How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your System?

Morphine can stay in your system for up to three months. Morphine is a naturally occurring opiate derived from the opium poppy and is a powerful medication used to manage pain. Knowing how long morphine lasts in the body can be crucial for doctors, patients, and anyone concerned about drug testing. 

• morphine metabolism and how it clears from the body
• how long morphine stays in your system 
• how long it lasts and can be detected in urine, blood, hair, saliva and breastmilk 
• factors influencing its duration 
• the lasting effects of morphine 
• the half-life of morphine

How Long Does Morphine Stay In Your Body?

The amount of time that morphine remains in your body varies depending on the type of drug screening conducted and the sample that is tested. It’s important to note that morphine may be present in your body even after the effects have worn off.

Understanding the duration of morphine’s presence in different types of drug tests is important because it aids in accurate testing and assessment, providing essential information for healthcare professionals and individuals undergoing drug screening. 

How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your Urine?

In a urine test, traces of morphine can typically be detected for a period ranging from one to three days after use. Urine testing is one of the most common morphine detection tests. Although morphine tends to exit the body relatively quickly through urine, in cases of frequent or heavy use, morphine can stay in your urine for up to five to six days. 

How Long Does Morphine Stay in Your Blood?

Morphine can stay in your bloodstream for three days. The plasma half-life of morphine, which is the time it takes for half of the substance to be reduced in the blood, falls between 1.3 and 6.7 hours. This means that although the effects of morphine will subside within that period, traces of morphine can show up on a blood test screening for up to three days following its last use.

How Long Does Morphine Show in Hair?

A hair follicle test can detect morphine up to 90 days after the last use. Morphine has a longer presence in hair. Even as new hair grows, the older sections can retain traces of the substance. Hair follicle drug tests have a high accuracy percentage and, due to their long detection period, are often used to test long-term morphine usage.

How Long Does Morphine Stay in Saliva?

Morphine can be detected in saliva within a few hours to two days after the last use. Saliva is often collected through a mouth swab test,  a non-invasive drug test that produces immediate results. However, these screenings may not be as accurate as blood or urine tests. 

How Long Does Morphine Stay in Breastmilk?

Research indicates that the half-life of morphine in breast milk is about three hours. Morphine epidural injections are frequently administered before surgery and during cesarean childbirth deliveries. Women taking morphine while breastfeeding should consult their doctor about the safety and potential effects on their baby.         

Factors Affecting How Long Morphine Stays in the System

The duration of morphine in the body can vary from person to person and depend on several key factors. 

These factors include the: 

• dosage amount 
• method of administration 
• age 
• metabolism 
• and more. 

Morphine is a prescription-only opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. The form of morphine used and how it is administered affect how quickly the body absorbs the drug and the time it takes to clear it from the body. Additionally, underlying health conditions and genetic background can contribute to how long morphine stays in your system. All these factors become important considerations when using morphine for pain management or when undergoing drug testing to ensure accurate and safe use of this medication.

Half-Life of Morphine

A drug's half-life helps us understand how long it takes for a substance to be reduced by half in the body. In general, it requires approximately four to five half-lives for nearly 97% of the substance to be eliminated. Morphine’s half-life falls within the range of 1.3 to 6.7 hours, with an average of about 2 to 3 hours. This means that, under normal circumstances, it can take anywhere from 5 to 34 hours for the body to completely clear morphine. However, traces of the drug may linger for a bit longer due to its short elimination half-life, which can extend to over 15 hours. 

How Long Does Morphine Last? 

The duration of morphine's effects can vary depending on many factors, including the method of use, the dose taken, and whether the individual has developed a tolerance from long-term use. The way morphine is administered plays a significant role in determining how quickly the body absorbs the drug and how long the effects persist.

• Injected Morphine: When morphine is injected, it typically takes between 5 and 20 minutes to relieve pain. Its pain-relieving properties reach their peak around 60 minutes after administration and generally last for about 3 to 4 hours.
• Oral Solution: Morphine in the form of an oral solution takes longer to kick in, but its pain-relieving effects peak around 60 minutes after use and usually wear off after approximately four hours.
• Morphine Sulfate Extended Release: This form of morphine comes in various capsules and tablets designed to release the drug slowly. Depending on the specific version of extended-release morphine sulfate, the peak effect from a single dose varies, ranging from 2.5 hours to 10.3 hours. The duration of effects for extended-release formulations also varies significantly.

Morphine Metabolism: How Morphine Clears From Your Body

Morphine metabolism is when the body breaks down morphine, mainly in the liver, to prepare it to be cleared from the body. The liver converts morphine into two key substances: one called M3G, which doesn’t relieve pain, and another called M6G, which still has pain-relieving effects. This process happens fairly quickly, and the resulting byproducts are then passed out of the body through the kidneys.

The liver plays a central role in clearing morphine from the system. If liver function is impaired, the body may not break down morphine as efficiently, which can cause it to stay in the system longer and increase the risk of side effects. Fortunately, morphine uses a type of liver processing called glucuronidation, which is often less affected by liver disease than other types of drug metabolism. Still, people with serious liver issues may need adjusted doses.

Understanding How Long Morphine Stays in Your System

It is important to know how long it takes for morphine to leave your system for medical reasons and when considering drug tests. Taking all the variables into account, how long does morphine stay in your system? It typically remains in your system for 1 to 3 days, with variations due to individual factors. Keep in mind that the effects of morphine may not last as long as its presence in your system. Always consult with a healthcare professional for accurate information on your specific situation.

If you or your loved one are struggling with morphine use or addiction, hope and help are within reach. Avenues Recovery Centers provide the support and treatment needed to overcome the challenges associated with substance abuse. Our highly trained and experienced addiction counselors will provide you with professional assistance and guidance to help you break free of your addiction and regain control of your life. Reach out to us today and take the first step toward a healthier, happier future. You don't have to go through this journey alone—there is hope, and our skilled staff are here to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Long Morphine Stays in Your System

1. Can morphine be detected on a drug test weeks after last use?

Depending on the type of drug test, morphine can be detected in the body weeks after the last use. Hair follicle tests can detect morphine use from months ago, offering a longer-term usage history. However, in standard urine tests, morphine is typically not detectable after 6–7 days unless use is chronic or at high doses. Blood and saliva tests usually only detect it for up to 48–72 hours.

2. How can users clear morphine from their system faster?

Natural elimination supports healthy clearance:

1. Stay well-hydrated to help your kidneys eliminate metabolites.
2. Maintain a balanced diet and exercise, to support your metabolism.
3. Consult a medical professional before attempting detox or using any substances to accelerate clearance, especially to avoid withdrawal risks. Joining a reputable drug detox program can also help you clear morphine from your system faster. Note: There are no proven quick fixes like detox teas or supplements that reliably expedite morphine metabolism.
   
   

3. Is there a difference between short-acting and long-acting morphine in terms of detection time?

Yes—long-acting (extended-release) morphine formulations remain in the system longer than short-acting morphine. This is due to sustained release, meaning metabolites can persist several days longer than with immediate-release morphine. This is especially true for regular or therapeutic use.