Biak-Biak, Cratom, Gratom, Ithang, Kakuam, Katawn, Kedemba, Ketum, Krathom, Kraton, Kratum, Madat, Maeng Da Leaf, Mambog, Mitragyna speciosa, Mitragynine Extract, Nauclea, Nauclea speciosa, Thang, Thom.
Kratom is a tree. The leaves are used as a recreational drug and as medicine.
As a recreational drug, the leaves are chewed or drank as a tea to elevate mood (as a euphoriant) and enhance physical endurance.
As a medicine, kratom is used for anxiety, cough, depression, diabetes, diarrhea, high blood pressure, pain, to improve sexual performance, and to lessen symptoms of opiate withdrawal.
How does work?
Kratom contains a chemical called mitragynine. Mitragynine works like opioid drugs such as codeine and morphine to relieve pain.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Anxiety.
- Cough.
- Depression.
- Diabetes.
- Diarrhea.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Opiate withdrawal.
- Pain.
- Other conditions.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerKratom is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for most people when taken by mouth. It can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms when taken regularly.
Kratom can cause many side effects when taken by mouth, including nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, frequent need to urinate, constipation, aggression, hallucinations, delusions, and thyroid problems.
People who use kratom regularly and then stop taking it may experience decreased appetite, diarrhea, muscle pain, muscle spasms, twitches, watery eyes, anxiety, trouble sleeping or restlessness, negative mood changes, tension, anger, nervousness, hot flashes, and fever.
There is also concern that the sedative effects of kratom might cause people to breathe too slowly. This might prevent people from getting enough oxygen.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking kratom if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Alcoholism: People with alcohol dependence who use kratom appear to have an increased risk of suicide compared to those who use kratom but are not dependent on alcohol.
Mental disorders: In theory, kratom might worsen existing mental disorders. Also, people with mental disorders who use kratom appear to have an increased risk of suicide compared to those who use kratom but do not have a mental disorder.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Kratom might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking kratom along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking kratom, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Kratom might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking kratom with these medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking kratom, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), carisoprodol (Soma), citalopram (Celexa), diazepam (Valium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), phenytoin (Dilantin), warfarin (Coumadin), and many others.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 [CYP2D6] substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Kratom might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking kratom along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking kratom, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), flecainide (Tambocor), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), paroxetine (Paxil), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), venlafaxine (Effexor), and others.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 [CYP3A4] substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Kratom might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking kratom along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking kratom, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include cyclosporin (Neoral, Sandimmune), lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), indinavir (Crixivan), sildenafil (Viagra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
Modafinil (Provigil)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Seizures have been reported in a person who took kratom along with the drug modafinil (Provigil). It is not yet known how taking this combination might cause seizures. Until more is known, people taking modafinil (Provigil) should avoid using kratom.
The appropriate dose of kratom depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for kratom. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Ancuceanu RV, Dinu M, Anghel AI, et al. Recent prohibition of certain psychoactive ethnobotanicals in Romania. Farmacia 2010;58(2):-121-127.
Arndt T, Claussen U, Gussregen B, et al. Kratom alkaloids and O-desmethyltramadol in urine of a "Krypton" herbal mixture consumer. Forensic Sci Int 2011;208(1-3):47-52. View abstract.
Babu KM, McCurdy CR, Boyer EW. Opioid receptors and legal highs: Salvia divinorum and Kratom. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2008;46(2):146-152. View abstract.
Backstrom BG, Classon G, Lowenhielm P, Thelander G. [Krypton--new, deadly Internet drug. Since October 2009 have nine young persons died in Sweden]. Lakartidningen 2010;107(50):3196-3197. View abstract.
Boyer EW, Babu KM, Adkins JE, McCurdy CR, Halpern JH. Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal using kratom (Mitragynia speciosa korth). Addiction 2008;103(6):1048-1050. View abstract.
Boyer EW, Babu KM, Macalino G. E. Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal with a dietary supplement, Kratom. Am J Addict 2007;16(5):352-356. View abstract.
Chan KB, Pakiam C, Rahim RA. Psychoactive plant abuse: the identification of mitragynine in ketum and in ketum preparations. Bull Narc 2005;57(1-2):249-256. View abstract.
de Moraes NV, Moretti RA, Furr EB 3rd, McCurdy CR, Lanchote VL. Determination of mitragynine in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS: application to pharmacokinetics. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2009;877(24):2593-7. View abstract.
Drug Enforcement Administration. Kratom (Mytragyna speciosa korth). Available at: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/kratom.pdf.
Food and Drug Administration. Import Alert 54-15: DETENTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND BULK DIETARY INGREDIENTS THAT ARE OR CONTAIN MITRAGYNA SPECIOSA OR KRATOM. Available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_1137.html.
Janchawee B, Keawpradub N, Chittrakarn S, et al. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of mitragynine in serum and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats. Biomed Chromatogr 2007;21(2):176-83. View abstract.
Jansen KL, Prast CJ. Ethnopharmacology of kratom and the Mitragyna alkaloids. J Ethnopharmacol 1988;23(1):115-119.
Kapp FG, Maurer HH, Auwarter V, Winkelmann M, Hermanns-Clausen M. Intrahepatic cholestasis following abuse of powdered kratom (Mitragyna speciosa). J Med Toxicol 2011;7(3):227-231. View abstract.
Kittirattanapaiboon P, Suttajit S, Junsirimongkol B, Likhitsathian S, Srisurapanont M. Suicide risk among Thai illicit drug users with and without mental/alcohol use disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2014 Mar 13;10:453-8. View abstract.
Koch J, Mogensen J, Pedersen S, et al. Fast one-step procedure for the detection of nucleic acids in situ by primer-induced sequence-specific labeling with fluorescein-12-dUTP. Cytogenet Cell Genet 1992;60(1):1-3. View abstract.
Kong WM, Chik Z, Ramachandra M, et al. Evaluation of the effects of Mitragyna speciosa alkaloid extract on cytochrome P450 enzymes using a high throughput assay. Molecules. 2011;16(9):7344-7356. View abstract.
Kronstrand R, Roman M, Thelander G, Eriksson A. Unintentional fatal intoxications with mitragynine and O-desmethyltramadol from the herbal blend Krypton. J Anal Toxicol 2011;35(4):242-247. View abstract.
McWhirter L, Morris S. A case report of inpatient detoxification after kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) dependence. Eur Addict Res 2010;16(4):229-231. View abstract.
Nelsen JL, Lapoint J, Hodgman MJ, Aldous KM. Seizure and coma following Kratom (Mitragynina speciosa Korth) exposure. J Med Toxicol 2010;6(4):424-426. View abstract.
Parthasarathy S, Ramanathan S, Ismail S, et al. Determination of mitragynine in plasma with solid-phase extraction and rapid HPLC-UV analysis, and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rat. Anal Bioanal Chem 2010;397(5):2023-2030. View abstract.
Philipp AA, Meyer MR, Wissenbach DK, et al. Monitoring of kratom or Krypton intake in urine using GC-MS in clinical and forensic toxicology. Anal Bioanal Chem 2011;400(1):127-135. View abstract.
Philipp AA, Wissenbach DK, Weber AA, et al. Use of liquid chromatography coupled to low- and high-resolution linear ion trap mass spectrometry for studying the metabolism of paynantheine, an alkaloid of the herbal drug Kratom in rat and human urine. Anal Bioanal Chem 2010;396(7):2379-2391. View abstract.
Philipp AA, Wissenbach DK, Weber AA, Zapp J, Maurer HH. Metabolism studies of the Kratom alkaloid speciociliatine, a diastereomer of the main alkaloid mitragynine, in rat and human urine using liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2011;399(8):2747-2753. View abstract.
Philipp AA, Wissenbach DK, Weber AA, Zapp J, Maurer HH. Metabolism studies of the Kratom alkaloids mitraciliatine and isopaynantheine, diastereomers of the main alkaloids mitragynine and paynantheine, in rat and human urine using liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2011;879(15-16):1049-1055. View abstract.
Philipp AA, Wissenbach DK, Weber AA, Zapp J, Maurer HH. Phase I and II metabolites of speciogynine, a diastereomer of the main Kratom alkaloid mitragynine, identified in rat and human urine by liquid chromatography coupled to low- and high-resolution linear ion trap mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom 2010;45(11):1344-1357. View abstract.
Philipp AA, Wissenbach DK, Zoerntlein SW, et al. Studies on the metabolism of mitragynine, the main alkaloid of the herbal drug Kratom, in rat and human urine using liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom 2009;44(8):1249-1261. View abstract.
Phongprueksapattana S, Putalun W, Keawpradub N, Wungsintaweekul J. Mitragyna speciosa: hairy root culture for triterpenoid production and high yield of mitragynine by regenerated plants. Z Naturforsch C 2008 Sep-Oct;63(9-10):691-8. View abstract.
Ponglux D, Wongseripipatana S, Takayama H, Kikuchi M, Kurihara M, Kitajima M, Aimi N, Sakai S. A New Indole Alkaloid, 7 alpha-Hydroxy-7H-mitragynine, from Mitragyna speciosa in Thailand. Planta Med 1994 Dec;60(6):580-1. View abstract.
Roche KM, Hart K, Sangall B, Lefberg J, Bayer M. "Kratom: A Case of a Legal High". J Clin Toxicol 2008;46(7):598.
Rosenbaum CD, Carreiro SP, Babu KM. Here today, gone tomorrow...and back again? A review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. J Med Toxicol 2012;8(1):15-32. View abstract.
Sheleg SV, Collins GB. A coincidence of addiction to "Kratom" and severe primary hypothyroidism. J Addict Med 2011;5(4):300-301. View abstract.
Singh D, Müller CP, Vicknasingam BK. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) dependence, withdrawal symptoms and craving in regular users. Drug Alcohol Depend 2014 Jun 1;139:132-7. View abstract.
US Food and Drug Administration (2014). SNI National is Voluntarily recalling Kratom XL 4 Pack, Maeng Da Kratom 10 Pack, Max Kratom 20 Pack, and Bali Kratom 40 pack Due to Undeclared Drug Ingredients [Press Release].
Vicknasingam B, Narayanan S, Beng GT, Mansor SM. The informal use of ketum (Mitragyna speciosa) for opioid withdrawal in the northern states of peninsular Malaysia and implications for drug substitution therapy. Int J Drug Policy 2010;21(4):283-288. View abstract.
Ward J, Rosenbaum C, Hernon C, McCurdy CR, Boyer EW. Herbal medicines for the management of opioid addiction: safe and effective alternatives to conventional pharmacotherapy? CNS Drugs 2011;25(12):999-1007. View abstract.