The precise answer to this question depends on several factors and varies from person to person. The general time frame is approximately 33 hours from oral administration.
Let’s talk about kratom in detail, from how long it stays in your system to how long drug tests can detect it.
The Duration of Kratom in Your System
When orally administered, Kratom may stay in your system for about 33 hours depending on your dosage and how you consume it—especially with flavored kratom drink mixes. The body takes around five half-lives to flush it out of the system. But it does not mean that drug tests can not detect kratom past this time frame.
Also, the duration of kratom’s detectability in the system is not simple. The plant, its age, harvesting time, and various environmental factors affect the amount of mitragynine in it. However, only specialized kratom tests like the 10-panel drug screen can detect kratom.
Kratom Drug Test Detectability Window
- Kratom in Blood: It stays in the blood for 7 to 9 days after the last dose. While dose-dependent, the alkaloid mitragynine can be detected in blood for about a week after ingestion. Blood tests are not commonly used to detect kratom.
- Kratom in Hair: It stays in hair follicles for up to 90 days after the last dose. However, hair tests are not in use for kratom detection.
- Kratom in Urine: Kratom can be detected in urine for up to 9 days after the last dose. It is the most common test for kratom detection.
- Kratom in Saliva: Since saliva tests are not yet used to detect kratom, there is no information about it.
All being said, this is a general time frame for each type of drug test. The actual duration may vary significantly from one person to another based on individual factors.
What Is Half-Life?
Half-life is the time it takes for your body to get rid of half a dose of the substance. In the case of kratom, its half-life depends on the dosage, how you administer it, and various individual factors.
While there is not enough research, anecdotal evidence suggests that the half-life of orally administered kratom is about 6.6 hours.
Kratom’s terminal half-life is around 24 hours, but it does not take so long to eliminate half a dose of kratom. It is more in line with the absorption than the elimination of kratom.
How Long Does Kratom Affect Your Body?
How kratom works depends on your dose. In small doses, it creates stimulating effects like you would get from caffeine and other CNS (central nervous system) stimulants. In high doses, it produces calming effects like sedation, euphoria, relaxation, and discomfort relief.
The time it takes for the effects to kick in, too, depends on your consumption method. Studies suggest that most users feel the effects within minutes, which last for hours.
Since there is not enough research on the effects of kratom, it is unclear how it affects the body.
Factors That Affect How Long Kratom Stays in Your System
The duration and extent of your use are two of the most important factors that affect how long kratom stays in your system. If you take high doses frequently and have been for a long time, you will need longer to eliminate the alkaloids than those who use them less.
Various other factors determine how long kratom stays in your system, including your metabolism, liver function, body composition, and drug interactions. While you may try to determine how long your system retains kratom to avoid a positive screening, it may be harder than it seems to pinpoint the exact duration of alkaloid elimination from your system. It is best to take a long gap from kratom consumption before appearing for a drug test.
