Kratom: What Is It? Uses, Adverse Reactions, and Additional Information
Similar to opioids, kratom is a natural supplement that has a high risk of addiction and significant negative effects. Although many people use kratom to self-treat conditions like anxiety or opiate addiction, authorities and health professionals strongly advise against doing so.
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What Does Kratom Mean?
Mitragyna speciosa, often known as kratom or kray-tum, is a plant that is indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. It may be ingested to produce a variety of physiological and psychological effects, including drowsiness and vertigo. The plant features large, pointy-tipped leaves on a slender stalk. Kratom can be taken as tea, powder, pills, or crushed leaves that can be eaten or smoked.
Kratom was used for centuries to cure a variety of ailments, including pain, nausea, alcohol and narcotic withdrawal, improved sexual drive, and exhaustion. It was also used to purify the body from other drugs.
According to polls conducted today, people who use kratom do so as a nonprescription therapy for pain, opioid problems, depression, and anxiety. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not authorized any of these purposes, nor any other. Experts emphasize that more study is needed to fully understand kratom and that there isn’t any scientific evidence to support the drug’s use as a therapy for any health issues.
Is it Legal to Use Kratom?
Although kratom is currently legal in the United States, Aakash Shah, M.D., chief of addiction medicine in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, notes that “roughly 30 states have pending legislative measures pertaining to the sale of kratom, and six [Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin] have outright banned the sale of kratom.”
A warning not to take kratom has also been issued by the FDA because of concerns about the plant’s potential to cause addiction, misuse, and dependency in consumers. Kratom is categorized as a substance and chemical of concern by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
How Does Cannabis Act?
Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the two primary active ingredients in kratom, bind to the body’s opioid receptors to generate effects similar to those of morphine. At smaller dosages, users tend to experience alertness, physical vitality, talkativeness, and a quick heartbeat; at larger doses, users frequently experience symptoms of drowsiness, including euphoria, pain alleviation, and reduced respiration.
The chief medical officer of Mountainside Treatment Center in Connecticut and board-certified psychiatrist Randall Dwenger, M.D., adds, “We’ve also seen some psychiatric confusion [with kratom use].” “It mimics some psychiatric disorders, like bipolar disorders, sometimes, but not necessarily psychosis.”
According to David Cohen, clinical director of Harmony Place, an addiction treatment and rehabilitation facility in Woodland Hills, California, the effects of kratom on the body may also vary depending on how it is eaten.
“Kratom slows down the heart, affects the central nervous system, and can damage your kidneys and liver if you drink it,” he adds, emphasizing the need for more research to fully understand the drug’s effects on the body.
Recognized Interactions Between Drugs
According to Dr. Dwenger, kratom can intensify the effects of other “drugs of abuse,” such fentanyl, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and opiates. Cohen continues, “There isn’t enough research to know about more drug interactions,” but adds that “kratom and alcohol also work together to further slow your heart rate and breathing.”
Kratom Dosage
Due to its unregulated nature and lack of study, it is challenging to determine the appropriate dosage of kratom and the point at which too much of it is used.
In a 2015 trial, ten males were given a daily dosage of 6.25–11.5 mg for one week, with a final dose of 6.25–23 mg. The researchers came to the conclusion that those who are addicted to opioids may be able to utilize kratom as an opioid alternative. The study’s greatest side effects were transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure as well as tongue numbness; because the dosage was less than 30 milligrams, the researchers surmise that no major side effects occurred.
Before taking Kratom, see your healthcare professional to find out whether it’s appropriate for your requirements and to find out what a safe dosage is.
Kratom Adverse Effects and Safety Measures
Kratom’s primary concern is the increased potential for addiction. According to Dr. Dwenger, “it really checks all the boxes [of addiction].” “People develop tolerance, experience withdrawal symptoms, crave more to get the desired effect, and spend a lot of money on this product.”
Side effects of kratom include:
Delusions and hallucinations
upset stomach (vomiting, constipation, or nausea)
Itching
Perspiration
mouth dryness
elevated urination
elevated heart rate
Feeling sleepy
appetite decline
Dr. Shah states that kratom by itself can impair respiration, harm the liver, induce seizures, and even result in death. “People who have struggled with substance use disorders may also relapse.”
Dr. Dwenger continues, “Pain, illness, irritability, and anger can also result from kratom withdrawal.”
You run the risk of not knowing where your kratom comes from or whether it has been tampered with because there is no regulation surrounding the industry.
Furthermore, the lack of recognition of kratom usage as a drug use disorder restricts the amount of detox and rehabilitation treatment that insurance will pay for.
Alternatives to Kratom
Experts recommend that anyone in need of pain alleviation, anxiety, or other ailments look into various alternative therapies or outlets rather than using a dangerous medication with a murky legal status. Here are a few methods to treat common ailments without using kratom.
Chronic pain: Cohen and Dr. Dwenger recommend safe alternatives to medication such as yoga, acupuncture, exercise, and massage treatment. As long as you purchase from a reputable brand, CBD products like topical balms or CBD oils can also help reduce pain, says Cohen.
Anxiety: Other methods for managing or reducing anxiety include massage therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and CBD products. There is evidence that meditation can help reduce anxiety.
For anxiety or other mental health issues, Dr. Shah also advises consulting a competent mental health practitioner. This may entail talk therapy and the prescription of medication.
Replacing opioids: According to Dr. Shah, “FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine and methadone have been shown to be highly effective.” Dr. Dwenger also recommends getting therapy for opioid abuse.