How long does nicotine stay in the bloodstream after you quit dipping skoal (smokeless tobacco)?
Nicotine is a very unstable drug. When a person uses tobacco (whether in cigarettes or in skoal), the body immediately breaks nicotine down into about 97 different metabolites, the most stable of which is cotinine. Cotinine stays in a person’s system for a period of 2 to 4 days. There are a number of factors that can affect these figures, including: • the strength of the tobacco • the quantity you used • the frequency of your use • your individual tolerance • the presence of other drugs. Factors specific to you which will also affect its elimination include: • your tolerance • your sex and age • your overall health & well-being • your general metabolic state. These variables all interact to make it hard to accurately define a time when the nicotine will be out of your system. For further information, please contact your local health practitioner or pathology laboratory.
