Kratom Overdose Symptoms, Signs, & Treatment

If and when kratom becomes regulated, and after more research is done on it, it’s possible there will be a place for it as an herbal medicine that is safe as prescribed. Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of a tree in Southeast Asia, where it has been used medicinally for centuries. In the U.S., it is often sold in pill or capsule form, though its leaves are also chewed or smoked. The evidence is still unclear, but from what I have seen in patients who use kratom, it warrants caution.

The Kratom Debate: Helpful Herb Or Dangerous Drug?

1. A person can overdose on the drug, which may cause a fast heart rate, nausea, and in some rare cases, death.
2. It’s uncommon for kratom overdose to result in death unless it’s taken with other medications (particularly opiate painkillers or alcohol).
3. Kratom is legal in the United States and is available for sale online and in some shops in some counties.
4. When opioids bind to opioid receptors, this can relieve pain and cause feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

The FDA has linked more than 35 deaths to salmonella-tainted kratom. Many of the problems linked to pain medicines happen when people take them at high doses or for a long time. Experts don’t know what level of kratom can cause those problems. People who use kratom to relax or to be more social most likely think that kratom is natural and safe because it comes from a plant. But the amount of the active part in kratom leaves can vary greatly.

Kratom: Weighing the Benefits and Risks

However, kratom may seem to be in a legal gray area because several state regulations or prohibitions against the possession and use of kratom exist. A person who is addicted to kratom or who regularly uses it may need medical help to safely stop using the drug. In very small doses, of 1–5 grams (g), kratom can act as a stimulant, giving users more energy.

Side effects and safety concerns

It’s best to check with your local laws because restrictions, regulations, and bans can be updated at any time. The risk of life-threatening complications appears to be higher in people who take additional drugs, such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers. In most cases, people fully recover from liver damage after they stop using kratom. People use kratom in many ways, including chewing the leaves whole, brewing them as a tea, and crushing the leaves and swallowing or smoking them. While kratom is currently legal in the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Agency list it as a “Drug of Concern” due to several potential safety issues. People living in areas where kratom grows sometimes use it to treat diarrhea, pain, cough, and fatigue.

However, it is important to note that in 84 of these 91 cases, other substances were also involved. This article explains magic mushroom side effects what kratom is and how some people use it. It also discusses the drug’s legal status and the risks of taking it.

Kratom may cause adverse reactions, especially at high doses. These reactions include seizures, tremors, psychosis, and other serious toxic effects. There are also alternative remedies to ease symptoms, such as pain, https://sober-house.net/antibiotics-and-alcohol-can-you-drink-on/ or to help someone relax. However, studies researching their effects may be limited or inconclusive. Natural herbal remedies that someone could investigate for pain include Boswellia serrataandcannabidiol (CBD) oil.

Kratom is made up of alkaloid compounds called mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These compounds can have psychotropic (mind-altering) effects. In 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration moved to classify kratom as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has no medical uses and has a high potential for abuse, but reversed course after public outcry. Kratom is still unregulated at the federal level, but five states have bans on the substance, according to the American Kratom Association, a group that advocates for kratom access in the U.S.

For thousands of people, the opioid-like plant kratom has been life-changing. New research indicates that high enough doses of the two active molecules in kratom can cause death in mice, suggesting that it is possible to fatally overdose on the substance. However, effective addiction treatment, regardless everything chip carter, son of jimmy and rosalynn, said during tribute service in atlanta of the substance, looks different for everyone but might include detoxification if you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms. During detox, the body rids itself of the substance and toxins, while the healthcare support team manages the symptoms and keeps you safe and as comfortable as possible.

In this case, a trip to the doctor should be the first and only choice. Do not hesitate to visit the hospital if the person in question develops overdose symptoms when you know they previously took medications that might interact with the kratom in their system. Repeated use of kratom can cause a person’s body to develop a tolerance to the substance. This can then cause the person to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking kratom.

He had kratom and antidepressants in his system at the time of his death, according to a toxicology report. Her son Daniel, an Air Force veteran, was 26 when he died from acute mitragynine toxicity, also known as a kratom overdose. Common ways of easing the symptoms of opioid withdrawal may be useful. Doctors typically start by administering medication such as methadone or buprenorphine to replace the opioid. They can prescribe these to provide long-term management of a use disorder. Some people in this region commonly use kratom as a stimulant, for pain relief, and as a sedative.