It’s estimated that roughly 4 million to 5 million Americans currently use kratom, also known as Mitragyna Speciosa. If those numbers are accurate, that equates to roughly one percent of the population. Now, considering that no one has ever died from the use of kratom, nor overdosed, and roughly one percent of the American population uses it, it’s an easy bet to say that kratom is safe. However, that still doesn’t answer one of the most pressing questions as to why the DEA and FDA are up in arms about kratom.
The thing is that kratom, a “drug” used to treat things like opioid addiction, anxiety and pain, is used so widely by so many people, yet there has never been one proven case of a death or an overdose attributed solely to kratom. Now, there have been cases. A whopping 44 deaths from 2011 through 2017, where kratom was detected in the body of someone who had died. But it was always amongst many other things found in the system upon death.
The really funny thing about the FDA and DEA being up in arms about kratom is this. Let’s take something like nicotine, a drug that’s completely legal thanks to the lobbying powers of big tobacco companies. Have you ever wondered why nicotine, a drug that’s directly linked to the deaths of 480,000 people every single year in the United States, is legal? Strange isn’t it? 480,000 deaths. Per year. Between 2011 and 2017 that would be 3.36 million people dying because of nicotine. Yet it’s legal.
However, on the flip side, let’s look at kratom, a drug that actually helps people. Why is the DEA and FDA up in arms about it? It certainly makes you wonder. But if you’re at all questioning whether or not kratom is safe, just look at it compared to other so-called regulated drugs such as nicotine or alcohol, which both kill over a million people every single year. Did you know that just from drunk driving alone, 28 people die every single day?
Is Kratom Really Safe?
It’s pretty apparent that kratom is not only safe, but also effective in treating a variety of ailments. It’s great for pain, anxiety and, most importantly, opioid addiction. However, there are some things that you do need to be aware of when it comes to using kratom. Yes, kratom is safe. Especially in low doses. In higher doses, you can feel sick from kratom. There’s a threshold that’s reached between the added euphoric effects as opposed to the onset sickness that occurs.
The truth is that this is a self-regulating function of kratom. If you take kratom in higher doses, you’re likely to vomit or feel nauseous for hours on end. That’ll make you think twice about trying to up the dosage. However, the only problem that could really occur when taking kratom is if you attempt to mix it with other drugs. There are harmful side effects if you try to combine kratom with other things that could potentially be lethal. So it’s really up to you to be wary about doing this.
For example, a drug called krypton is usually marketed as a stronger and more potent version of kratom. While marketed like that, it actually does contain kratom along with another drug. That drug, which is also present in tramadol, is called O-desmethyltramadol. It acts as a synthetic opioid and it’s incredibly risky when used. That’s especially considering that krytpon is usually mixed with not only O-desmethyltramadol and kratom, but also caffeine.
There are serious euphoric effects for those who take krypton. It’s been estimated that roughly 5 grams of this substance is equivalent to taking 60 grams of morphine. That’s potent. And along with that potency there is serious risk of danger and harm to your body and potentially death. So, while kratom itself is safe, if you try to take something like krypton, those rules go out the window because it’s mixed with other drugs.
Can You Overdose On Kratom?
The short answer to that question is no. With kratom on its own, it’s virtually impossible to overdose. However, if you combine kratom with other drugs, such as prescription pills or even opioids, then yes, you can definitely overdose. If you’re using kratom responsibly in a safe manner, then you more so run the risk of vomiting or feeling nauseous as opposed to overdosing. No one has ever overdosed on kratom itself.
However, if you take too much, a kratom overdose might look something like drinking too much alcohol. You’ll have slurred speech, an impairment of your motor skills and possibly even a shortness or shallowness of breath. Yes, also vomiting. Again, this is a self-regulating function. There’s a tipping point where if you try to increase your dosage more than the allotted amount, you’ll feel sick. Period. There are no benefits to taking too much kratom.
Are There Side Effects To Kratom?
Yes. There are side effects to taking kratom. That’s especially true if you take too much or go over the recommended dosage amount. It’s also important to know where you’re buying your kratom from. Ensuring that you’re getting 100% authentic kratom is important. However, if you buy kratom from an untrusted source, it isn’t clear what you’re going to get exactly. So you have to be wary on who you purchase it from.
Keep in mind that, like the krypton, there are strains being sold that include other non-kratom strains to give more of an opioid effect. In Sweden, 9 people died from krypton, causing alarm in the community. Now, it wasn’t just kratom. It was the combination of kratom with O-desmethyltramadol and caffeine in a toxic formula that did the trick. For that reason, you have to be careful. Simply put, don’t buy krypton and don’t buy kratom from untrusted vendors.
Now, when it comes to actual kratom side effects, there are several that need to be addressed. Look out for these if you’re taking kratom and be careful of the dosage level that you ingest. Don’t try to chase a high with kratom because that will be offset by the sickness that sets in. If you’re using it responsibly, and in lower doses, kratom is incredibly safe. However, like anything else, it can be abused.
Here are some of the side effects of kratom:
Kratom weight loss
Kratom is a natural appetite suppressant. It influences the gut microbiota. That might also be why kratom can induce vomiting and nausea when taken in higher doses. To add to that, kratom alters the neurochemistry in the brain and activates the the central nervous system, which makes an impact on the body’s internal organs and systems. When abused, you can suffer severe appetite withdrawal and weight loss.
However, one issue that the FDA is up in arms about is that kratom is being used in diet and weight loss pills. Since kratom does have that natural effect on withdrawing you from food, it’s only logical that businesses have decided to leverage those benefits in diet pills.
Nausea and vomiting
Another side effect to kratom is nausea and vomiting. This happens especially when dealing with higher dosages of kratom. However, this is also more prevalent in the Bali and Indo strains of kratom. And if you want to avoid it, you could consider taking an antacid roughly half-hour before you take the kratom. That should do the trick. If it doesn’t, then your body simply needs to get accumulated to the kratom.
You might also get nausea and vomiting more likely if you ingest kratom as a powder or take it in its more potent extract format. To avoid this, drink it as a tea in the beginning and in small doses. This way, your body has a chance to adjust and get used to having kratom present. Although it’s an all natural and organic substance, since it does alter the neurochemistry of the brain, along with impacting the central nervous system, you’re likely to get side effects while you get used to it.
Headaches from kratom
You might also experience some headaches from taking kratom due to a change in blood pressure. Dilation of the blood vessels occurs in red-vein kratom because of its sedative effects, altering the blood control to the brain. This brings on headaches and migraines. When you take higher doses of kratom, this is more prevalent than if you stick to a dosage control. To avoid severe headaches, you should consider being thoroughly hydrated.
Once again, it also might be best to stick with kratom tea as opposed to the powder if you want to avoid some of the side effects from taking kratom in the first place. These can get quite severe in the most extreme cases. Drink plenty of water if you do experience this while taking kratom.
What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Kratom?
Kratom is definitely safe. Even when you’re taking it for long periods. However, it’s also important to note that a large amount of scientific research is still lacking in the field about kratom usage. Although it’s been used by centuries in Southeast Asia, it’s still be untested thoroughly. And, considering that there’s a lack of scientific studies and no regulation, most people think that kratom is unsafe or that it has negative repercussions in the long term.
While kratom does cause temporary side effects, there have been no proven long-term effects of taking kratom. Although that doesn’t guarantee that kratom is safe, it does indicate that it doesn’t have the harmful impacts that other drugs like nicotine and even prescription drugs have over the years. Once again, if the doses of kratom are lower, you’ll have less issues. If, on the other hand, you have heavy usage over a longer period, you might exhibit some long-term effects.
For example, kratom is known to have a negative effect on the liver and kidneys, making it harder for them to process the toxins in the system. When the ability of the body to process toxins is inhibited over extended periods, you can have all sorts of problems. Please use caution whenever using any kind of drug that hasn’t been thoroughly tested. However, while smoking and drinking have been directly linked to millions of death, kratom has not.
Now, that doesn’t say that kratom is entirely safe to use, especially in high doses. However, that does show you that if used responsibly, kratom is far more safe than other drugs that the FDA and DEA approve of, such as alcohol and nicotine and even oxycodone, when prescribed by a doctor. The truth is that there is an epidemic in the United States. One that is taking lives left and right. Rather than worrying about kratom, it’s far more important to look at what’s really killing people in the U.S. and around the world.
Where To Buy Kratom
While there are plenty of resources for buying kratom online, there are two primarily trusted sources. The first is Kratom-K, which dubs itself as the #1 largest online retailer. The other is Bulk Kratom Supply. Be sure to use vendors with proven track records when buying any type of kratom online.
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