Tildabeth Doscher, MD, a clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, who was not involved in the commentary, agreed. If someone takes small amounts of kratom, they may feel how to tell if i have been roofied energized, sociable and alert, rather than sedated. However, there are also some dangerous side effects, which this article discusses further below. The kratom strain you choose plays a role in both the beneficial properties and potential side effects you should expect.

Where Does the United States Stand on Kratom Legality?

Doses over 8 grams can be incredibly overwhelming for newer users. Beginners should always start with lower doses (between 1-3 grams). You can see how it affects you and judge how much you want to add to your next dose, if any. If you begin vomiting violently, pass out or faint, or start to hallucinate, it’s time to go to the hospital.

Speak with a healthcare professional who can offer further guidance. If someone experiences any of the symptoms listed above, or any other concerning effects after taking kratom in any form, they should immediately see a doctor or attend the emergency room. An article in Clinical Toxicology concludes that kratom has links with serious medical outcomes, especially when people use it with other substances.

Can You Overdose on Kratom?

In recent years, research has also linked kratom to liver damage and death, but has also recognized the plant as a safer option for pain management than opioids. “Importantly, evidence shows that kratom has similar effects to narcotics like opioids, and carries similar risks of abuse, addiction and in some cases, death,” Gottlieb added. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen tree in the coffee family. Some people use it for its stimulant, sedative, or pain-relieving effects.

More recently, people around the world are using it to treat pain or manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. But kratom’s safety and effectiveness haven’t been well studied. In a study testing kratom as a treatment for symptoms of quitting opioids, called withdrawal, people who took kratom for more than six months reported withdrawal symptoms like those from opioid does water flush alcohol out of urine use.

1. The effects are mild compared to those of opioids or heroin.
2. However, data from literature reviews suggest a typical dose range for consumers in the U.S. may be less than a single gram and up to 7 grams based on data from self-reporting study participants.
3. Side effects reported included high blood pressure, confusion and seizures.
4. There is some evidence to suggest kratom use during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns.
5. Kratom is a supplement that is sold as an energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever and remedy for the symptoms of quitting opioids, called withdrawal.

You’ll be dizzy, nauseous, tired, and you may have severe diarrhea to boot. It’s very unlikely for anybody to want to keep drinking kratom past this point. Although uncommon, it’s possible to overdose from taking too much kratom. Any herb or substances that cause strong pharmacological effects have the potential to cause some degree of dependency or harm.

Dangers of Kratom Addiction and Signs of Overdose

They note that a very small number of deaths have been linked to kratom and nearly all deaths involved other drugs or contaminants — which Kaye said is one of the major concerns with kratom in the U.S. The FDA has issued a general warning against using kratom due to the potential for adverse effects including drug abuse and addiction. Some of this concern stems from the fact that kratom is an unregulated herbal remedy. Stimulant-like effects include increased energy, alertness, and rapid heart rate.

Others may chew kratom leaves or brew them as tea, while individuals can also smoke the leaves or add them to food. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. There has also been some evidence that long-term, high-dose kratom use can be damaging to the liver [4]. It is worth noting that long-term use of kratom may produce some physical and psychological effects that are similar to those experienced in periods of kratom withdrawal [3].

A person who experiences pain or other symptoms as a result of a health condition should speak with their doctor. A healthcare professional may prescribe pain-relieving medication or drugs that address different symptoms. This article explains what kratom is and how some people use it. It also discusses the drug’s legal status and the risks of taking it. This article also offers alternatives to the drug that someone could consider. Kratom is a drug that comes from a tropical tree of the same name that is native to Southeast Asia.

That means it makes them more alert and gives them more energy. At higher doses, people who use it report that it reduces pain and makes them feel calm and less anxious, also called a sedative. The naturally occurring chemical compounds in kratom also bind to receptors affecting various aspects of mental health, including serotonin receptors and dopamine receptors. These plant compounds or kratom alkaloids and receptors are linked to kratom’s stimulating or arousing effects. Some people report using kratom to help manage opioid withdrawals and cravings. But people who use kratom regularly may experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using it or cut back.

Doscher has found that kratom addiction is easier to treat than an opioid addiction. “I’ve never had to treat someone with a kratom dependence with methadone,” she said. Despite this evidence, kratom use disorder is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, the commentary authors point out. However, kratom remains unregulated in most states except Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, according to the Congressional Research how does flakka affect your brain Service. Legislators in several of those states have introduced bills that would permit the sale of kratom products.

Overdose and other health risks

So it is clear that kratom could be a contributing factor in cases where an individual has overdosed, as many other things could have been contributing factors as well. Let’s compare kratom to something that has become a true crisis in the world today, opiates. Kratom has traditionally served as a method of increasing energy and improving work productivity as well as fighting fatigue among farming populations in Southeast Asia. To learn more about kratom, visit nccih.nih.gov/health/kratom and nida.nih.gov/research-topics/kratom.

This herbal product is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Using kratom comes with some risks, too, ranging from nausea and constipation to respiratory depression or slowed breathing. Kratom is a plant that grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and has a long history of use in Southeast Asia. Kratom is also used to relieve chronic pain, treat anxiety and depression, or reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as when stopping heroin or morphine.

People report using kratom for pain relief and to help cope with depression and anxiety. Kratom has side effects including nausea and digestive upset. Very rare but serious side effects include psychosis and death.