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I Have A Question About Detectable THC In Urine. I

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Posted on Fri, 12 Apr 2019
Question: I have a question about detectable THC in urine. I have stopped consuming THC on 2/11/2018. I exercise regularly and weight approximately 180.0 lbs. Female. 46, almost 47 years old. I had bari surgery 1.5 years ago. I have a very important drug test next Friday. I took a cheap home test this morning, and it did not indicate negative. I am wondering if I should worry about the test? All my research, shows, a maximum for heaviest of weed smokers like 26 days. I also wonder if I should try some of the detox agents, cranberry juice etc? to help promote my cleansing process. Normal kidney function (tested when I had bari surgery). Absolutely no exposure/intake since 2/11.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service,

There is actually quite a range for how long THC can show up in the urine and it depends in part on how heavy the previous use was and for how long it was used, and also on one's own rate of metabolism specifically for it.

THC metabolites have a 'half-life' of 20 hrs to 13 days. The way half-life works are at the 1st half-life point, 50 percent of it is out of your body with the other half remaining. At the next interval, half of that is gone, and so on.

Yes, for most heavy users, 26 days would be fairly accurate.
However, there is some anecdotal evidence that it's been detected in the urine of heavy users as far out as 90 days after quitting. While there are almost no studies on the number of people this happens to, I would assume that occurrence to be relatively rare.

As far as I know, there isn't really an established way to clean it out of your system, at least not in the medical literature.

Hope this helps...
Let me know if I can assist you further...


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (13 minutes later)
Is there a home-urinalysis test that can be recommended for me to establish my negativity? Also, should I abstain from exercising prior to the test? Some research, indicates that can transition the test to positive. As I will have no intake since 2/11, until Friday 3.29, this would account for a 46 day clean window. I would like to take a home test, to feel more confident. I also, am not sure of the accuracy, of the cheap test. Wondering what the medical literature says about that.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (35 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
To try to answer your question about finding a good quality home-based test, I looked to the FDA and although they have an entire website page on this topic, they don't recommend any specific brand.

There are no Consumer Reports or medical literature comparing the different at home kits for THC testing, so you are left to guess and take advice from others who have gone through the same situation. A positive test is likely to give you a positive result on the lab test, but a negative test will leave you not knowing for sure. I'm sorry we don't have anything more specific.

Regarding exercising or weight loss, breaking down fat that contains THC can move it to the blood and then the urine, so it's possible that it might cause more to be in the urine when tested. On the other hand, it might speed up totally cleaning it out of your body.

To conclude, it basically states that exercise and weight loss are unlikely to make a difference in urine cannabinoid concentrations.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask in case of any further doubts/queries...
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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I Have A Question About Detectable THC In Urine. I

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service, There is actually quite a range for how long THC can show up in the urine and it depends in part on how heavy the previous use was and for how long it was used, and also on one's own rate of metabolism specifically for it. THC metabolites have a 'half-life' of 20 hrs to 13 days. The way half-life works are at the 1st half-life point, 50 percent of it is out of your body with the other half remaining. At the next interval, half of that is gone, and so on. Yes, for most heavy users, 26 days would be fairly accurate. However, there is some anecdotal evidence that it's been detected in the urine of heavy users as far out as 90 days after quitting. While there are almost no studies on the number of people this happens to, I would assume that occurrence to be relatively rare. As far as I know, there isn't really an established way to clean it out of your system, at least not in the medical literature. Hope this helps... Let me know if I can assist you further...