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Can You Overdose on Kratom?

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The controversial but legal drug, kratom, produces different reactions in its users, but research shows overdose is unlikely unless it’s used with other drugs. Kratom users in various parts of the world claim it helps them manage cravings for opiate drugs like OxyContin or heroin, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) could make the drug illegal in the future.

Some recovering opiate addicts use kratom as an alternative to treat pain. Made from leaves of the southeastern Asian kratom tree, the drug improves mood or relieves pain, depending on the dose.1

Facts About Kratom

Native to Southeast Asia, kratom leaves either offer a stimulant high (at low doses) or a sedative high (at high doses). Laborers in its native region have chewed kratom leaves for decades to have more energy in the field and control muscle aches.

Currently the drug is legal in the United States, although it is a controlled substance in Thailand and other nearby Asian countries.2 The DEA may classify kratom as a schedule I drug in the future, putting it in the same class as marijuana and heroin. There were at least 15 kratom-related deaths in 2014 and 2015, according to the DEA. Other groups, including recovering pain reliever addicts and some physicians, oppose putting the drug on schedule I. They say it has benefits for people in recovery, such as helping with opiate withdrawal symptoms.

Currently, it’s legal for Americans to purchase the drug online. Users smoke, chew, or steep the leaves to make a tea. Though touted by some as an alternative painkiller as well as a remedy for various ailments, there is no scientific evidence to support these beliefs. Many people end up using kratom to augment an ongoing drug abuse or addiction problem.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends using accepted medical treatments to manage opiate withdrawal, such as medication-assisted therapies like methadone combined with talk therapy.

>>> READ THIS NEXT: The Ins & Outs of Drug Rehab

 

Dangers of Kratom Use

Just as there is little research to support the medicinal use of kratom, there is little documented investigation about the negative outcomes. Some anecdotal evidence suggests kratom use triggers a toxic response in the user, especially users who combine the substance with another drug.

Some researchers want to know if kratom compounds might work as a pharmaceutical, because the drug produces pain relief without suppressing breathing. Opiates suppress a person’s respiration, which leads to overdose or death when someone takes too much.3

 

Kratom Effects

The DEA reports several negative effects attributed to high-dose or long-term use of kratom.

Withdrawal Symptoms

The drug brings on a risk of addiction in chronic users, creating withdrawal symptoms that include:

  • Runny nose
  • Twitchy limbs
  • Aggression
  • Hostility
  • Bone and muscles aches
Side Effects

Additionally, kratom use may cause:

  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Loss of appetite
  • Psychosis (e.g., hallucinations, confusion, delusional behavior)2
Long-Term Ongoing Issues

Those who use the drug long term have developed ongoing issues with:

  • Anorexia
  • Insomnia
  • Skin darkening
  • Extreme weight loss
  • Constipation and frequent urination

 

Compared to opiates, it takes users longer to develop tolerance and dependence to kratom.4

Treating Kratom Abuse and Addiction

Abuse of any substance, whether or not it is officially banned for recreational or medicinal use, is risky. Without scientific research into the acute and long-term effects of the drug, it is an unknown quantity and simply not worth taking the chance.

If the user is also on medication for medical or mental health disorders, choosing to introduce any unknown substance into the body interferes with other medications, often causing a dangerous side effect. Additionally, use of any mind-altering substance when an underlying mental health disorder is present causes unknown complications as well.

If someone you care about is struggling with kratom abuse or addiction, help is available. Contact us today at 269.280.4673 to connect with the treatment information you need.


Sources

1 “Kratom.” National Institute on Drug Abuse. February 2016.

2Kratom.” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). January 2013

3 Greenemeier, Larry. “Should Kratom Use Be Legal?” Scientific American.September 30, 2013.

4 Gianutsos, Gerald. “The DEA Changes Its Mind on Kratom.” U.S. Pharmacist.March 17, 2017.