How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System?

How long kratom stays in a person’s body depends on many factors. Some kratom components and metabolites can be detectable with certain, more detailed drug tests.

Before exploring how long kratom stays in a person’s system, it’s valuable to understand exactly how kratom works. Since it is such a new introduction in the U.S. market, a lot of people have misconceptions about kratom, or simply don’t know much about it.

This herbal drug is often promoted in the U.S. as a legal psychoactive substance, and mitragynine is the main active alkaloid in the plant responsible for its effects. Mitragynine stimulates opioid-like activity in the brain, and it reduces pain response. When the active components of kratom reach the brain, they influence mood and anxiety. They have been shown to create a euphoric effect similar to what happens with opium or heroin.

How Long Does It Take for Kratom to Take Effect?

When someone takes kratom, the effects usually begin around 10 to 15 minutes later. The effects of a small dose of kratom can last for around two hours, and with higher doses, effects may last as long as eight hours. A dosage of four to five grams generally leads to somewhat potent effects that last for about two hours, while seven to eight grams lead to longer effects. The peak effects of using kratom are believed to be around 1.5 to 2.5 hours after someone takes it.

Kratom’s effects are heightened if someone takes it on an empty stomach. If someone eats before taking it, the effects might not occur for an hour or more. If someone takes the capsule form of kratom, it can take longer for the effects to take hold because it has to dissolve in the person’s stomach.

Half-Life of Kratom

People often wonder how long kratom stays in the system when they are considering stopping their kratom use. Someone who is dependent on kratom and wants to stop using the substance may be worried about the withdrawal effects and when they will begin. Also, someone might wonder how long kratom stays in their system if they are going to be drug tested, although kratom doesn’t show up in many traditional drug tests.

Since there hasn’t been a lot of research done on kratom, the half-life isn’t completely understood. It’s only been studied in-depth in animals. However, based on the research conducted thus far, it’s believed that the primary alkaloid found in kratom, mitragynine, has a half-life of around 23.24 hours.

Based on that information, it would take around a full day for someone to eliminate 50% of the kratom in their body. It would take just over five days for kratom to be fully cleared from the system, based on this half-life information.

Based on current research, the fastest half-life of kratom alkaloids could be just over two hours, which would put full elimination at around a half day. However, on the slower end of the half-life spectrum, it could take around nine days for all of the kratom to be eliminated from a person’s system.

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There is evidence suggesting that someone who has used kratom less frequently or uses lower doses would eliminate the substance more quickly than long-term or habitual users.

What Influences How Long Kratom Stays in Your System?

As with any substance, there are quite a few variables that would determine or influence how long kratom would stay in a person’s system. Some of the factors that can determine the elimination time and, ultimately, how long it will stay in your system include:

• Age: Older people tend to have a longer elimination half-life than younger people. This is the case with kratom as well as with most orally-ingested substances. This is usually due to factors such as renal function, age-related physical changes and the use of other medications. It’s safe to assume that if you’re older, and particularly over the age of 65, kratom will stay in your system longer than it would in a younger person.
• Body fat: Another personal characteristic that can play a role in how long it takes kratom alkaloids to be eliminated is the person’s percentage of body fat. The mitragynine in kratom is very fat-soluble, which means individuals with a high body fat percentage will likely retain the kratom metabolites longer than someone with a lower body fat percentage.
• Genetics: Certain genetic markers and enzymes may play a role in the speed at which kratom is eliminated from the user’s body.
• Food and water intake: If you were to take kratom with a high-fat meal, it could lead to faster absorption, which could also speed up how long it would take the substance to reach its peak concentration levels. If you’re well-hydrated, it can also play a role in how long it takes for kratom to be excreted via urine.

Other personal factors that can play a role in how long kratom stays in your system include your renal function, urinary pH and metabolic rate. These aren’t factors that are exclusive to kratom. This is the case with many substances.