Alcohol & Other Drugs: Testing & Metabolism

Q: Spot, I am going to be having surgery soon and was just informed that at my Pre-op I will be tested for nicotine. If I stop smoking now, after 1 pack a day for 20 years will it show up in my blood test in 20 days? Also, I am currently taking Phentermine 55 mg each day and have been for about 3 months. Will this also show up in my blood test. How long will it take for boththe nicotine and phentermine to be out of my blood stream?

A: When drug tests are done to determine whether one is a tobacco smoker, it is a metabolite of nicotine, called continine, that is detected. How long continine can be detected after the last smoke depends upon how much and how frequently you use. Generally speaking, the range of time is three to seven days after the last smoke. Since you have been using for 20 years it will probably take longer--specifically, no one can tell you for certain. Regardless, I encourage you to stop smoking today, for good. Smoking is known to have so many adverse affects on your health which I probably don't need to communicate--presumably you are aware of the consequences.

The appetite suppressant Phentermine won't show up in an analysis for nicotine. --Spot (July 29, 2003)