Kratom stays in the system for around 33 hours when administered orally. However, this is only a general time frame; the precise answer to “How long does kratom stay in your system?” depends on several factors and varies from one person to the next.
Read along to discover what affects how long kratom stays in your system, how long it can be detected in drug tests, and more.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a psychoactive substance found in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. While it contains over 40 alkaloids, the primary psychoactive compounds in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which produce opioid-like effects, such as sedation.
In Southeast Asia, kratom has been used for centuries, both for ceremonial purposes and to treat pain, fatigue, fever, and other conditions. Traditionally, it is prepared as a tea, but its leaves can also be consumed in different ways, including chewing and smoking. Some people even snort them after grinding them into a fine powder.
Although kratom is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., it hasn’t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and remains unregulated in many states. While it may not be federally illegal, the FDA advises against its use. Nonetheless, it is commonly sold as a supplement, usually as capsules, pills, and extracts.
Some companies advertise kratom as a cure for various physical and mental conditions, often without any scientific proof. Most commonly, it is marketed as a treatment for:
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Opioid use disorder (OUD)
How Does Kratom Affect Your Body?
How kratom affects the body primarily depends on the dose. When taken in small doses, kratom tends to produce stimulating effects similar to those of caffeine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and other central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. At higher doses, it produces opioid-like effects, including pain relief, sedation, euphoria, and relaxation.
The onset of kratom effects depends on the method of consumption, among other factors. A study by researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the University of Florida found that nearly 80% of people start to feel the effects within minutes and can last for several hours.
That said, there’s a lack of research regarding the effects of kratom. Therefore, it isn’t exactly clear how it affects the body. Given that this substance is not currently regulated and comes in various forms that may affect the body in different ways, it’s safe to say that the effects of kratom may be unpredictable.
What is clear, however, is that kratom may cause dependence. Researchers from the Bloomberg School of Public Health suggest that long-term use of kratom leaves can lead to drug dependence and cause intense withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom can also cause various side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, seizures, confusion, insomnia, and aggression. Even worse, some kratom side effects may require immediate medical attention.
Kratom Half-Life
Kratom’s half-life, or the time it takes for the body to eliminate half a dose of the drug, varies depending on the method of administration, dosage, and other individual factors.
Though limited, research suggests that the elimination half-life of intravenously administered kratom—or, rather, its main alkaloid, mitragynine—is around 2.9 hours. Meanwhile, orally administered kratom has a half-life of around 6.6 hours. It may take the body twice as long to clear orally administered kratom compared to intravenous administration.
It’s worth noting that the terminal half-life of kratom is around 24 hours. However, this does not mean that it takes a day to eliminate half a dose of kratom. The terminal half-life has to do more with the absorption of the substance than its elimination.
Now, let’s discuss the question “How long does kratom stay in your system?” in greater detail and find out how long different drug tests can detect it.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System?
Orally administered kratom may stay in your system for around 33 hours, as it takes five half-lives on average for the body to fully get rid of the drug. Meanwhile, it may take your body around 14 hours to eliminate intravenously administered kratom. However, this doesn’t mean that it won’t be detected by drug tests past this time frame.
Determining how long kratom remains detectable isn’t that simple, as it also depends on the plant itself; its age, harvesting time, and other environmental factors may affect the amount of mitragynine in it. That said, kratom can only be detected by specialized tests, such as the 10-panel drug screen.
Let’s explore how long kratom stays in the blood, hair, saliva, and urine.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Blood?
Kratom stays in the blood for up to 7–9 days after the last dose. While this depends on the dose, in most cases, mitragynine can be detected in blood samples for a week after ingestion. However, blood tests aren’t commonly used to detect kratom.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Hair?
In theory, kratom stays in hair follicles for up to 90 days after the last use. However, hair tests aren’t currently used to detect kratom.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Saliva?
There’s a lack of information regarding how long kratom stays in saliva, as saliva tests aren’t currently performed to detect it.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Urine?
Kratom stays in urine and remains detectable by urine tests for up to nine days after taking the last dose. Urine testing is the most common testing method for kratom detection.
That said, how long kratom stays in the system and can be detected by drug tests may differ widely from one person to the next based on individual factors. Let’s learn more about them.
Factors That Determine How Long Kratom Stays in Your System
The extent and duration of kratom use are among the most important factors that determine how long kratom stays in your system. Those who take it in high doses frequently and for a long time may need significantly more time to eliminate it than those who take it sparingly.
Other factors that determine how long kratom stays in your system include:
- Metabolism. Your metabolic rate determines how quickly your body breaks down different substances, including kratom. The faster your metabolism is, the quicker it will be processed and excreted. The level of physical activity, age, diet, gender, and other similar factors may impact your metabolism, consequently affecting how long kratom stays in your system.
- Liver health. Mitragynine is largely metabolized in the liver. Therefore, poor liver function may hinder the processing and elimination of kratom.
- Drug interactions. Certain medications and supplements may make it more difficult for your body to metabolize and eliminate kratom. In particular, ketoconazole, rifampin, and other drugs that affect the CYP3A4 enzyme may impede the elimination of mitragynine. Moreover, taking kratom with alcohol may cause it to stay longer in the system. It also increases the risk of potentially life-threatening adverse effects, including kratom overdose.
- Body composition. Since kratom is fat-soluble, people with a higher body fat percentage typically need more time to clear it out.
Now that you know what determines how long kratom stays in your system, let’s discuss the difference between kratom dependence and kratom addiction.
Kratom Addiction vs. Kratom Dependence
Kratom addiction and kratom dependence are among the greatest risks anyone taking this psychoactive substance faces. While they often co-occur, they aren’t the same; kratom dependence is physical, whereas addiction is largely psychological.
The fact that kratom is an herbal substance doesn’t make it safe. Even those who take it in small amounts can fall victim to drug addiction if they take it long enough.
Kratom binds to the same opioid receptors as oxycodone, morphine, and other opioids, which explains why it produces opioid-like effects in high doses. If you take it regularly, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll become dependent on it, as your body will begin to produce more of these receptors, resulting in tolerance—a tell-tale sign of physical dependence.
Moreover, kratom produces opioid-like withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation, prompting those dependent on it to continue taking it. Eventually, kratom dependence can develop into an addiction characterized by the inability to control kratom use. As heartbreaking as it is, people dependent on kratom cannot stop taking it, even when it wreaks havoc on their lives.
Luckily, both kratom dependence and addiction can be treated. To safely get off kratom, avoid severe withdrawal symptoms, and make a lifelong recovery, you should seek professional help.
Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms
Kratom withdrawal symptoms occur in mitragynine-dependent people once they quit taking the substance or reduce their usual dosage. Their duration and severity depend on the extent of your drug use. Sudden discontinuation of kratom may intensify these symptoms, increasing the risk of relapse.
Like opioids, kratom can cause both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, such as:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Sweating
- Depression
- Muscle ache
- Stomach ache
- Loss of appetite
- Kratom cravings
- Trouble sleeping
- Watery eyes and runny nose
Kratom withdrawal symptoms typically set in within 48 hours, peak on day four, and subside within 10 days after the last dose. However, this timeline may differ individually.
Some people continue to suffer from cravings, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and other psychological withdrawal symptoms even months and years after quitting the drug. This condition, known as post-acute withdrawal symptom (PAWS), greatly increases the risk of relapse, overdose, and death.
To minimize these risks and avoid complications, never quit kratom abruptly or without medical supervision.
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Key Takeaways
The answer to “How long does kratom stay in the system?” depends on many individual factors, such as the extent of kratom use, metabolism, and body composition.
Lastly, let’s go over the key points we covered today:
- Derived from Mitragyna speciosa, kratom is a psychoactive herbal substance native to Southeast Asia that is becoming increasingly used to treat pain, depression, and other conditions.
- Kratom’s effects are similar to those of opioids, as it binds to the same receptors in the brain; like opioids, it can lead to dependence and addiction.
- Although it may take a day or two for your body to clear kratom, urine tests may detect traces of it for up to nine days after the last dose.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System FAQ
Whether or not kratom shows up on a drug test depends on the type of drug test administered, as well as how long ago you’ve taken this substance. Saliva and hair follicle tests, for example, typically cannot detect kratom. While it may not show up on a 5-panel drug test, some other tests, including the 10-panel drug test, may detect it.
How long it takes to get kratom out of the system depends on the amount taken, the method of consumption, the duration of kratom use, and other individual factors. Normally, it takes around 33 hours to eliminate orally administered kratom.
Kratom is largely eliminated from the body through the urine. Its active compounds, such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are excreted after being metabolized by the liver. Therefore, liver function may impact how long kratom stays in your system.
How you feel after taking kratom depends on the dose; at lower doses, kratom may make you more talkative and alert, resembling the effects of stimulants. At higher doses, kratom produces effects similar to opioids, such as sedation and euphoria. It can also cause various side effects, including seizures, vomiting, and sleep disturbances.
It usually takes several minutes for kratom to work. However, the onset of kratom’s effects may also depend on certain factors, such as the method of consumption.
Kratom is dangerously addictive—even though it is often marketed as a safe herbal substance, a remedy for opioid withdrawal symptoms, and even a treatment for opioid addiction. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth; scientists are still researching the safety and effectiveness of kratom, but it’s clear that it can—and does—cause dependence and addiction.
Kratom effects usually last several hours, though the duration of its effects also depends on the dosage, the method of administration, and similar factors.
