quitting. 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.
Talk to your doctor for advice and assistance if you are ready to give up tobacco. You can also visit Smokefree.gov for smoking cessation programs, apps, and other resources.
13 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- American Lung Association. State legislated actions on tobacco issues (SLATI).
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Selling tobacco products in retail stores.
- Valentine G, Sofuoglu M. Cognitive effects of nicotine: Recent progress. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2018;16(4):403-414. doi:10.2174/1570159X15666171103152136
- Kim S. Overview of cotinine cutoff values for smoking status classification. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(12):1236. doi:10.3390/ijerph13121236
- Dhavan P, Bassi S, Stigler MH, et al. Using salivary cotinine to validate self-reports of tobacco use by Indian youth living in low-income neighborhoods. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2011;12(10):2551-4.
- Mahabee-Gittens EM, Merianos AL, Matt GE. Preliminary evidence that high levels of nicotine on children’s hands may contribute to overall tobacco smoke exposure. Tobacco Control. 2018;27:217-219. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053602
- Loukola A, Buchwald J, Gupta R, et al. A genome-wide association study of a biomarker of nicotine metabolism. PLoS Genetics. 2015;11(9):e1005498. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1005498
- Vélez de Mendizábal N, Jones DR, Jahn A, Bies RR, Brown JW. Nicotine and cotinine exposure from electronic cigarettes: A population approach. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2015;54(6):615-626. doi:10.1007/s40262-014-0221-7
- American Cancer Society. Why people start smoking and why it’s hard to stop.
- American Lung Association. What it means to be “nic-sick”.
- American Association of Poison Control Centers. E-cigarettes and liquid nicotine.
- American Association of Poison Control Centers. Tobacco and liquid nicotine.
- McLaughlin I, Dani JA, De Biasi M. Nicotine withdrawal. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2015;24:99-123. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_4
By Buddy T
Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
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