How Long Does Nicotine From Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Stay in the Body?

Nicotine is an addictive substance found in cigarettes, e-cigarettes and various tobacco products. After tobacco use, some nicotine remains in the body. Certain medical tests can detect it in urine, blood, saliva, hair and nails.

When smoking, the body absorbs 90 percent of nicotine. Its effects therefore continue for a time even when users no longer feel the nicotine.

How Long Does Nicotine Stay in the Body?

Two hours after nicotine intake, our body eliminates approximately half of it. This means nicotine has a half-life of about 2 hours. This short two-hour half-life means its immediate effects disappear quickly, which makes people need another nicotine dose.

When nicotine enters the body, it breaks down into more than 20 substances, including cotinine, anabasine and nornicotine.

These breakdown products are eliminated in urine. Nicotine levels and its breakdown products can be tested in these samples:

• Urine
• Blood
• Saliva
• Hair 
• Nails

According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, cotinine levels in a tobacco user's blood may take more than 2 weeks to reach those of a nonuser. Urine levels take several weeks to become very low. Also, in blood and urine, cotinine measurement gives a more reliable result (cotinine is an end product of nicotine) because it remains in the body longer. While nicotine's half-life is 2 hours, cotinine's is approximately 16 hours.

Nicotine can remain in hair longer, but this test is rarely requested unless people participate in clinical research.

The time nicotine remains in the body varies between people:

• Nicotine may remain longer in adults older than 65.
• Women eliminate nicotine faster than men, particularly when taking birth control pills.
• Nicotine remains longer in people who smoke more cigarettes and smoke more frequently.

How Long Does Nicotine Withdrawal Last?

The severity and timing of physical withdrawal symptoms vary according to how much the person smokes. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms appear a few weeks after smoking. The first week is generally hardest, and symptoms (complaints) gradually decrease over several weeks.

Physical and psychological effects of nicotine withdrawal include:

• Anxiety or stress 
• Irritability
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased appetite

These effects may also intensify during stressful periods.

Does Cigarette Versus E-Cigarette Use Differ in Nicotine Intake?

Nicotine tests also detect nicotine in the body following e-cigarette use. Although the short- and long-term effects of their nicotine and other chemicals remain under investigation, it is not yet known whether the body processes nicotine from e-cigarettes similarly to cigarette nicotine.

It is also difficult to say how much nicotine people receive from e-cigarettes: device liquids contain different amounts, and labeled values can differ substantially from actual intake. There is concern that most e-cigarettes cause uncontrolled, excessive nicotine exposure. Better determining e-cigarette nicotine intake requires studies on;

• Nicotine content in vaporized e-cigarette liquid
• The nicotine delivery rate of e-cigarette devices
• Differences in users' frequency and duration of use

Can Nicotine Be Completely Eliminated From the Body?

Because nicotine is also present in the body apart from external intake, complete clearance is not expected. However, external intake is much greater than the amount our body produces.

For an accurate nicotine test, nicotine should not be taken for 10 days beforehand, because blood tests can detect cotinine for 10 days.

There is no guaranteed way to clear nicotine quickly, but individuals should try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Drinking plenty of water may be recommended to help clear nicotine. This helps eliminate waste products through the kidneys and liver. Sport or exercise is also beneficial. Promoting or accelerating blood circulation helps remove waste products through sweating.

To summarize, the rate of nicotine elimination varies with;

• How much and how often the individual consumes nicotine,
• How long they have used tobacco products,
• Criteria such as overall health and age.

The elimination time for nicotine from other methods, such as e-cigarettes, compared with cigarette nicotine is not yet clear.

Finally, while emphasizing that we always oppose tobacco use, we should also note that some commercial products and herbal remedies are marketed as increasing the body's capacity to eliminate nicotine but these claims are unproven.

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