Kratom for opiate withdrawal: Facts, myths, and effects – Medical News Today

Kratom is an herbal extract. Some people use kratom to treat opioid withdrawal. However, kratom can cause addiction, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved its use in the United States.

Opioids are drugs that doctors often prescribe to treat pain. These drugs bind to opioid receptors in the brain. Opioid receptors play a role in pain, mood, stress, reward, gastrointestinal functions, and respiration.

When opioids bind to opioid receptors, this can relieve pain and cause feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

People can misuse these medications and may go on to develop an opioid use disorder. In 2014, 2.5 million people in the U.S. were misusing opioids.

“Opiates” is the term for naturally occurring opioids, such as morphine and codeine.

Kratom acts similarly to opioids. It can also relieve pain and cause euphoria. It, too, can be dangerous, and there is a similar risk of misuse and addiction.

The FDA has not approved the use of kratom in the U.S. It closely monitors the substance and has denied shipments of the drug into the country.

Kratom is the common name for the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southeast Asia.

Some people in this region commonly use kratom as a stimulant, for pain relief, and as a sedative.

Kratom contains a number of compounds, some of which are psychoactive.

If a person consumes kratom, it can cause similar physiological effects to opioids, including pain relief, euphoria, and stimulation. Kratom can also cause dependency and addiction.

High doses of kratom can be toxic and cause a number of side effects, including:

Long-term use of kratom can also cause weight loss, anorexia, and insomnia.

People commonly …….

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/kratom-for-opiate-withdrawal