Nicotine typically stays in your system for about 1 to 3 days after you stop using tobacco products. Its primary metabolite, cotinine, remains detectable for a longer period, usually up to 10 days, but sometimes even longer depending on individual factors such as genetics, frequency of use, and type of exposure (smoking, vaping, chewing, or secondhand smoke)
. Details by testing method and substance:
- Blood: Nicotine clears from the blood within 1 to 3 days. Cotinine can be detected up to 10 days after last use
- Urine: Nicotine itself is usually gone within 3 to 4 days, but cotinine can be detected for 3 days to several weeks, especially in heavy or regular smokers. Occasional smokers may have cotinine detectable for about 7 to 10 days, while heavy smokers or those exposed to secondhand smoke may have it longer
- Saliva: Nicotine can be detected for up to 4 days, and cotinine up to 7 to 10 days
- Hair: Nicotine and cotinine can be detected for weeks or even months, reflecting long-term exposure
Nicotine has a short half-life of about 2 hours, meaning half of it is eliminated from the body every 2 hours, but cotinine has a longer half-life (about 16 to 40 hours), which is why it is the preferred marker in tests
. In summary, nicotine clears relatively quickly, but its metabolites, especially cotinine, linger longer and are used to detect recent or past nicotine exposure. The total detection window varies from a few days to several weeks depending on usage patterns and testing methods
