How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your Bloodstream?

Entering

The way that nicotine enters the bloodstream depends upon how the tobacco is used. If the tobacco product is smoked, then the nicotine first is inhaled into the lungs, where the nicotine then passes into the bloodstream. If the nicotine is sniffed, it passes from the mucus membranes of the nose into the bloodstream. If the nicotine is chewed, it passes from the mucus membranes of the mouth into the bloodstream. Once the nicotine enters your bloodstream, it will reach your brain in 10 seconds or less.

Breaking Down

Once it enters your system, nicotine is highly unstable and begins to break down into multiple substances. This is because tobacco is comprised of over 4,000 different compounds and once it reaches your bloodstream, it rapidly breaks down into those components. One of the primary indicators of nicotine in the bloodstream is cotinine. When undergoing blood or urine samples, many places test for both nicotine and cotinine, though some test solely for cotinine. Because of this breaking down, the reserve of nicotine in your body declines by half approximately every two hours.

Exiting

From the time you last consume a product with nicotine, it will take up to 72 hours for the product to leave your body. Cotinine remains in the bloodstream up to four days after the last consumption of nicotine.

References

• NIDA for Teens: Mind Over Matter - Teacher's Guide
• Quit Smoking Nicotine: How Long Does Nicotine Stay in the Bloodstream?
• Urine Test for Nicotine/Cotinine