This article has been reviewed for accuracy by our peer review team which includes clinicians and medical professionals. There are numerous calls into the CDC poison centers for kratom overdose every year. One is called “toss and wash.” This is where you dissolve the leaf in hot water and drink it alone or mixed with other teas to make it taste better.
Unfortunately, it seems many people are finding out the hard way that it may not be the truth. In the future, with the proper supporting research, kratom may have proven potential. However, there is no clinical evidence yet to support reported benefits.
There have been a small number of deaths due to kratom overdoses. This may be from the kratom itself or the drugs used alongside it. Sometimes, people who use opioids replace the drug with kratom in an effort to lower their opioid liquid marijuana use and relieve withdrawal. Kratom products are typically made from the leaves of a tree that grows in Southeast Asia. Those leaves contain chemical compounds that can produce a range of effects, including psychoactive ones.
Kratom may be an effective reliever for chronic pain by attaching to opioid receptors. One compound found in kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine, is 13 times more potent than morphine. Additionally, a 2014 report in Drug and Alcohol Dependence revealed that more than half of regular kratom users reported side effects that matched opioid withdrawal symptoms. These included muscle barbiturates: usage effects and signs of barbiturate overdose spasms, trouble sleeping and increased anger, stress and tension. (See the full WHO ECDD report on kratom.) Kratom remains on the list of substances under surveillance by the WHO ECDD. While kratom use or sale has been banned or restricted in several countries,9 kratom products are currently legal and accessible online49 and in stores in many areas of the United States.
Q: Does kratom have any side effects?
News Today mentions that kratom may be emerging as a small but dangerous piece of the nation’s ongoing drug crisis. Researchers are still learning how kratom and kratom compounds affect the body, as well as how short- and long-term kratom use may impact health. While evidence is quickly evolving, early studies have revealed important information about how the drug works. Because of kratom-drug interactions, avoid mixing it with other substances — even herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications — until you verify with your doctor that it’s safe.
Gaining control over kratom products can help ensure that the ingredients in the substance are what they are advertised as. Severe toxic effects are rare occurrences when dealing with kratom, but there is not much information available to estimate the danger of its toxicity effects. The most harmful effects are attributed to high doses, which are 15 grams or more, and have been characterized by seizures.
Different people experience kratom in different ways, and the products themselves can vary. However, limited evidence suggests that the herb may negatively affect sex drive by messing with hormones and energy levels [14]. Taking high doses of kratom for long periods can lead to increased levels of the hormone prolactin. Too much causes men and women to produce breast milk can cause menstrual and fertility issues in women and low libido and erectile dysfunction in men. Kratom takes effect after five to 10 minutes, and its effects last two to five hours. The effects of kratom become stronger as the quantity taken increases.
Health Effects of Long-Term Kratom Use
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate kratom nor has it been approved for medical use. The FDA has released several advisories about kratom, warning that it has a potential for abuse amid a nationwide drug epidemic alcohol detox diet eating healthy during alcohol withdrawal that has killed more than 70,000 people in 2017. The FDA is concerned that kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.
- While kratom use or sale has been banned or restricted in several countries,9 kratom products are currently legal and accessible online49 and in stores in many areas of the United States.
- But it’s legal and available online and in many places in the United States.
- These studies highlight a physical dependence on the drug, which can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation.
- According to a study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, only 0.7% of Americans use kratom regularly.
Early studies suggest that doses below 5 grams of raw plant material may act as a stimulant in the way that caffeine does. Higher doses between about 5 and 15 grams may have the opposite effect and may help relieve pain. Early studies suggest that kratom may have potential as an antidepressant and a hunger suppressant. In one animal study, researchers determined that kratom lowers corticosterone levels in mice. Increased corticosterone levels are just one of the changes in brain chemicals that can be seen in depression. For others, particularly those who take higher doses, it can function like a sedative, helping them to relax.
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However, there haven’t been enough clinical trials to help understand the health effects of kratom. If you are experiencing pain or want to overcome opioid addiction, talk to your doctor. This is because two of the compounds in kratom (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) interact with opioid receptors in your brain.
Despite those warnings, kratom largely remains legal and accessible across the United States. It’s up to consumers to weigh the allure of what some consider a more “natural” alternative to opioids against the stark warnings from health officials. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Kratom.org does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Red vein kratom powder can be a powerful tool for fighting pain or insomnia. However, we recommend you avoid taking large amounts of most reds during the day, as they can lead to excessive drowsiness and difficulty concentrating.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed kratom as a “drug of concern,” though kratom and kratom compounds are not listed on the U.S. schedule of controlled substances. Although people who take kratom believe in its value, researchers who have studied kratom think its side effects and safety problems more than offset any potential benefits. Poison control centers in the United States received about 1,800 reports involving use of kratom from 2011 through 2017, including reports of death. About half of these exposures resulted in serious negative outcomes such as seizures and high blood pressure. Five of the seven infants who were reported to have been exposed to kratom went through withdrawal. At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, making users feel more energetic.
Q: Is kratom legal?
The consensus is to take a tolerance break — only use kratom four or five days a week and stop using it for a whole week every month. If you haven’t used kratom before, start with the smallest dose possible and work your way up. Aside from multi-substance use, adulterated kratom is one of the most significant risks. Symptoms such as jaundice can be challenging to distinguish from other medical conditions. Therefore, if you or someone you know suspects liver toxicity after consuming kratom, do not hesitate to see a physician.
However, studies suggest that the herb is not as dangerous as many other legal substances and is incredibly low-risk when used responsibly (we’ll cover that further down). Despite the ongoing research on kratom, there are still many unanswered questions. The possible long-term side effects of kratom are not well known, as it is relatively new in the West. Here’s a look at the most up-to-date research on how kratom can affect your health over time, and some tips on how to avoid problems. Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree (Mitragyna speciosa) grown in Southeast Asia.
