There is little evidence to support the use of kratom for these purposes. Kratom can be a dangerous drug maverick house east boston if people do not use it correctly. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Kratom.org does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Not many people have overdosed on kratom alone without some other substance or some type of underlying health condition at play. Using kratom responsibly refers to following the general dosage guidelines, not going overboard with doses, and not using kratom constantly.

Is kratom safe?

But websites also say it can treat diabetes, addiction and acts as a sexual stimulant. While there is no standard treatment for kratom use disorder, some research suggests that buprenorphine may be an effective treatment. This prescription drug is used to treat opioid use disorder.

Overdose and other health risks

1. People who experience pain, depression, or other symptoms should speak with their doctor.
2. There has also been some evidence that long-term, high-dose kratom use can be damaging to the liver [4].
3. A 2020 study also found that kratom users in the U.S. are typically more prone to substance abuse than people who use cannabis, alcohol or cigarettes.
4. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says on its website that adverse side effects from kratom are rare but serious, and include psychiatric, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.
5. The study also showed limited physical dependence, constipation, and respiratory depression.

The numbers that the CDC reports about kratom are remarkably low compared to opioids. In 2019, approximately 49,860 overdose deaths were caused by various opioids. In 2020, numbers alcohol and acutane reached an all-time high of 93,331 overdose deaths caused by opioids. While it was pointed out that kratom was involved in 91 deaths, they also admitted that kratom was involved in less than 1% of the more than 27,000 fatal overdoses that were documented. This indicates that kratom may be less risky to use than other substances, such as conventional prescription opiates.

Kratom Products Can Kill You, FDA Says

By Michelle PugleMichelle Pugle, MA is a freelance writer and reporter focusing on mental health and chronic conditions. As seen in Verywell, Healthline, Psych Central, Everyday Health, and Health.com, among others. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) say low doses of kratom have stimulating effects and higher doses of kratom have more sedating effects. “While we remain open to the potential medicinal uses of kratom, those uses must be backed by sound science and weighed appropriately against the potential for abuse,” Gottlieb said. Dozens of web sites sell kratom, but the FDA said it would exercise its jurisdiction over the product as an unapproved drug. While Klag thinks physicians need to stay up to date on the risks of kratom, she emphasized that they need to have open conversations with their patients.

Less physical dependence and respiratory depression mark a major difference between kratom and traditional opiates. Opioids are commonly prescribed to individuals with chronic, acute, and terminal pain. However, abuse of these medications is incredibly common and presents an overdose risk to these patients [2].

The vast majority of kratom overdose cases involve vomiting, lethargy, and dizziness. It’s uncommon for kratom overdose to result in death unless it’s taken with other medications (particularly opiate painkillers or alcohol). Some people take kratom to ease the symptoms of quitting opioids, called withdrawal. People who use kratom report that at low doses, kratom acts as an upper, called a stimulant.

A person can overdose on the drug, which may cause a fast heart rate, nausea, and in some rare cases, death. This may also be a reason why so many people have turned to kratom to break them away from their opioid addictions, helping them through their withdrawal process and eventually helping them quit the substance. Studies so far have found that kratom has many safety issues.

Evidence-based therapies help you understand the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that led to the addiction in the first place. Therefore, after detox, treatment may involve inpatient or outpatient services, various therapy modalities, and aftercare to sun rocks weed help support your long-term recovery from drug addiction. There is some evidence to suggest kratom use during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says on its website that adverse side effects from kratom are rare but serious, and include psychiatric, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.

Appointments at Mayo Clinic

“Physicians would need further education on how kratom works, how it is consumed, the effects of discontinuation, as well as potential medication interactions and medical complications it can cause,” she said. Klag said kratom use can even complicate the prescribing of medications for other substance use disorder. Kratom products have also been found to contain dangerous contaminants such as toxic metals and Salmonella, the authors of the new commentary write. There are also numerous natural pain relievers that people could try. However, doctors do not recommend their use in people with moderate to severe pain. The NIDA state that people may take kratom as a pill, capsule, or extract.

Opioid-like effects include relaxation, pain relief, and confusion. Researchers are studying what kratom does in the brain, what interactions it has with medications, and whether it’s helpful for medicinal uses. Kratom use comes with many health risks, including cardiac arrest, kidney or liver damage, brain bleeding, and seizures.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 91 fatalities resulting from kratom overdose in 2016–2017 throughout 27 states in the United States. However, it is important to note that in 84 of these 91 cases, other substances were also involved. Here, we’ll explore the signs and symptoms of kratom overdose, how much kratom is needed to reach toxic levels, and why mixing kratom with other drugs is so dangerous. But federal agencies are taking action to fight false claims about kratom. In the meantime, your safest choice is to work with your healthcare professional to find other treatments.

Until it is tested like any other drug and shown to be safe and effective, Gottlieb said the FDA would work to keep marketers from selling it. There is little research on whether kratom is addictive or causes dependence. Kratom is available in tobacco, vape, and natural product stores, among others. It comes in several forms and can be smoked, vaped, drunk, or swallowed in capsule form.

“We have identified kratom products on two import alerts and we are working to actively prevent shipments of kratom from entering the U.S.,” Gottlieb said. The FDA says it will seize shipments of kratom and issued a public health warning telling people not to use it. Methadone is another prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction.