Kratom
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as kratom. Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, with leaves that contain compounds that can have psychotropic (mind-altering) effects.
People have used Kratom to overcome opioid addiction, chronic pain, and other health problems.
Reported Health Effects of Kratom Include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Itching
- Constipation
- Seizures
- Sweating
- Increased urination
- Hallucinations
The FDA is concerned that kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence. Symptoms of psychosis have been reported in some users. In addition, kratom products have been found to contain contaminants that produce effects not associated with kratom or kratom compounds alone, including heavy metals and harmful bacteria.
Sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse, US Food and Drug Administration
Research & Data
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Due to Maternal Kratom Use
From the American Academy of Pediatrics
Fact Sheets
Locate a Treatment Facility
Podcasts
Risks of Kratom (Huberman Lab)
Trainings
- Addiction Medicine Grand Rounds: Kratom in Southeast Asia vs. "Kratom" Products in the US
- Can a Controversial Tree Help End the Opioid Crisis? (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Clinical Characterization of Kratom: Is It a Craze or Here to Stay? (ASAM)
- Kratom 101 - A Viable Treatment or a Vile Substance? (AACP)