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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Long Does Nicotine Stay In System After Quitting Smoking?

I smoke about 1/2 pack per day and just finished what I m hoping is my LAST cigarette. How long until I can pass a blood continine test. I ve been trying to research this but keep finding many different answers. I m a 47 year-old female and weigh 170 pounds.
Mon, 25 May 2015
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
the breakdown product of nicotine has a half life of about 17 hrs. Depends on many factors on how long it is detectable, BUT lowering 100-500 fold seems a large decrease likely to go below the detection limit. 100 fold is the difference between heavy smoking and second hand smoking.
so.... 1/2,1/4,1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256, 1/512... is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 half lives... 10 half lives is 170 hrs or 7 days.


about a week. and that is being very conservative. probably less.
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How Long Does Nicotine Stay In System After Quitting Smoking?

the breakdown product of nicotine has a half life of about 17 hrs. Depends on many factors on how long it is detectable, BUT lowering 100-500 fold seems a large decrease likely to go below the detection limit. 100 fold is the difference between heavy smoking and second hand smoking. so.... 1/2,1/4,1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256, 1/512... is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 half lives... 10 half lives is 170 hrs or 7 days. about a week. and that is being very conservative. probably less.