In a word, yes. Kratom can kill you. It is the FDA's position that kratom is an addictive opioid, it can be abused, and it can cause serious health problems, including death. In most death cases, kratom was mixed with other substances, including inhalers and over-the-counter cold and flu medications.
At high doses, kratom has a sedative effect. It can significantly decrease appetite, cause constipation, and damage the liver.
Aim of the study: Since kratom is reported to deform sperm morphology and reduce sperm motility, we aimed to clinically investigate the testosterone levels following long-term kratom tea/juice use in regular kratom users.
Kratom is related to some other plants that have also been used in traditional medicine, while coffee is not. Kratom is more closely related to cinchona than coffee is. The smallest scientific group that contains kratom only has about 10 species, but coffee is closely related to more than 120 other species.
In 1943, the Thai government passed what is known as the Kratom Act 2486. This act made it illegal to plant kratom trees. The reason for this law was actually to curb and regulate the overall use of opium in the region, but the effects were long lasting on kratom use as well.
However, studies on the effects of kratom have identified many safety concerns and no clear benefits. Kratom has been reported to cause abnormal brain function when taken with prescription medicines.
In low dosages of a few grams of leaf, kratom functions primarily as a stimulant, with effects similar to caffeine without the marked jitteriness of drinking several cups of coffee. Out of all the alkaloids in kratom, there is more mitragynine than any other alkaloid.
Also Known As: Kratom products are also known as Biak, Ketum, Kakuam, Ithang, Thom, Herbal, and Ketum. Drug Class: Kratom is classified as a stimulant.
An estimated five million people use kratom regularly, according to the American Kratom Association (AKA), a pro-kratom lobbyist group.
The predominant alkaloid of kratom, mitragynine, binds mu- and kappa-opioid receptors, but has additional receptor affinities that might augment its effectiveness at mitigating opioid withdrawal.
It's already illegal in some places.
According to the Pew Research Center, kratom is illegal in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Denver, San Diego and Sarasota, Fla., have banned it, too.The FDA has issued a strong warning against kratom use. “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,” the group states.
Kratom is believed to act on opioid receptors. At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, making users feel more energetic. At higher doses, it reduces pain and may bring on euphoria. People who use kratom for relaxation report that because it is plant-based, it is natural and safe.