To identify the duration of action of Kratom in our body, it is necessary that we highlight all the aspects that affect its absorption, distribution, and elimination. The method of consumption is highly important too.
Kratom capsules stay in your system for a longer time compared to powdered Kratom.
What is the mechanism behind this variability?
To understand this, let’s have a look at the pharmacokinetics of Kratom and also throw some light on detection of Kratom in urine and its importance in drug testing.
What is the duration of action of Kratom?
In other words, what is the half-life of Kratom? The answer to this depends on the type of strain that is being consumed.
However, generally observed, the half-life of Kratom varies from four to six hours.
This means that when you take the recommended dose of around 3-4 grams of Kratom (the dose varies with various strains), you will observe effects within an hour and these effects will last for about four to six hours.
So, Kratom stays within our system with maximal efficacy for around six hours.
How long does it take, to take out Kratom from your system?
Understanding the elimination half-life of Kratom in humans has recently been studied in a group of males who appeared to have Kratom abused for around two years.
The study suggests that the primary alkaloid ‘mitragynine’ has an elimination half-life of around 23-24 hours (+/- 16.07 hours). This means that it will take around one day to eliminate 50% of Kratom from your body.
Applying the formula of half life, we calculate the time period required to completely clearing Kratom from a person’s system and it comes out to be around 5.33 days.
Fast metabolizers will have an elimination half-life of 7.17 hours, clearing the system in 1.64 days while slow metabolizers will have an elimination half-life of 39.31 hours, clearing the system in 9 days.
For how long can Kratom be detected in urine?
Deducing from the elimination half-life one can clearly state the period in which Kratom can be detected in urine. However, due to frequent variations, there is no hard and fast rule.
The average person takes around 5.33 days to eliminate Kratom from the systemic circulation so alkaloids may be excreted in urine for over a week.
Though, in cases of infrequent consumption in low doses, it may not be detectable in your urine after a week.
Does Kratom appear on a drug test?
Before we answer whether Kratom appears on drug tests or not, let’s identify what a drug test is? It is the chemical analysis of a biological specimen that can be urine, blood, breath, hair or saliva.
Most commonly the drug test used for detection of performance boosting drugs is the Urine drug test (UDS).
It is the most accurate and quick one. However, it may give false positives. In this case, you always go for a Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS). UDS can also give false negatives.
Yes, its alkaloids appear on a urine test and more specifically on LC/MS, revealing concentrations of metabolites of mitragynine like 5-desmethylmitragynine and 17-desmethyldihydromitragynine.
What are the other types of Kratom drug tests?
- Blood Test
These are less likely to be used for Kratom detection as they show up Kratom only within 24 hours of consumption.
The concentrations of mitragynine in a regular consumer reach 10-50 micrograms per liter of blood. Those intoxicated may show levels exceeding 100 micrograms per liter.
- Saliva Test
It isn’t very common. The technique involves the collection of oral fluid and performing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- Hair Test
This test provides a longer window of detection as compared to urine and blood tests.
Can I use kratom before a drug test?
To stay on the safe side, it is recommended not to consume any strain of Kratom at least a week prior to the drug test. It can show up positive or false positive as the alkaloids of Kratom take around 5-6 days to get completely eliminated from the body.
Who may be tested for Kratom?
In countries where Kratom is banned, you might get tested for it, but generally criminals, drug rehab clients, employees of certain companies and military personnel may get tested for it.
You are asked to stay sober in certain occupations; therefore you may be tested for Kratom.
Identify the variables that influence the elimination half-life of Kratom.
The content of Kratom alkaloid: Greater the amount of mitragynine, longer is the half life.
- Age: Elderly persons have longer elimination half-life.
- Increased body fat content allows mitragynine to stay in the body as it is lipophilic in nature.
- Increased hydration decreases elimination half-life as excretion speed is increased due to higher urinary output.
- Fatty food intake increases absorption of Kratom and enhances its bioavailability, increasing its excretion speed.
- Hepatic impairment prolongs elimination half-life.
- The higher the basal metabolic rate, the quicker the elimination.
- Renal insufficiency results in the impaired elimination of Kratom from the system.
- A Higher dose of Kratom prolongs the elimination half-life of mitragynine.
- The more frequent the consumption of Kratom, the higher the absorption of Kratom in the adipose tissue of our body and the longer the elimination half-life.
How to clear Kratom from your system?
You have a drug test, and you have consumed Kratom, don’t worry you can take it out of your system. Start by exercising, to get rid of fat stores (actually mitragynine stores).
If you recently ingested Kratom, try using activated charcoal to get Kratom adsorbed.
You can also try eating acidic food and beverages to acidify the ph of your blood and degrade acid labile alkaloids of Kratom, thus increasing their excretion speed.
Also, use Calcium-D-Glucarate to aid with the renal excretion of Kratom.
