Answers on the Half Life and Detection Time for Kratom in the Body
The kratom tree grows in Southeast Asia where it is known for its medicinal properties. While not FDA-approved in the US, kratom is easily available in many areas. It’s known for having stimulating effects in lower doses and opioid-like effects in high doses.
In the United States, kratom may be sold in tablet form, capsule form, extracted or concentrated forms, or powdered to make tea.
If you are a regular user or a loved one of someone who is, you may find yourself wondering how long does kratom stay in your system. You might want to know how long the effects last or if it will show up on a drug screening.
Keep reading to learn the answer to these and other questions on kratom, kratom half-life, and its detection time in the average person’s system. I’ll also discuss the realities of kratom addiction, despite its legality, and when you should turn to Purpose Healing Center for help managing withdrawal symptoms and overcoming dependence on this drug.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System?
The detection window for kratom depends on the method of ingestion, the dosage, individual metabolism, overall health, pre-existing medical conditions, and even genetic factors.
On average, however, kratom remains detectable for 7-9 days. The exception to this is hair tests, which can detect kratom use for 6 months or longer.
The Half-Life for Kratom
A drug’s half-life is determined by the dosage and how long it takes your body to metabolize half of the dosage, particularly in the liver. Even after a drug has been eliminated, however, the metabolites created as the body processes the kratom can be detected using specialized tests.
Since kratom is not FDA-regulated, there has not been definitive testing on its elimination half-life. In one study, however, the active compound mitragynine had a half-life of three hours.
Urine Drug Tests
The most common urine tests do not test for kratom alkaloids or metabolites. If an employer, probation officer, or member of the courts suspects kratom use, the urine sample will be shipped off to a laboratory for further testing.
Urine testing can detect kratom for an average of 9 days after your last dose. Since kratom is fat soluble, however, people with a higher body fat ratio often test positive for longer.
Hair Follicle Tests
Hair follicle tests are accurate but expensive. They can test for drug use, including kratom, for up to six months or longer. This is long after kratom leaves your system.
Saliva Tests
During oral fluid testing, a cotton swab will be used to collect a saliva sample. Saliva swabs are not a typical kratom drug test, as the metabolites cannot easily be detected using saliva testing.
Blood Sample Drug Test
Blood tests are less common than urine tests because they are invasive. Like with other drug tests, blood tests check for compounds in kratom and metabolites created as it is processed by the body. Kratom can be detected for 7-9 days or longer.
How Does Kratom Drug Testing Work?
Drug tests detect kratom metabolites, typically mytragynine. Mitragynine is one of the most prevalent compounds in kratom. It interacts with the opioid receptors in the brain to produce effects.
How is Kratom Metabolized?
Once in your system, kratom metabolization begins in the liver where the alkaloid mitragynine is broken down by enzymes, making it easier for the alkaloid to bypass the blood-brain barrier. After entering the brain, the active ingredients found in kratom extract and powders produce the effects kratom is known for.
Factors Affecting How Long Kratom Stays in Your System
Are you wondering how long kratom stays in your system because you have an upcoming drug test? The answer can vary depending on several factors.
One example is this: when you take kratom on an empty stomach, it will be metabolized faster than if you take it with a high-fat meal.
Other factors affecting the rate of kratom being metabolized are overall body weight and body fat levels, age, and overall level of health. The dose of Kratom you take, its potency, and the use of other substances can also affect how long kratom lingers and is detectable in your body.
We suggest you note that this is especially true when combining kratom with alcohol, as the liver begins the metabolization of alcohol over other drugs, which can make the kratom detection window last much longer.
How Long Do the Effects of Kratom Last?
Others who have taken the drug wonder how long kratom produces effects because they want to know when their dose will wear off.
This varies too. The amount of kratom that you take changes the way that it interacts with the central nervous system. When taking larger doses of leaf or tea, or concentrated doses with products like OPMS or others, the effects can remain strong for 6 hours or longer.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Their Position on Kratom
In terms of the national laws in the US, as per the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), kratom is not a controlled substance. There may be regulations depending on the state or area that you live in, but it is not federally regulated. This makes kratom easily accessible for most people in our country.
But even though kratom is not on the list of controlled substances, it is listed as a “Drug and Chemical of Concern” by the DEA.
Can I Be Fired for Using Kratom?
Kratom is not considered a controlled substance and even if it was, most standard drug tests do not check for kratom metabolites. Unfortunately, with how long kratom stays in a person’s system, you may test positive for over a week after using the herbal substance.
Most employers have some type of policy regarding drug and alcohol use. If you break this policy by showing up to work under the influence, regardless of whether a substance is legal, then you can be fired. Poor or dangerous decision-making or failure to complete job duties because of the effects of kratom can also lead to job termination.
When Kratom Use Becomes Drug Addiction
People use kratom for many reasons. The most common ones are chronic pain relief, self-medicating mental health problems like depression or anxiety, and to curb symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
The reality is that with frequent use, becoming physically dependent on kratom is common.
Dependence describes a need for kratom. After taking any substance for a long time, especially on a daily basis, your body and mind may feel like they cannot function without it. Once this physical and mental dependence develops, you’ll likely experience kratom withdrawal as kratom leaves the body.
How to Know You’re Struggling with Kratom Addiction
It’s not always easy to quit using kratom. If you’ve been using it regularly to manage stress, pain, or mental health symptoms, there’s a risk of kratom dependence. Once this physical dependence develops, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit using kratom. Other signs that you might be struggling with kratom addiction include:
- Wanting to use kratom but having trouble quitting
- Using kratom even when it impacts your safety or the safety of people around you
- Spending a lot of time using or recovering from using kratom
- Withdrawing socially because you cannot use kratom
- Lack of interest in the things you used to enjoy
- Putting yourself in dangerous situations, like driving, under the influence of kratom
- Having friends or family members worried about kratom usage
Even though kratom is legal in many areas, using it too frequently does have the potential for addiction. If you feel you are dependent on kratom and the way it makes you feel, don’t hesitate to reach out to Purpose Healing Center today.
We can help you manage withdrawal symptoms, learn more about addiction and its role in your life, and help you develop the tools to overcome kratom dependence for good.
What’s the Best Way of Breaking a Kratom Habit?
The core benefit of choosing professional kratom addiction treatment is that you can detox in a safe and comfortable setting.
At Purpose Healing Center, we offer medical detox for clients experiencing uncomfortable and potentially dangerous kratom withdrawal symptoms. These mimic opioid withdrawal symptoms and can be worse if you struggle with long-term kratom abuse.
We also offer dual diagnosis programs that allow our team to treat co-occuring mental health conditions and substance use disorder. For patients who have kratom detected because they’ve been using it to manage depression or anxiety, treating the underlying condition is essential for prevent relapse.
Since recovery does not look the same for everyone, we offer a variety of customized, evidence-based treatment options. This includes medical detox, inpatient rehab, outpatient programs, and mental health services. We also offer dual diagnosis across all these problems.
Get Help Overcoming Kratom Dependence at Purpose Healing
If you are worried that you’ll lose your job or have other consequences because of kratom use, it can be a sign that it’s time to ask for help. Our admissions specialists are waiting by the phone to talk about options for detox and treatment support.
Purpose Healing Center offers locations in Scottsdale and Phoenix and provides a safe, supportive environment during treatment.
Purpose also accepts many types of public and private health insurance – so please don’t hesitate to reach out today!
References
- https://pure.johnshopkins.edu/en/publications/the-health-impact-of-long-term-kratom-mitragyna-speciosa-use-in-s
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585120/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8921773/
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