You may have seen Kratom for sale at a convenience store or heard of Kratom tea and asked yourself, “What is Kratom?” Long used as a traditional herbal medicine in Southeast Asia, Kratom has gained popularity in the United States in recent years. With widespread availability online and at gas stations, Kratom is used by millions of Americans to self-medicate for chronic pain, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The FDA hasn’t approved Kratom for any medicinal uses though many people think that because it’s a naturally occurring substance, Kratom is safe. Kratom can be addictive and even fatally toxic when combined with alcohol or other drugs, so it’s important to educate yourself on Kratom, its effects, and the risks associated with its use.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is another name for Mitragyna speciosa, a tree that is native to many countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia. The Kratom tree is an evergreen tree that is part of the coffee family. Its leaves contain many alkaloids, two of which are known to be psychoactive: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The term “Kratom” is also used to refer to the herbal extract created from the leaves of the Kratom tree. In Southeast Asia, street names for Kratom include thang, biak, kakaum, thom, and ketum.
Forms of Kratom
Kratom comes in many forms. In Southeast Asia, manual laborers traditionally chewed fresh Kratom leaves in order to relieve pain and increase alertness. Kratom tea, brewed from crushed Kratom leaves, is also common. Kratom drinks are made by adding powdered Kratom to water or another beverage. Kratom powder can also be added to food which helps mask its bitter taste. Some users take the powder orally and wash it down with a beverage, also known as the” toss-and-wash method.”
In the United States, Kratom is most often available as powder, capsules, tablets, and concentrated extracts. Because Kratom isn’t regulated, the level of active ingredients varies widely from product to product. The leaves of the Kratom tree naturally contain lower levels of the active compounds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine though commercially available Kratom is often much more potent.
What Does Kratom Do?
Scientists are still studying how Kratom affects the body. But we do know that Kratom effects vary according to several factors: how much Kratom you’ve taken, how you take it, what other drugs you’ve taken, and your overall health. The amount of active ingredient in Kratom products is highly variable and some Kratom products contain impurities and even other drugs such as fentanyl and hydrocodone. This makes it hard to predict how, say, a Kratom capsule or Kratom tea will affect you. Research shows that, in part, the main active compounds in Kratom activate receptors in the brain that are also activated by opioids. At a lower dose, between one and five grams, Kratom acts as a stimulant, making you feel more awake, alert, energized, and social. At a higher dose, between five and fifteen grams, Kratom acts as a sedative with effects that mimic those of opioids. You may feel relaxed, confused, and calm. At higher doses, Kratom can even make you feel a high like the ones caused by higher doses of opioids and marijuana. Users usually feel the effects of Kratom within minutes of taking it though the effects of Kratom can last for several hours.
Kratom Benefits
The National Institute on Drug Abuse and other NIH institutes are researching Kratom to find out if it has any potential medical uses. Currently, Kratom has not been proven to be safe or effective for medical use. Animal studies indicate that Kratom may be somewhat effective as an antidepressant and a pain reliever. But there have been no clinical studies to verify these effects on humans. Surveys show that people use Kratom to treat pain, alleviate mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. Users report that small doses make them feel more alert and energetic while large doses have opioid-like effects. Although people who take Kratom believe that it is safe, Kratom can have dangerous and even fatal side effects.
Kratom Side Effects
Kratom side effects can be physical, physiological, and psychological. Reported side effects of Kratom use include:
- Constipation
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Upset stomach
- Dry mouth
- Muscle aches and pains
- Sweating
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Hallucinations
- Respiratory distress
- Tremors
- Seizures
Chronic use, defined as daily use for a month or longer, may cause liver damage.
Is Kratom Safe?
The FDA considers Kratom to be a Drug of Concern, meaning it can cause harm to those who use it. Additionally, because it hasn’t been approved by the FDA, Kratom isn’t inspected for safety, contamination, or consistency. This means that you don’t really know the potency of what you’re taking or if it’s been mixed with harmful contaminants. In 2018, there was an outbreak of a rare strain of Salmonella bacteria in Kratom and Kratom products that caused people in 20 states to become seriously ill. Kratom seems to exacerbate symptoms for users with existing heart conditions, epilepsy, and mental health issues. Using Kratom during pregnancy is especially harmful. Babies born to mothers who take Kratom often show symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Mixing Kratom with Other Drugs
While using Kratom on its own does carry risks, those risks are amplified when you mix Kratom with alcohol or other drugs. Of the reported deaths associated with Kratom use, most also involved other drugs. Research shows that Kratom amplifies the effects of drugs that affect your central nervous system, including alcohol, opioids, benzos, antidepressants, and barbiturates. Scientists also think that taking other drugs with Kratom increases the risk of Kratom-related seizures. Studies also indicate that people with alcohol use disorder who take Kratom may have an increased risk of suicide.
Long-Term Health Effects
Kratom has not been studied as much or for as long as other drugs, so there is still much to be learned about the long-term health effects of Kratom. There is some evidence that chronic Kratom use can cause or at least contribute to liver damage.
Is Kratom Legal?
Kratom’s legality depends on where you are located. Kratom is illegal in many European and Southeast Asian countries. Right now, Kratom is not federally regulated as a controlled substance in the United States, although the DEA lists it as a Drug of Concern. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin have made it illegal to manufacture, distribute, purchase, and possess Kratom. Sixteen other states have placed limitations, including minimum purchase age restrictions, on the manufacturing, distribution, sale, and possession of Kratom.
Is Kratom Addictive?
People can become addicted to Kratom. Studies have shown that people who are heavy users of Kratom, defined as using more than five grams per dose at least three times per day, are at risk for developing a dependence on the drug. Over time, the body adapts to the presence of Kratom. This means that once heavy Kratom use stops, withdrawal symptoms appear.
Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline
Compared to opiates and opioids, Kratom withdrawal symptoms are mild to moderate. Although withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person, the most common Kratom withdrawal symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Runny nose
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Mood swings
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Excessive tiredness
How Long Does Kratom Withdrawal Last?
Kratom withdrawal symptoms usually begin within 48 hours of your last dose of Kratom and last between three and ten days. Healthcare providers may treat Kratom withdrawal symptoms with a short course of buprenorphine-naloxone, a drug also used to treat opioid use disorder.
Can You Overdose on Kratom?
It is possible to overdose on Kratom. Signs of a Kratom overdose include:
- Rapid heart rate
- Nausea
- Excessive drowsiness
- High blood pressure
- Irritability
- Seizures
- Coma
Combining Kratom with alcohol or other drugs increases your risk of overdose. If you think you or someone you know has overdosed on Kratom, call 911 and get medical help right away.
Kratom Detox
While Kratom withdrawal symptoms may not be as severe as those caused by opioid withdrawal, they can still be quite uncomfortable and distressing to experience.
Detox West Tennessee offers a safe, controlled, compassionate environment for you to taper and stop using Kratom. Our licensed, experienced staff are with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, supporting you on your journey to sobriety. We’ll help manage your withdrawal symptoms, keeping you comfortable and safe as your body adjusts to the absence of Kratom. We also offer therapeutic support and, if necessary, medical intervention to give you a firm foundation for long-term recovery. We’re also experts in multi-substance detox.
Getting sober can be overwhelming. But you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to guide and assist you through detox and the early days of sobriety so that you can develop healthy habits and reclaim your life. Take the first step towards a new life and reach out to us today at 901-657-2468.