You might have heard of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), an herb used for centuries across Southeast Asia for energy and to alleviate aches and discomforts. Derived from a type of evergreen tree, kratom contains alkaloid compounds called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
While kratom is a mild stimulant in moderate doses, it can trigger an opiate-like effect when consumed in large doses. Kratom is currently being classified as a “drug of concern” by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as an “drug of concern” and is not accepted for medical use from FDA. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Also known as: Kratom products are also called Biak, Ketum, Kakuam, Ithang, Thom, Herbal and Ketum.
Common Effects: The results of kratom usage include relaxation, pain relief, enhanced mood, improved capacity to perform, sunburn sensitivity nausea, itching dry mouth, sweating constipation, increased urine output, and a decrease in appetite.
How to Identify Kratom
Kratom is a kind of dry or fresh leaves. It is obtainable as a Green powder or liquid extract gum or pills. The packaging is often marked “not intended for consumption by humans.” Some people consume kratom leaves, drink the powdered or dried leaves into tea, consume them in food items, or smoke the leaves.
What’s Kratom Do?
According to FDA studies, kratom is an agonist that is able to bind to mu-opioid receptors within the brain. The same receptors that get activated when you are taking opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers.
It is believed it is possible that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine can assist in controlling pain by attaching to these receptors for opioids, which in turn, reduce the sensation of pain.
Kratom has become popular as a substitute for opioid pain medication such as Vicodin (hydrocodone) and OxyContin (oxycodone). In many instances, kratom is used to alleviate chronic pain caused by ailments like arthritis and fibromyalgia.
A web-based poll in 2014 showed that people who take kratom within the United States tend to be middle-aged, middle-income residents who suffer from pain.2 The majority of the more than 8000 respondents to the survey said they had used kratom to alleviate the pain or boost their mood.
A smaller , but substantial percentage claimed they were taking it to get off opioids (a type of medication that is used to treat pain) or for treating withdrawal symptoms from opioids.
What are the Experts Say
The advocates of kratom believe that the herb may be an answer to the opioid crisis in both providing a second option for pain relief , and also by helping people struggling to overcome addiction to opioids.
Some experts believe it’s not the solution however some claim it is.
The research available includes a paper that was published within the International Journal on Drug Policy in 2010. For this, researchers surveyed 136 users who were active users of kratom and discovered that the plant was “described as cheap, readily accessible, and causing no adverse effects, even after prolonged usage.” The report did not include any testing of the effects on health of kratom, or potential dangers.
In an article released in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers conducted a survey on 293 people who regularly used kratom and discovered that over half of them had experienced severe dependency issues that included kratom withdrawal symptoms such as muscle spasms and sleep disturbance tension, anger, and agitation.
A study conducted on mice published within the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in 2016 indicated that kratom could not reduce breathing in the same way as other pain relievers such as morphine. Since deaths from opioid overdoses are typically caused by respiratory depression, this study’s findings suggest that further study on the substances that make up kratom is necessary.
A review in 2019 concluded that kratom could have some advantages however, it has a significant risk of causing abuse and interactions and undesirable consequences. The review also suggested placing it in the vicinity of the pharmacy counter could provide an alternative to bans on the drug and allowing its sales to be without restrictions.
DEA Interventions
The legal status for the substance is still unclear The DEA’s previous declarations on the issue provide some indications of what can be anticipated. In 2016 the DEA declared their intention to include two active constituents on their Schedule I drug list. A few months after the DEA removed its announcement of intent, and instead began the public consultation period.
Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are kratom components that could be considered Schedule I drugs, making the possession or sale of this herb illegal. Kratom remains listed on the Schedule I list for at minimum two years.
The DEA’s decision to include mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine on the Schedule I drug list was welcomed with a lot of opposition. In mid-September protesters organized the march and rally in Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. They also submitted a petition that was signed by more than 120,000 people opposed to the ban.
The rally was attended by Botanical Education Alliance director Travis Lowin stated that the DEA “has not been able to assist Americans in their efforts to fight the opioid crisis and the targeting of kratom could make the problem more dire.”
As well as the DEA’s stance, the FDA has issued warnings on the possible dangers associated with the drug. In the last quarter of 2017 FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, issued a public health warning about the risks related to kratom. Since then the FDA has increased its warnings, with strong evidence to show that the unregulated chemical is a potent opioid “opioid characteristic.” Over the span of 18 months, kratom contributed to over 90 deaths from overdoses. In these instances, patients were also taking fentanyl or heroin.
In the year 2018 the website STAT announced that The Department of Health and Human Services has recommended a ban on the chemical compounds present in kratom.
In 2020, federal regulations remain in place as the debate on Kratom continues. It is reported that the FDA has issued a warning to businesses that offer kratom within the U.S. and illegally market the drug as a natural supplement for treating anxiety, addiction and pain as well as other health problems. Only FDA-approved drugs are able to make these claims. The legal future of the drug is yet to be determined.
Common Side Effects
However, case reports have also reported the presence of irritability, drowsiness, palpitations as well as high blood pressure, inattention, insomnia, psychosis, seizures, hypothyroidism and hepatitis as well as comma among people who use kratom It’s not clear what proportion of it is directly due to kratom.
The risk is more heightened when you take concentrated extracts (which have higher potency) when in combination together with psychoactive drugs, substances or adulterants. Also, when it’s consumed by those who have alcohol-related issues, a history of heroin use, or other medical conditions.
Possible health risks are:
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Anorexia
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Calmness
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Constipation
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The cheeks are discolored
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Dry mouth
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Euphoria
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More socially active
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Urinary frequency increases
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Insomnia
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Itching
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Appetite loss
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Nausea
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Psychotic symptoms (hallucinations and delusions, confusion,)
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Sensitivity to sunburn
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Sweating
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Talkativeness
Warning Signs of Usage
If someone you care about is taking kratom it is important to keep an eye out for common negative effects (such as increased talkativeness, social interactions and itching, as well as changes in appetite and sweating) and any extreme or unusual changes in behavior, mood appearance, and general health.
Common Questions
A lot of people believe that since kratom is a herbal supplement that it’s safe to take. It’s crucial to remember that supplements aren’t controlled by the FDA before they are put on the market.
In the end it’s not possible to guarantee that a supplement will have the ingredients mentioned on its label (or that these ingredients will be present in the amounts listed). Adulteration and contamination with other herbal, pharmaceutical and other substances is likely.
Kratom has a chance of dependence, tolerance and withdrawal. Users of kratom are prone to developing an addiction, or the requirement to take more of it in order to achieve the desired result and may experience signs of withdrawal after stopping using the substance.
How Do You Stay on Kratom Keep in Your System?
More research is required to establish the exact duration of half-life for kratom. Like all chemicals, the amount of time kratom remains in your body depends on the following aspects:
Addiction
The DEA declares that kratom use can result in addiction , and may cause psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and confusion.
There are many people who are affected by addiction in the same manner, however there are many distinct indicators and signs, such as dependence, tolerance and withdrawal. Other typical signs of addiction are:
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Changes in friendships
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Modifications to mood, sleep patterns, weight and levels of activity
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Financial trouble
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The loss of interest in social or recreational activities, hobbies or at work or school
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Theft, secretiveness, or lying
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The drug store should be stocked with items of paraphernalia
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Problems scaling back or stopping drugs
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The majority of the time is in obtaining, using, as well as recovering from use of the drug
Withdrawal
Individuals who consume high doses of kratom often throughout the day are at likelihood of experiencing severe to moderate withdrawal symptoms. In general withdrawal symptoms are less severe than opioid withdrawal and could include:
Conclusion
Kratom is a natural plant that has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia. The leaves are harvested from the tree, crushed to extract their alkaloids, and either consumed as tea or processed into other products like capsules. Today it’s being touted as an all-natural way to help with anxiety, pain relief, depression symptoms, opiate withdrawal symptoms, insomnia ,and more – but there are many questions about its effects on humans. We hope you have found this article helpful in answering some of your kratom related questions! If you’re looking to buy quality kratom powders & capsules online without having to leave home then MyKratom should be your go-to resource for everything herbal health related! My Kratom
