Everything You Need to Know About Kratom

Kratom is a natural substance that has psychogenic properties. While it’s not illegal, it’s also not an approved medication for any condition at this time, including opioid use disorder (OUD).

Experts do not recommend using kratom to treat substance use disorders (SUD) at this time. While some people have reportedly tried it and claimed to feel better, doctors currently think the risks of kratom outweigh the benefits.

Before you experiment with an untested drug, know that there are proven treatments that can help you overcome OUD. These therapies are very safe and much better understood and tested than substances like kratom. 

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tropical tree that belongs to the coffee family. Kratom comes in various forms, including chopped or whole leaves, powder extracts, liquid extracts, pills or capsules. Some people chew the leaves, and others smoke them or brew them into teas.

Kratom is also known by the following terms:

• Biak
• Ketum
• Kakuam
• Thang
• Thom

What Is Kratom Used For?

Historically, kratom has been used to treat health conditions, such as pain, fatigue, lethargy, inattentiveness, depression and anxiety. Now, some people think kratom could help ease OUD symptoms. 

Is Kratom Safe?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says people should not take kratom.[1] Kratom works on the same receptors used by opioids like heroin, and it could cause similar problems, including a substance use disorder.

Kratom is an old drug, but research on kratom is relatively new. There is very little information about how long-term kratom use could affect the body. But some early studies say the drug could cause liver problems when used for a long time.[2]

Since kratom can cause SUD and liver disease, it’s not a safe substance for anyone to use without a doctor’s approval. 

Common Kratom Side Effects 

There are two psychotropic ingredients in kratom: mitragynine and 7-α-hydroxymitragynine. Depending on the dosage, kratom can produce either of the following:

• Opioid-like effects: In large doses, kratom can cause sedation, pleasure, and decreased pain. 
• Stimulant-like effects: Small doses can cause feelings of boosted energy, increased sociability, and heightened focus and alertness.

Since kratom isn’t dispensed from pharmacies, it’s difficult to know what’s in the dose you take. You may want a small dose to help you stay alert, but you might get a tainted batch that works differently than you expected. It’s impossible to know how strong or safe this drug is.

Some people report kratom side effects, including these:[2]

• Confusion
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• High blood pressure
• Liver problems 
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Slow breathing 
• Vomiting

These side effects can range from mild to severe depending on the dose of kratom, your health and other factors. 

Can You Overdose on Kratom?

It is possible to overdose on kratom, but it is rare. Most often, overdoses on kratom are due to the substance being cut or laced with another drug.

While there have been reported fatal overdoses associated with kratom use, most involved the use of other drugs as well.[3] These overdoses confirm that kratom use can potentially be dangerous for some.[4]

Is Kratom a Viable OUD Treatment?

Some people say anecdotally that kratom helps to ease their withdrawal symptoms and soothe their opioid cravings.[5] However, this is not advised, as there is no scientific evidence to suggest that kratom is safe or effective in mitigating opioid withdrawal symptoms. In fact, some people who have taken kratom to help with opioids end up getting hooked on kratom instead.[6]

Since kratom is understudied and potentially dangerous, it has been listed by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a chemical of concern.[7] At this time, most clinicians highly recommend against trying to self-treat OUD with kratom or other unstudied substances. 

What Can You Use Instead of Kratom?

Medications are extremely helpful for people with opioid use disorder. Currently, three medications are available as FDA-approved treatments for OUD: methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone), and naltrexone. All OUD treatment prescriptions include one, or a combination, of these three medications.

Common brand names include Belbuca, Suboxone, Vivitrol, Sublocade and Zubsolv.

Bicycle Health is dedicated to helping people with opioid use disorder. To learn more about the success rates and safety of Bicycle Health’s telemedicine addiction treatment compared to other common treatment options, call us today.