How Long Does Nicotine Stay In Your System?

Nicotine is processed quickly by your body, with a half-life of about two hours, meaning half the nicotine is eliminated from your system in that time. However, your liver converts nicotine into a more stable byproduct called cotinine, which can remain in your body for up to 10 days or more depending on various factors.

While nicotine itself may be gone within 1 to 3 days, cotinine sticks around longer — which is why most nicotine tests don’t look for nicotine, but for cotinine instead. According to Healthline, cotinine is the compound most commonly measured in nicotine testing.

In some cases — like with hair follicle testing — traces of nicotine or cotinine may still be detectable months after your last use. 

Your body's ability to clear nicotine is influenced by several unique factors: 

• Genetics: People with specific gene variants may process nicotine faster or slower, affecting how long it's detectable. Slow metabolizers may hold onto nicotine for longer. 
  
  
• Age: Nicotine metabolism tends to slow with age, although not drastically.
   
• Sex & Hormones: Women, especially those on estrogen-based birth control or who are pregnant, often metabolize nicotine more quickly than men. 
  
  
• Nicotine Delivery Type: Smoking, vaping, and using nicotine pouches each deliver different nicotine amounts and absorption rates. For example, smokeless products like pouches may result in longer-lasting nicotine traces than smoke, vapor, or other inhalable products. 
  
  
• Frequency of Use: The more you use, the more cotinine builds up in your system, which may extend the detection window. 
  
  
• Body Mass Index (BMI): Higher BMI can affect nicotine distribution but has less impact on metabolism speed. 

When you use a nicotine pouch, vape, cigarette, or other nicotine product, the nicotine is rapidly absorbed through mucous membranes (like your mouth) or lungs into your bloodstream. Your liver enzymes then break it down into metabolites, primarily cotinine, which is more stable and remains in your system longer.

This is why even after the "nicotine effect" fades, your body may still test positive for cotinine for days, weeks, or months afterward. 

Research suggests your body absorbs about <30% of the total nicotine content in a nicotine pouch. This absorption rate can vary based on how long you keep the pouch in, how moist your mouth is, and how accustomed your body is to nicotine, among other factors. 

Nicotine and cotinine can be found using several testing methods. While nicotine disappears quickly, cotinine can stay much longer, making it the go-to substance in testing. 

Nicotine clears from the blood within 1 to 3 days, while cotinine is typically detectable for up to 4 days, sometimes longer in regular users. Blood tests are often used in clinical or surgical evaluations. 

Cotinine can be found in saliva for up to 4 days after your last exposure. Saliva testing is less invasive than blood testing and is commonly used to detect recent nicotine use. It’s also one of the most sensitive methods. 

Nicotine and cotinine usually clear from urine within 3 to 4 days — but in certain people (like heavy users), it can stick around up to 3 weeks. Urine tests are widely used because they can detect higher concentrations of metabolites. 

Nicotine enters breast milk rapidly after use and peaks within about 30 minutes. It then reduces by half in around 2 hours, with complete clearance in approximately 10 hours.  

Hair follicle testing can detect nicotine use for 1 to 3 months, and up to 12 months in heavy or chronic users. It’s the most reliable test for tracking long-term use, though it can sometimes pick up secondhand exposure. 

There’s no fast-track to flushing nicotine — but here’s what you can do to support your body’s natural detox process: 

• Hydrate: Drinking water helps eliminate nicotine through urine. 
  
  
• Exercise: Physical activity boosts your metabolism, which may speed up the clearance of nicotine and cotinine. 
  
  
• Eat antioxidant-rich foods: Foods like oranges, carrots, berries, and leafy greens help your body repair and detox naturally. 
  
  
• Stop all nicotine use: Even nicotine replacement products (like patches or gum) will keep nicotine in your system. 
  
  
• Support your withdrawal: If you experience cravings, irritability, or insomnia, know these are common symptoms. Tools like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or support groups may help ease the process.  NOTE: Nicotine Replacement Therapy products still contain nicotine, and will produce cotinine as a by-product.