Overdosing on kratom isn’t typically a concern unless you’re taking extremely large doses (not recommended) or mixing kratom with other painkillers, alcohol, or prescription medications. Dried leaf material sold in capsules or bulk powder, used to make teas or just consumed whole, tends to be less potent, McCurdy notes. Other kratom supplements are made from leaves that have been processed, refined, or manipulated to produce extract products that deliver a higher chemical dose with a higher risk of negative effects. A person who experiences pain or other symptoms as a result of a health condition should speak with their doctor.
In 2019, approximately 49,860 overdose deaths were caused by various opioids. In 2020, numbers reached an all-time high of 93,331 overdose deaths caused by opioids. Kratom products have been linked to a small number of deaths. Nearly all deaths from kratom also involved other drugs or substances that might have been harmful. Some people take kratom to ease the symptoms of quitting opioids, called withdrawal. The DEA notes several cases of psychosis or hallucinations have been reported after kratom consumption.
- Though possible, a research review suggests serious adverse effects from kratom are very rare.
- The FDA has linked more than 35 deaths to salmonella-tainted kratom.
- An article in Clinical Toxicology concludes that kratom has links with serious medical outcomes, especially when people use it with other substances.
- People report using kratom for pain relief and to help cope with depression and anxiety.
Kratom leaves and teas have been used for centuries in Southeast Asia, but the products consumed in the United States are quite different and often far more potent. Kratom might be the most what is salvia trip popular herbal product you’ve never heard of. There are also numerous natural pain relievers that people could try. However, doctors do not recommend their use in people with moderate to severe pain. No matter where you are in your addiction to kratom, there is help available. Give American Addiction Centers a call today free at to speak with one of our supportive and non-judgmental staff members.
Some people use it for its stimulant, sedative, or pain-relieving effects. However, it can lead to an overdose, physical dependence, and unpleasant side effects. Physical dependence and respiratory what is a drinker’s nose depression are very common side effects of using traditional opiates. Respiratory depression is one of the leading causes of death in relation to opioid overdose. The vast majority of kratom overdose cases involve vomiting, lethargy, and dizziness.
Kratom Addiction Treatment Levels of Care
People should be aware of companies illegally marketing kratom as a nutritional supplement. The beneficial effects that marketers claim may be unfounded, and the drug could negatively affect someone’s health. If someone takes small amounts of kratom, they may feel energized, sociable and alert, rather than sedated.
What should you do if someone overdoses on kratom?
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 use. They may need treatments given for opioid addiction, such as buprenorphine (Brixadi, Sublocade, others) and buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone, Zubsolv). There is some evidence to suggest kratom use during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns.
Can You Overdose on Kratom?
While detox is an important step, it’s typically not enough to support long-term recovery. Evidence-based therapies help you understand the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that led to the addiction in the first place. Therefore, after detox, treatment may involve inpatient or outpatient services, various therapy modalities, and aftercare to help support your long-term recovery from drug addiction. For centuries, people in Southeast Asia have used its leaves for both increased energy and relaxation.
Kratom has side effects including nausea and digestive upset. Very rare but serious side effects include psychosis and death. Kratom is legal in the U.S. but is not regulated and is a drug of concern due to its potential for abuse and addiction.
Although no randomized, controlled solution focused therapy techniques trials prove its merit for addiction treatment, White says many people argue that using kratom helps keep them from more dangerous illicit opioids. Kratom use comes with many health risks, including cardiac arrest, kidney or liver damage, brain bleeding, and seizures. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 91 kratom overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. between July 2016 and December 2017. The numbers that the CDC reports about kratom are remarkably low compared to opioids.
