When you start incorporating kratom into your routine, it’s helpful to know when to take it, which format and strain are suitable for you, how long it will take to kick in, and how long its effects will last—all so you can get the best results for your desired outcomes and avoid unwanted effects. Generally, the effects of kratom will last anywhere from 3 to 6 hours, and there is a lot to understand behind that answer. We’ll break it down below so you can fully wrap your head around what to expect.
Major factors to consider
Different kratom strains can have an energizing, uplifting effect, while others deliver more relaxing, comforting results. Kratom quality is also essential to consider. Other factors to note when considering kratom effects duration include your body composition, metabolism, and whether you eat before taking kratom. Even the type of food you eat can affect kratom’s duration in your body, but we’ll get into that in a minute.
I love kratom’s ability to fit itself into whatever part of my routine I’m interested in changing, whether it’s my morning ramp-up, midday break, or evening wind-down. Making kratom a part of your daily experience is a hackable, customizable process, and it’s easy to time your kratom break to line up with whatever part of the day you need it to. After reading this guide, you can fine-tune your kratom experience to exactly what you want.
Short-term effects vs. lingering benefits
Before diving into how to optimize the duration of a single serving of kratom, let’s talk about its lesser-known lingering benefits. As you may already know, kratom’s effects have a primary crest point and a subsequent tapering-off period. But as well as short-term effects like improved mood, energy, and relaxation, for many individuals, kratom delivers longer-lasting benefits. These benefits may include a sense of well-being that extends beyond the immediate effects of a single serving of kratom.
Duration by delivery mechanism
- Kratom Powder: Maximum effects may be felt around 1-2 hours after ingestion, lasting anywhere from 3 to 6 hours.
- Capsules: These offer a similar timeline to maximum effect as loose powder, but with a delayed onset of about 15-30 minutes because the capsules need time to absorb.
- Kratom Tea: The effects of home-brewed kratom tea can last several hours, with a maximum effect landing at the 1-2 hour mark, similar to other ingestion methods.
- Liquid Extracts: These differ from powder and capsules in that delivery is a little quicker in liquid form but matches the maximum effect, kicking in at about 1-2 hours in, with the impact felt for 3-6 hours total.
- Gummies/Edibles: Because the kratom is suspended in the gummy, this delivery format takes a bit longer to digest once chewed up and swallowed (but is a great option for on-the-go). It should deliver maximum effect around 1-2 hours, totaling 3-6 hours.
How kratom quality and strength affect the duration of effects
- High-strength kratom contains a higher concentration of active alkaloids responsible for producing kratom’s effects. Lower-quality kratom may have mild effects or no effects at all.
- High-quality kratom is more likely to provide consistent effects across different batches. That means if you find and stick to a product you like that is manufactured well, it’ll be more likely to predict your future experiences with kratom accurately.
- High-quality kratom tends to have a more prolonged duration of effects than lower quality.
In a worst-case scenario, you may buy kratom from a less than reputable source and end up with kratom that’s been adulterated with truly dangerous substances. In this case, the effects depend on what’s mixed in with the kratom, potentially resulting in a wicked hangover or even permanent, life-altering effects. Before anything else, get detailed information about kratom and learn as much as possible.
Different strains and their duration of effects
- Red vein: These strains are often associated with relaxation and a sense of calm. Red vein effects are longer-lasting than other strains, lasting 4-6 hours.
- Green vein: These strains deliver a balanced experience or a combination of relaxation and energy. Duration is similar to red vein kratom, around 4-6 hours.
- White vein: Considered more energizing, the effects of white vein kratom are often noted as shorter than green and red, lasting around 3-5 hours.
Metabolism and food intake
If you have a fast metabolism, you will process kratom more quickly and be more likely to notice the effects for less time than someone with a slower metabolism. Your body will eliminate kratom’s active compounds faster. With a slower metabolism, you may feel the effects of kratom longer. When it comes to food, taking kratom on an empty stomach usually means you’ll feel it faster, but the effects will probably have a shorter duration because there’s no food to slow down the breakdown of kratom in your stomach.
On the other hand, if you take kratom with or directly after food, you may feel effects longer because the alkaloids are released more gradually after food has taken its time to digest. Fun fact: The type of foods consumed just before kratom can also impact how your body processes it—fatty foods may enhance the absorption of certain kratom alkaloids, but this can vary based on body composition.
You’re well on your way…
To review: Remember to consider kratom quality, strain, delivery method, what’s in your stomach, your metabolism, and what part of your routine you’d like to optimize. By following a few simple tips, I’m confident you can create a kratom routine that’s just right for you.
References
Manwill, Preston K, et al. “Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) Validation: Quantitative Analysis…” Thieme Connect. Accessed August 2023.
Recardo, Daniel. “Kratom Dosage Guide for Beginners – How Much Kratom to Take.” Kratom IQ. Published March 2023.
Swogger, Marc T, et al. “Understanding Kratom Use: A Guide for Healthcare Providers.” ResearchGate. Published March 2022.
