Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom products because of potential adverse effects. While the addictive nature of kratom is much milder than powerful pharmaceutical drugs, this herb can still result in changes to the opioid receptors that can lead to physical dependence. The longer you use kratom, and the higher the dose, the more likely you are to become dependent.

Risks & Side Effects of Kratom

He quit the medication abruptly and was able to avoid withdrawal by using kratom four times per day. He reported kratom was effective for both preventing withdrawal symptoms and alleviating the chronic pain that prompted him to use the painkillers in the first place. Kratom is well-known to be addictive, as found with traditional use by natives over many years in Southeast Asian countries.

What are the benefits of kratom?

The association said these states relied on information from the FDA, which unsuccessfully sought to schedule the drug as a narcotic. A 2019 study examining cases reported by poison control centers linked 11 deaths in the U.S. to kratom from 2011 to 2017. Two of those deaths “occurred after exposure to kratom only,” the study found.

Health Benefits of Kratom

1. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans.
2. Kava is a legal herbal supplement for anxiety, stress relief, relaxation, and more.
3. It has been reported that opioid-addicted individuals use kratom to help avoid narcotic-like withdrawal side effects when other opioids are not available.
4. Consumption of its leaves produces both stimulant effects (in low doses) and sedative effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence.
5. It was also used to treat diarrhea, fever, and wounds and even as a dewormer.

The FDA notes it has no scientific data that would support the use of kratom for medical purposes. In addition, the FDA states that kratom should not be used as an alternative to prescription opioids, even if using it for opioid withdrawal symptoms. FDA encourages more research to better understand kratom’s safety profile, including the use of kratom combined with other drugs. At this time FDA has said that Kratom is not appropriate for use as a dietary supplement.

It has also been promoted as a remedy or cure for opioid addiction. Experts need to look deeper into this to understand compare different sober houses if it can actually help with withdrawal. Compared to other options available on the street, kratom is gaining traction.

Animal studies suggest that the primary mitragynine pharmacologic action occurs at the mu and delta-opioid receptors, as well as serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways in the spinal cord. Stimulation at post-synaptic alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, and receptor blocking at 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A may also occur. The 7-hydroxymitragynine may have a higher affinity for the opioid receptors. Kratom products are made from leaves from Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. If you read health news or visit vitamin stores, you may have heard about kratom.

Its leaves have been used to treat everything from chronic pain to fatigue. Kratom contains two main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, marijuana statistics in the us which interact with the opioid receptors in the brain. Kratom is also a recreational drink there, much like coffee or tea.

High-dose use may lead to fast heart rate (tachycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). Tremor, anorexia, and weight loss are other possible side effects of long-term use. The DEA states that drug abuse surveys have not monitored kratom use or abuse in the US, so its true demographic extent of use, abuse, addiction, or toxicity is not known. However, as reported by the DEA in 2016, there were 660 calls to U.S. poison centers related to kratom exposure from 2010 to 2015. In 2018 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported it was investigating a multistate outbreak of 28 salmonella infections in 20 states linked to kratom use. They noted that 11 people had been hospitalized with salmonella illness linked to kratom.

People who use kratom report that at low doses, kratom acts as an upper, called a stimulant. At higher doses, people who use it report that it reduces pain and makes them feel calm and less anxious, also called a sedative. Kava is a legal herbal supplement for anxiety, stress relief, relaxation, and more. Kratom products work as a sedative and stimulant depending on the dose and cannot be marketed as a supplement.

The agency also has reported at least 44 deaths among people who used kratom, though many of them took other drugs along with it or used kratom that was contaminated with other substances. In recent years, the agency has cracked down on companies that sell kratom as a treatment for withdrawal from opioids and other conditions. They also warn that some kratom products may be tainted with harmful bacteria like salmonella. It’s banned in several countries and listed as a “drug of concern” by the DEA.

The primary psychoactive component, mitragynine, is many times more potent than morphine. Placing kratom into schedule I would place it in the same category as heroin, LSD or marijuana, and prevent access for medical research, a concern for many experts, consumers, and advocacy groups. Lack of quality scientific evidence confounds the evaluation of the safety of kratom. Concerns also exist that the general public would not be able to identify or confirm the quality or purity of kratom from any Internet source. On the Internet, kratom is marketed in a variety of forms, including kratom capsules, kratom drinks, kratom tea, raw leaf, powder, gum, pressed into tablets, and as a concentrated extract.

Likewise, if it is taken with any other substances that cause sedation, it can worsen that effect and even lead to respiratory depression and breathing trouble. Kratom does not have FDA approval to treat any condition, so there is no specific recommended dose. Early studies suggest that doses below 5 grams of raw plant material may act as a stimulant, similar to caffeine. Higher doses between about 5 and 15 grams may have the opposite effect and may help relieve pain. They misuse it as a way to relax, calm anxiety, treat depression, or self-treat pain.

These days, you may find kratom in pills, capsules, powders or even drinks. In Thailand, for example, you can buy a concoction made with kratom leaves, cough syrup, cola and ice. And kratom bars have begun to pop up across the U.S., offering kratom concoctions in place of cocktails.

Instead of turning to a risky drug with a dubious legal status, experts urge people in need of pain relief, anxiety or other conditions to explore other alternative treatments or outlets. Below are several ways to address common conditions—without the use of kratom. Feel Free is made from the root of the South Pacific plant kava and the can you drink alcohol while taking amitriptyline leaves of the Southeast Asian tree kratom. Kava has a calming, euphoric effect while kratom, which has a complicated legal history in the United States, is a mild stimulant that has been known to have addictive qualities. In 2018, the FDA classified kratom as an opioid and warned against using it; the agency continues to assess kratom.

We are a team of experts committed to promoting health & wellness through education, support, and awareness. Furthermore, kratom is only available with a doctor’s prescription in Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Lastly, a handful of cities and counties have banned kratom altogether.

Today, kava is marketed as beneficial for anxiety, insomnia, stress relief, memory problems, mood regulation, and more. Existing research suggests small benefits for anxiety only, with no evidence supporting other conditions. Kratom’s effects on the body may also depend on how it’s consumed, says David Cohen, clinical director at Harmony Place, an addiction treatment and recovery center in Woodland Hills, California. Kratom can be consumed as crushed leaves (eaten or smoked), tea, capsules or powder.