# Drugs in your system last how long ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885 "2003-10-22T12:00:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/1 "2003-10-22T12:00:15Z")
Someone mentioned a 72 hour figure to me about how long drugs remain in your system. At least as far as drug testing can detect it. Is this an accurate figure ? Or do test vary in their capacity ? 72 hours seems way to little in order to detect drug use for sports events or cocaine use. ``` In part this interests me because I recently came back from a trip to Peru... where drinking Coca Tea is quite common. Some weeks later I went to donate blood and I asked them how long the coca was in my system. Brought a few tea bags back home too... :) Not that it does much to me. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/2 "2003-10-22T12:31:15Z")
Depends on the particular drug, the dosage and the test used. For a quick idea of the times, look here: [Drug Detection Times in Urine](http://www.ultimatedetox.co.uk/drug-testing-advice-information/drug-detection-times.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/3 "2003-10-22T12:39:19Z")
"Cannabinoids (THC, Marijuana) 14-30 days " Strange differences… cocaine is 2-4 days… so my Coca Tea should be safe enough for now. 🙂 I see Steroids last quite a while… no wonder so many athletes fail their dope tests. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/4 "2003-10-22T13:24:16Z")
**Desmostylus** There’s some interesting numbers there… It says 7-10 days for LSD. That seems plain unlikely since a heavy dosage for LSD is 600 mics+ as opposed to 100000-200000 mics for amphetamines, which is detectable for 2-5 days. Some different numbers [here](http://www.nwtox.com/urinefaqs/lsdfaq.html), [here](http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_testing.shtml) and [here](http://www.testclear.com/urine/dtfaq/1b.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/5 "2003-10-22T13:49:02Z")
I’m not going to argue with you or defend the numbers, **Gyan9**. The site that I linked to, and the sites that you linked to are all suspect. They aren’t primary cites, they’re collections of information made by people with an agenda. That’s why I said “for a quick idea of the times”. And BTW, it’s not a simple case of comparing dosages of different drugs. The half-life of each drug in the body needs to be considered, as does the sensitivity of the particular test for each drug. For example, you could take a dose of ethanol 100 times larger than the amphetamine dose you mentioned, and it wouldn’t be detectable after 1 day. The half-life of ethanol in the body is comparatively short. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/6 "2003-10-22T14:33:07Z")
I wasn’t trying to simplify the analysis. I do realize about factors like half-life, body-fat content and whether the drug is lipophilic …etc Just that the numbers for LSD are way out-of-whack considering that LSD is reported to have a half-life of [4-5 hours](http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2809.htm) (another [cite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2374410&dopt=Abstract&itool=iconabstr)) When you compund this half-life with a recreational dose of 200 mics, the “7-10 days” seems highly unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/7 "2003-10-22T14:39:31Z")
I wasn’t trying to simplify the analysis. I do realize about factors like half-life, body-fat content and whether the drug is lipophilic …etc Just that the numbers for LSD are way out-of-whack considering that LSD is reported to have a half-life of [4-5 hours](http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2809.htm) (another [cite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2374410&dopt=Abstract&itool=iconabstr)) When you compund this half-life with a recreational dose of 200 mics, the “7-10 days” seems highly unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/8 "2003-10-22T16:17:04Z")
Anyone speak english here ? 🙂 Joking… well since you guys know so much… how long for the coca tea to get out of my system ? ---
**Author:** ![leatherheather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@leatherheather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leatherheather)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/9 "2003-10-22T16:48:26Z")
Well, I’m no scientist, but I can tell you about the time I failed a drug test… I did a tiny little line of cocaine at a party on Friday night, and failed a drug test that was performed on Monday at noon. I thought I would be okay because I read somewhere that it would be out of my system in 48 hours. Obviously that is not correct. If you’re trying to pass a drug test, and it’s very very important, then go to a head shop and ask for the best detox product they sell. It worked for me several times back when I was a pothead. ---
**Author:** ![leatherheather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@leatherheather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leatherheather)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/10 "2003-10-22T16:54:25Z")
By the way, the drug test I failed was not this past weekend, it was many years ago… Just wanted to clarify that I am not a coke head (anymore)… hehe… ---
**Author:** ![eman77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@eman77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eman77)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/11 "2003-10-23T01:12:44Z")
Pretty much all drugs except Nicotine, Marijuana and Steroids seem to last in your system no longer than ten days depending of course by amount taken, your metabolism and other factors. All of course can be beaten because of flaws in the test but that of course is a totally different subject (which I can help you with too if that’s the problem, just don’t tell anyone )😉 So if you want info on a specific drug just let us know and you’ll get a more detailed answer because most of these “quick fact” sites are not very reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/12 "2003-10-23T01:40:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by leatherheather \* > \*\* If you’re trying to pass a drug test, and it’s very very important, then go to a head shop and ask for the best detox product they sell. \*\* Don’t waste your money. They don’t work. QtM, MD Certified Medical Review Officer (wizz quiz authenticator) And I’m not gonna argue whether or not they do work. There’s plenty of threads devoted to that subject in the past, and the effectiveness of these detox products has been shown to be negligible. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/13 "2003-10-23T13:47:41Z")
What helps detox ? Water and sweating ? Eating loads of garlic ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/14 "2003-10-23T15:12:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rashak Mani \* > \*\*What helps detox ? Water and sweating ? Eating loads of garlic ? 🙂 \*\* Time. Or for some drugs, dialysis. I’d suggest you just do the time. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/15 "2003-10-23T15:33:48Z")
Since your the Doctor in the thread… is their stuff that tends to give false positive results in drug tests ? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/16 "2003-10-23T15:39:05Z")
QTM I heard that testers test for Golden Seal now and other detox remedies. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/17 "2003-10-23T15:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*I’d suggest you just do the time. \*\* I detect a double meaning there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/18 "2003-10-23T17:08:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*Don’t waste your money. They don’t work. > > QtM, MD > Certified Medical Review Officer (wizz quiz authenticator) > > And I’m not gonna argue whether or not they do work. There’s plenty of threads devoted to that subject in the past, and the effectiveness of these detox products has been shown to be negligible. \*\* Well, you are certainly the expert so I’m not going to doubt you, but I would like to share some anecdotal evidence to the contrary. I personally have beaten about 4 or 5 drug tests with a detox tea called [Naturally Klean](http://www.drugtest-solutions.com/naturallyklean.htm). When I was in college I got busted smokin’ pot in the dorms and had to submit to 2 years of random drug testing. I’d find out in the morning and have to appear in the evening. In all 4-5 cases where I had been smoking pot somewhat regularly (not quite daily) I used this product. Now the product recommends avoiding toxins for 24 hrs. before the test, and in all cases I was fortunate enough to not have smoked the night before. It comes with 4 tea bags which are used to brew a gallon of tea, and a B-vitamin to put the yellow color back into your urine. The tea is to be drunk over a 3 hour period as close to the test as possible. A gallon of tea is a lot to drink, and it results in much pee. The boards are slow at the moment and I really don’t have time to search for the other threads you mentioned QTM, but based on your assertion I’m wondering if simply the amount of water from the tea I ingested was able to dilute the urine to the point where toxins couldn’t be detected? and perhaps it had nothing to do with the tea at all? especially since the tea IIRC claimes that it loses its effectiveness a few hours later. Anyway, I have little doubt that I should’ve tested positive, but I didn’t. Incidentally, an associate who got busted with me and was sentenced to the same fate of random drug tests tried to use the same tea on his first test but decided half way through drinking it that he didn’t want anymore (it is a lot of tea afterall). He tested minimally positive for pot and was booted. So there’s my anecdotal evidence. Make of it what you will. But I promise I’ve left out no detail that I can recall. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/19 "2003-10-23T18:27:13Z")
Pee dillution ? After a gallon of tea in 3 hours ??? You pissed quite a lot that day… ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885/20 "2003-10-23T19:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rashak Mani \* > \*\*Pee dillution ? After a gallon of tea in 3 hours ??? You pissed quite a lot that day… \*\* And how. I actually got so bloated at one point I called the company to ask if I’m supposed to drink the whole thing. It’s not easy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-in-your-system-last-how-long/208885.md?page=2)