Traditionally used in Southeast Asian cultures, kratom is a drug that is recently gaining traction in the West. Kratom is the latest in “legal highs” – a legal and accessible drug that nonetheless has powerful, opioid-like effects.
In this article, we’re focusing on the duration of kratom’s effect on the body. How long does a kratom high last? In order to best understand the answer to this, we’ll explain how the active compounds in kratom are processed in your body.
Key Points:
As with all drugs, there are a multitude of factors that ultimately influence how long kratom effects will last. These include:
- Dosage
- Strain of kratom
- Method of administration
- Age
- Metabolism
- Genetics
- History of use
- Other substances
- Set and setting
What is Kratom?
Kratom comes from the tropical Mitragyna speciosa plant, native to Southeast Asia. Indigenous people traditionally consume kratom by chewing the leaves, brewing into a tea, or smoking. In low doses, it acts as a stimulant, similar to coffee. In fact, the kratom plant is in the same family as the coffee plant. Traditionally, it would have been used to help provide manual laborers with energy throughout their workday. But it could also be used socially or recreationally, consumed at tea shops or gatherings.
However, these coffee-like effects are unlikely to explain Western interest in kratom. At higher doses, kratom has more potent, opioid-like effects. The active compounds in kratom can interact with opioid receptors in the brain, to sedate the user and relieve pain. Because this drug is legal and accessible, whereas true opioids are not, kratom has captured the interest of people with chronic pain, anxiety, or opioid addiction, who are searching for solutions.
What Are the Active Compounds in Kratom?
There are more than 25 active alkaloids present in the kratom plant. The two that are the most pharmacologically relevant are called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. 7-hydroxymitragynine is more potent, but mitragynine is present in higher quantities, and may even be converted to 7-hydroxymitragynine once in the body.
These compounds are significant because they interact with opioid receptors in the body, the same biological receptors that respond to drugs like codeine and morphine, or endogenous (naturally produced) opioids in the body.
Beyond the opioid system, other biochemical systems may also respond to the alkaloids in kratom. These include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine receptors. These systems play a role in your emotions, reward system, and adrenaline response.
What Are the Effects of Kratom?
As we mentioned above, the three primary motivations for kratom use are:
- Chronic pain
- Opioid addiction/withdrawal
- Replacing illicit substances such as opioids, or recreational substances such as alcohol
Obviously, these are not mutually exclusive, and often all three motivations occur together. The reason these are the most prominent motivations for kratom use is because kratom also comes along with significant side effects and addiction potential. Therefore, it is much more likely to be a necessary to someone who is in desperate need of chronic pain relief, as opposed to someone who is merely looking for an extra pick-me-up.
That said, kratom has many other potential benefits, which may include:
- Increased energy and alertness
- Mood boost
- Enhanced talkativeness or socialization
- Relaxation
- Euphoria
- Increased appetite
- Increased libido
- Topical treatment for wounds
Potential side effects of kratom include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
In rare cases, kratom may also induce more severe side effects such as seizures, high blood pressure, and liver problems.
Despite its similarities to opioids, kratom does not appear to pose the same risk of respiratory depression as true opioids, and is generally considered safer. Most kratom-related fatalities have involved poly-substance abuse, and therefore kratom should not be mixed with other substances.
How Long Does a Kratom High Last?
Low dose effects of kratom can be expected to take hold within 10 to 15 minutes of consumption, and endure for 60 to 90 minutes. Higher doses may last from two to six hours.
In this section, we’ll break down the various factors that can determine how long the acute effects of kratom will endure.
Dose
The effects and duration of kratom are dose-dependent. Lower doses result in stimulant-like effects, while higher doses induce opioid-like effects, and eventually stupor and dysphoria. Higher doses will likely cause kratom effects to persist for longer.
|
Dosage (g) |
Expected effect |
|
1-5 |
Stimulant |
|
5-15 |
Opioid-like |
|
>15 |
Stupor and dysphoria |
Mode of Ingestion
The above doses are based on the raw leaves. Kratom is sold in many forms, including capsules, tablets, and powders, which can increase the risk of overdose.
Strain
As with cannabis, different strains of kratom can have different potencies, based on the concentrations of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, lesser alkaloids, and even non-bioactive compounds that can cause matrix effects.
Age
Older people tend to have slower metabolisms, which can cause the body to retain kratom for longer.
Metabolism
Metabolism can also vary from person to person, depending on genetics and lifestyle.
Genetics
Individuals have genetic variation in their ability to process kratom, which can change the dosage required to induce an effect on the body, or even the nature of that effect.
History of Use
Chronic kratom users may build up a tolerance, and will therefore require a higher dosage to induce the same effects as a new user. However, chronic users will also require more time to clear kratom from the system to the point where it is undetectable on a drug test.
Other Substances
Combining kratom with other substances, whether illegal or not, can dramatically change the effects of kratom on the body. In fact, polysubstance abuse is the primary risk factor for kratom-related fatalities, and should be avoided at all costs. Even common, seemingly innocuous drugs such as alcohol should not be combined with kratom.
Set and Setting
Set and setting can always have a powerful influence on drug effects. We’ve previously written about how this would work for drugs like cannabis and psychedelics, but the same goes for kratom or any drug. Your mood, environment, and expectations will all play a significant role in your experience.
How Long Does Kratom Stay in Your System?
How long kratom stays in your system is a distinctly different question from how long the high will last. Even if the acute effects of kratom have worn off, kratom may still show up on a drug test. While the acute effects of kratom may last only a few hours, the kratom alkaloids may remain detectable on a drug test for up to one week.
That said, kratom is not an illicit substance, and because it is still relatively new, it is not included in a standard 5-panel or 10-panel drug test.
How to Buy Kratom
Kratom has a host of potential benefits, but given the dangers and addiction potential, it’s extra important to buy from a reputable source. Feel free to check our buyer’s guide for tips on what to look for and how to be safe when sourcing and using kratom.
As always, if you have additional questions about kratom or any of our products, please feel free to contact us for more information.
