Tag: Cathine

In the United States, D-norpseudoephedrine, also known as Cathine, is a Schedule IV controlled substance due to its stimulant and psychoactive properties. This compound is an active metabolite of ephedrine and is found naturally in the leaves of the khat plant (*Catha edulis*), which has been used for centuries for its stimulant effects. D-norpseudoephedrine hydrochloride is a salt form of this substance, used primarily in research due to its classification and restricted availability.

The principal stimulant in fresh khat, cathinone, is as potent as d-amphetamine and produces qualitatively similar effects. This evergreen shrub, cultivated in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, has been chewed for centuries for its psychostimulatory effects. Understanding **what is the active ingredient in khat** is crucial to grasp its physiological and psychological impact.

The active compound cathinone in fresh khat leaves has a short elimination half-life of just 1.5 hours, making it rapidly metabolized by the body. However, a definitive answer to **how long does khat stay in the system?** varies significantly depending on the specific substance being tested for, as well as individual user factors and frequency of use.

The primary active component in the khat plant, cathinone, has a very short half-life of approximately 1.5 to 4.3 hours, meaning it is eliminated from the body relatively quickly. This rapid metabolism is a key factor in determining how long a kat stays in your system, but it's the slower-metabolizing substances that extend its detection window in drug tests.