The Reality of Kratom, Often Labeled as 'Gas Station Heroin,' Unveiled in Terms of Its Impact on the Body
Kratom, a natural tonic derived from the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia, has gained popularity for its claimed benefits such as increased energy, improved focus, better mood, and pain relief. However, a notable derivative of kratom, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), carries significant health and safety concerns.
Potential Benefits
At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, promoting increased energy and concentration. Some users report mood improvement, likely related to kratom's interaction with opioid receptors and its stimulant effects. Kratom has opioid-like properties that can provide short-term pain relief and may be perceived as more effective than some alternatives like CBD in acute settings. It has been used anecdotally and historically in Southeast Asia as a substitute for opiates and to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Potential Risks
Despite these potential benefits, kratom is addictive, with withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal but often less severe. Long-term daily use increases the risk of dependence. Overdose can occur, potentially causing seizures, heart failure, respiratory failure, and death. The FDA has linked kratom to dozens of fatalities, and wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers.
Common side effects include dizziness, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, nausea, low blood pressure, and impaired coordination. At high doses, symptoms like blurred vision and severe nausea ("kratom spinning") are reported.
There is no FDA approval for kratom’s medical use, and its safety profile is not well established. The quality and potency of kratom products vary widely, and the lack of regulation contributes to these risks.
Kratom withdrawal symptoms can be difficult and resemble opioid withdrawal, including irritability, muscle pain, insomnia, and anxiety.
Summary
| Aspect | Benefits | Risks | |---------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Energy & Focus | Stimulating effects at low doses[1][3] | Anxiety, dizziness, headaches[3] | | Mood | Improved mood reported[3] | Potential for mood disturbance during withdrawal[1][2] | | Pain Relief | Short-term relief, opioid-like effects[3] | Risk of dependence, withdrawal[1][3][4] | | Opiate Replacement | Anecdotal relief of withdrawal symptoms[2][5] | No clinical trials; risk of addiction[2][5] | | Health Safety | Natural substance | Overdose risk, serious adverse events, deaths linked[4] | | Addiction & Withdrawal | Lower addiction potential than opioids (disputed) | Addiction and withdrawal symptoms similar to opioids[1][2][4] |
Steven Ey, MD, an addiction medicine specialist at the Orange County health network Hoag, suggests that 7-OH should be seen as a completely separate drug from kratom due to its differences in potency, effects, and risks.
Overall, 7-hydroxymitragynine in kratom may provide energy, focus, mood improvement, pain relief, and potentially ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, but these benefits come with significant risks including addiction, serious side effects, overdose, and lack of regulatory approval or medical oversight. Scientific evidence on safety and efficacy is limited, and kratom use should be approached with caution under medical guidance.
- Kratom, a derivative from the Mitragyna speciosa tree, is used for increased energy and concentration at low doses.
- Some individuals claim mood improvement from kratom due to its interaction with opioid receptors and stimulant effects.
- Kratom can provide short-term pain relief, which some perceive as more effective than CBD in acute situations.
- Historically, kratom was used in Southeast Asia as a substitute for opiates and to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms.
- Despite these benefits, kratom is addictive, with withdrawal symptoms resembling opioid withdrawal but often less severe.
- Long-term daily use increases the risk of dependence.
- Overdose can cause seizures, heart failure, respiratory failure, and death.
- The FDA has linked kratom to dozens of fatalities, and lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers.
- Common side effects include dizziness, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, nausea, low blood pressure, impaired coordination, blurred vision, and severe nausea at high doses.
- Kratom's benefits are associated with 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a derivative carrying significant health and safety concerns.
- 7-OH should be viewed as a separate drug due to its differences in potency, effects, and risks, according to Dr. Steven Ey, an addiction medicine specialist.
- The overall use of kratom comes with significant risks, including addiction, serious side effects, overdose, and lack of regulatory approval or medical oversight.
- Scientific evidence on safety and efficacy of kratom is limited, and its use should be approached with caution under medical guidance.
- Kratom's potential benefits include energy, focus, mood improvement, pain relief, and assistance with opioid withdrawal symptoms.
- Other health and wellness areas, such as fitness and exercise, mental health, therapies and treatments, nutrition, and chronic medical conditions like chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, respiratory conditions, digestive health, eye health, hearing, and skin conditions may benefit from different approaches due to their unique needs and risks.
- While kratom may offer potential benefits, it's crucial to consider the associated risks, including addiction, serious side effects, and the absence of regulatory approval or medical oversight.
