How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System? Understanding Kratom Detection in Drug Tests

Kratom is the common name for a tree-like plant called Mitragyna speciosa that grows in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia.[1] In those areas, it has a long history of use as part of traditional and modern herbal medicine — and its use has now spread to the United States. Many people see kratom as a natural alternative to prescription opioids, thanks to its pain-killing properties. Others use it as a stimulant. Because kratom is legal in most (but not all) states, many people assume that they can use this herbal stimulant without consequence.[2] However, kratom may appear as a controlled substance on drug tests, leading to the question: How long does kratom stay in your system? Answering this question means gaining a better understanding of this drug and how it works inside your body.

What Is Kratom?

Mitragyna, or kratom, is a plant described as having “unique pharmacological properties” with effects similar to opioids. Although it is not a true opioid — as all opioids are derivatives of the poppy plant — it contains alkaloids that impact the body in a similar way.[3] Because of this, some people use kratom as an alternative form of pain relief. Kratom is usually taken as a tea or in a capsule form. There are three main types or strains of kratom: white, red, or green, where the colors refer to the visible veins in the kratom leaves.[4]

Notable Effects of Kratom

Although kratom is best known for its potential as a painkiller. Some people use kratom as a stimulant to give them a feeling of increased energy and motivation.[4] Others may use it to manage their mood, for example, as a mild form of anxiety relief. Red kratom strains are largely used for pain relief or to help users sleep. This is likely due to its high concentration of the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine, which research indicates has potential as an analgesic.[5] White kratom is usually taken for its stimulating or euphoric effects. Anecdotal reports suggest that users will take kratom early in the day in place of coffee to help keep them alert or focused. The effectiveness possibly comes from the presence of mitragynine, which can impact the brain’s serotonin receptors.[4]

How Kratom Works

  Kratom contains over 40 alkaloids, naturally occurring compounds that have different impacts on the body or brain. The primary compounds that create a psychoactive effect are the aforementioned mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Kratom alkaloids have a similar effect on the body to opioids, binding to opioid receptors and potentially helping to manage pain. Another potential use of kratom is to manage the withdrawal symptoms of true opioids.[6]

How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System After Use?

If you’re concerned that your employer or someone else may want to perform a kratom drug test, it helps to know how long the substance remains detectable in a person’s system. Many employers conduct drug tests, especially when the nature of your work means that the slightest lapse in judgment could cause a danger to you or others.[7] You may wonder why a drug test would check for herbal substances like kratom. The reason may be that the use of this plant is banned and, therefore, illegal in at least six states, although it is currently legal in most of the United States. However, even if you are acting in a completely legal manner, kratom can cause you difficulty on drug tests because some of the active compounds in kratom can cause a drug screen to detect the use of opioids incorrectly. [8] If the drug test is focused on the detection of opioids, kratom may cause a false positive. Of course, this can have a devastating impact on your career and reputation. An employer could terminate your employment based on a positive drug result, particularly when you have signed a contract to state that you willingly submit to drug tests and will abide by the results. Ensuring that you don’t take kratom when it can impact a drug test means knowing how long it takes to clear fully out of your system. Unfortunately, several different factors may impact this. For example, someone with higher body fat than average may take longer to metabolize kratom. Higher doses of kratom will also stay in your system for longer. The drug may also interact with other substances in the body, impacting how long the effects continue. [9]

Detection Windows for Kratom in Urine Tests

There are some urine tests that can tell the difference between kratom and opioids. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) can check for the presence of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine — the active compounds in kratom. However, the detection window for these compounds is short. The elimination half-life of kratom is less than four hours, so the dosage within the body can drop dramatically in a very short time.[10] If you could convince your employer to pursue kratom-specific testing, they may still not detect the substance unless you took it very recently. Your employer is also not obliged to perform specific urine or blood tests, and even if they agree to this, it may be at your expense.

FDA Stance on Kratom

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom for any type of treatment, and it does not recommend kratom as an alternative to recognized opioid withdrawal remedies. However, the FDA hasn’t marked kratom as a controlled substance. [11] The FDA does note that kratom should not be sold or marketed as a dietary supplement. There have already been instances of the seizure of “contaminated” dietary supplements because the FDA’s stance is that there’s not enough evidence to assure the safety of kratom.[12] It also notes that it cannot determine how kratom will interact with other drugs and medications.

Potential for Kratom Misuse

Because kratom affects the body’s opioid receptors, it is possible to become addicted to this herb. Kratom addiction usually only occurs when taking the drug at high doses. Smaller doses, sometimes called microdoses, shouldn’t lead to dependence. Unfortunately, there is limited research into the long-term effects of kratom, its side effects, and dealing with addiction. Similarly, little is known about kratom withdrawal symptoms. Some users may be more prone to addiction than others, particularly if they’ve had difficulties with substance misuse in the past. For compassionate, non-judgmental advice and support for any addiction treatment options for yourself or a loved one, contact the team at Southeast Addiction Center, TN.