Do you take Lyrica for nerve pain, seizures, or fibromyalgia? You’re not alone—16 million people have taken Lyrica as of 2020.
Also known as pregabalin, Lyrica is a controlled substance in the United States. That means its regulated by the government because it has the potential to cause addiction.
Anyone who takes a controlled substance may wonder if they should worry about failing a drug test. That’s especially true if you work in an industry that drug tests regularly, or if you’re subjected to drug tests for legal reasons.
Read on to learn more about how long Lyrica stays in your system.
How Long Does Lyrica Cause Effects?
When you start taking Lyrica, it may take from one to four weeks to start controlling pain and seizures.
However, side effects can start much sooner. You may start feeling side effects from Lyrica after your first dose. The body and brain effects include:
- Angioedema, or swollen hands and feet
- Blurry vision
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Problems focusing
- Sleepiness
Dizziness and sleepiness typically go away after a few weeks, while the other side effects are more likely to continue as long as you take Lyrica.
How Long Does Lyrica Stay in Lab Tests?
Wondering how long Lyrica lasts in your system? Lyrica has a half-life of 6.3 hours. That’s the length of time that it takes for your body to eliminate half of a Lyrica dose.
It normally takes five half-lives to eliminate a drug from your system. That means that Lyrica stays in your system around 31.5 hours.
It could show up on certain drug tests for that long or longer. It depends on:
- Metabolism: The factors affecting this include your genetics, age, weight, and lifestyle. This isn’t the same for everyone.
- Health: If you have kidney problems, liver disease, or other metabolic issues, then you could take longer to get Lyrica out of your system.
- Drug use history: If you use drugs that are similar to Lyrica, then it could take longer overall to get the drug out of your system.
- Type of drug test: Urine, hair, and blood tests all vary in terms of how long they can detect Lyrica.
Pregabalin stays in your hair for at least 30 days after your last use. However, you probably won’t receive a hair test for Lyrica.
Lyrica isn’t part of a standard drug screening, so commercial hair tests aren’t on the market for the drug as of 2020.
How Long Does Lyrica Stay in Your Blood?
Most drugs stay in your blood serum for around five half-lives. In the case of Lyrica, that’s 31.5 hours or just under three days.
Like hair and urine testing, you’re not likely to receive a blood test for Lyrica. That’s because Lyrica isn’t part of a standard drug screening.
If there isn’t a reason for law enforcement or your employer to believe you’re abusing Lyrica, then it’s most likely that you won’t get tested.
How Long Does Lyrica Stay in Your Saliva?
Lyrica is detectable in saliva for the same amount of time it shows up in your blood serum. That’s an average of 2 to 3 days.
You’re not likely to be saliva-tested for Lyrica. It’s not part of any standard drug panel, so you won’t be tested unless there’s a reason to think you’re abusing the drug.
Can You Detox From Lyrica Faster?
Lyrica leaves your body at a set rate that’s affected by:
- Drug use habits, including duration, frequency of use, and dosage
- Health, such as any digestive, liver, or kidney conditions you have
- Metabolism, which includes your lifestyle, weight, age, and genetics
You can’t do much to alter some of these factors. You can’t speed up Lyrica detox, but you can increase your odds of success by enrolling in a rehab program for prescription drugs.
Many people who abuse one prescription drug also abuse others. It’s called polysubstance abuse and it increases your risk of relapse during detox. If you abuse Lyrica along with other drugs, it’s important to go to a detox center before starting treatment.
Get Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse
If you’re ready to stop abusing Lyrica, there’s help at your fingertips. All it takes is a quick call to Northeast Addictions Treatment Center. We’ll take your history and create a treatment plan that’s all your own.
We use cutting-edge prescription drug abuse treatment, including:
- Different kinds of therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, 12 Step group therapy, and more
- Medication-assisted treatment for clients who are eligible, including some alcohol and opioid use clients
We make you part of your treatment from start to finish because outcomes are better the more you’re involved.
Are you ready to take back your life from prescription drug abuse? Call our treatment specialists right now to schedule your intake appointment!
This content does not constitute legal advice! Consult with an attorney before making decisions that could lead to drug charges.
