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Kratom is a substance derived from the leaves of the tropical Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southeast Asia. It is often ingested orally in the form of capsules, powders, or liquid extracts, and sometimes chewed, brewed into tea, or cooked into food. Kratom is known to induce stimulating effects and is sometimes used to treat muscle pain and body aches. However, there are concerns about its safety, with reports of adverse side effects, toxicity, and the potential for misuse, physical dependence, and addiction. While kratom is currently legal in most areas of the United States, it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical purposes due to a lack of understanding of its short- and long-term health effects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kratom's effect on muscle pain | Kratom is known to have a pain-relieving effect, including on muscle pain. However, it can also cause body aches and pains and muscle spasms, especially during withdrawal. |
| Safety concerns | Kratom is not approved or regulated by the FDA and the FDA warns against its use due to its toxicity potential in multiple organ systems and the risks of misuse, physical dependence, and addiction. |
| Legality | Kratom is currently legal in most areas in the US, including at the federal level, but it is banned in some states, cities, and counties. |
| Side effects | Short-term side effects include agitation, tachycardia, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting. Long-term risks include liver damage, cognitive impairments, psychotic symptoms, and liver injury. |
| Overdose | Kratom overdose is rare on its own but can be dangerous and even lead to death when combined with other substances. |
| Treatment | Treatment for kratom misuse is available at specialised centres. |
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What You'll Learn
Kratom withdrawal symptoms
Kratom is a substance derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southeast Asia. While it is often marketed as a natural substitute for opioids, kratom can also cause dependence and withdrawal effects. Although there is not yet enough evidence to confirm kratom withdrawal, some evidence suggests that withdrawal may be possible, especially after prolonged use.
Withdrawal from kratom can present a range of physical and psychological symptoms, each varying in intensity depending on individual factors. Some of the most commonly reported kratom withdrawal symptoms include:
- Irritability and mood swings
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Sweating and hot flashes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Runny nose and watery eyes
- Restlessness and agitation
- Cravings for kratom
- Fatigue
- Nervousness
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Jerky limb movements
The most effective way to come off kratom is under medical supervision. Tapering the dosage down slowly can smooth out the potential side effects of withdrawal, as it gives the brain's chemistry a chance to slowly regain its natural balance.
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Kratom's effects on the body
Kratom is derived from the tropical tree Mitragyna speciosa, which is native to Southeast Asia. It is often sold as an herbal supplement in various forms, including capsules, powders, liquid extracts, and leaves. While kratom is not a federally controlled substance in the United States, some states have prohibited its sale, possession, and use.
While kratom is touted for its pleasurable effects, it can also have adverse side effects. Short-term side effects can include agitation, rapid heart rate, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Additionally, there are concerns about the long-term risks associated with kratom use, including liver damage, cognitive impairments, psychotic symptoms, and kidney failure. Long-term users may also experience problems with visual and new learning, weight loss, darkening of the skin on the face, and urinary changes.
Kratom has the potential for misuse, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms. Mixing kratom with other substances can be dangerous and has been linked to severe toxicity and even death in rare cases. There have also been reports of kratom withdrawal symptoms in infants born to mothers who used kratom during pregnancy.
While some individuals use kratom to self-manage medical conditions, there is limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved kratom for any medical purposes, and it continues to research its potential dangers and health effects.
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Kratom's legality
Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, known as Mitragyna speciosa. It is often sold in the form of capsules, powders, and liquid extracts, and can be ingested orally or smoked.
Kratom is currently legal and accessible in the United States, although it is not approved or regulated by the FDA. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern, but it is not a federally controlled substance. As such, it is not subject to regulation under the Controlled Substances Act. However, some states and municipalities, including Alabama, Wisconsin, and Vermont, have banned its sale and use. As of February 2024, 22 states and the District of Columbia regulate kratom.
The legality of kratom has been a subject of debate, with the DEA previously attempting to place a temporary ban on the substance due to concerns about abuse and safety. In August 2016, the DEA announced that it would temporarily reclassify kratom as a Schedule I drug, which resulted in a strong public backlash. However, due to numerous public comments and the need to consider the pharmacological effects of the substance, the DEA withdrew its notice of intent in October 2016.
While kratom is currently legal in many parts of the United States, it is important to note that it has not been proven to be safe or effective for any medical purpose. There is limited research on the short- and long-term health effects of kratom use, and evidence suggests that users may be at risk of dependence and addiction.
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Kratom's potential for misuse
Kratom, derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia, is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical purposes. This is due to the lack of comprehensive research on its myriad short- and long-term health effects.
Despite this, kratom is currently legal and accessible in the U.S., with around 1.9 million Americans aged 12 and older having used it in 2022. It is often marketed as a safe alternative to opioid medications for pain management or relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed kratom as a Drug and Chemical of Concern, and the FDA warns against its use due to its toxicity potential, risks of misuse, physical dependence, and addiction.
The pleasurable effects of kratom, such as increased energy and talkativeness at lower doses and sedation, euphoria, and pain relief at higher doses, may be accompanied by adverse side effects, including drowsiness, rapid heart rate, constipation, hallucinations, and, in rare cases, psychiatric, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory problems. Long-term abuse of kratom can lead to cognitive impairments, psychotic symptoms, and liver injury. There is also evidence of kratom users experiencing withdrawal symptoms, indicating the potential for dependence and addiction.
While kratom has the potential for misuse, it is important to note that research on its therapeutic uses is still ongoing. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports several studies evaluating kratom and related compounds as potential treatments for chronic pain, opioid withdrawal, and opioid use disorder. NIDA-funded research also aims to better understand where and how kratom compounds work in the brain, playing a crucial role in identifying its health effects and potential therapeutic applications.
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Kratom's side effects
Kratom is a substance derived from the leaves of the tropical Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southeast Asia. It is typically ingested orally and can be consumed in many forms, including pills, extracts, tea, food, or smoked. Kratom is currently legal in most areas of the United States, although some states have prohibited its sale, possession, and use. It is also not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any medical purposes. Despite its legality, kratom has several side effects and health risks associated with its use.
Short-term side effects of kratom can kick in within 5 to 10 minutes and may include agitation, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Some people may also experience hallucinations, constipation, and darkening of the skin on the face. Kratom can also cause caffeine-like effects such as increased focus and alertness, similar to the effects of caffeine.
Long-term use of kratom may result in problems such as cognitive impairments, psychotic symptoms, and liver injury. Regular, prolonged use may also lead to acute liver injury, kidney failure, seizures, coma, and in rare cases, death. There is also a potential for kratom dependence and addiction, with withdrawal symptoms such as muscle spasms, body aches, nervousness, and depression being reported.
Mixing kratom with other substances, including alcohol, can be dangerous and increase the risk of adverse effects and overdose. Polysubstance use accounted for a significant percentage of kratom-related deaths, and the substance has been detected in newborn and nursing babies, indicating potential risks for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals.
While kratom is touted for its pain-relieving effects, it is important to note that it is not without risks. The potential benefits of kratom are largely outweighed by its considerable drawbacks, and there is a lack of scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in treating any medical condition.
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Frequently asked questions
Kratom is said to be used for treating muscle pain. However, long-term abuse of kratom can lead to body aches and pains, muscle spasms, and jerky limb movements. Kratom is also associated with withdrawal symptoms, which include muscle spasms and body aches.
Kratom is a herbal supplement derived from the leaves of the tropical tree Mitragyna speciosa, which is native to Southeast Asia.
Kratom has a variety of side effects, including increased energy, relaxation, and pain relief. However, it can also cause drowsiness, rapid heart rate, constipation, hallucinations, insomnia, cognitive impairments, and liver toxicity.
While kratom is not currently recognised as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), it is not approved or regulated by the FDA. The FDA warns consumers not to take kratom due to its toxicity potential and risks of misuse, physical dependence, and addiction.
While overdose on kratom alone is rare, dangerous side effects can occur when it is combined with alcohol or other drugs. Kratom has been linked to hundreds of deaths, with polysubstance use accounting for the majority of these cases.
