Side effects - Kratom side effects

[TabuIsMe]

Who here has been using kratom long enough to report any side effects?
Only side effect i ever experienced was the consipation which is minor.
Only side effect that worries me is cheeks changing their pigmentation and getting darker... has anybody ever experienced it?
My skin never got darker, but when im using it i do tend to look a little red on the cheeks like i just drank something but it could be the fact i sit infront of the computer for so damn long.
Report your side effects and long term users report if you ever had skin pigmentation.

[0utrider]

[top] Health risks of Kratom

Kratom appears to be very safe in recreational doses. A person who consumes too much Kratom will experience nausea and vomit the consumed Kratom before they're body can absorb enough alkaloids to cause an overdose. There have been conflicting statements made on the amount of alkaloids needed to cause an overdose. Some pin the number at 5 grams, while others say as little as 800 milligrams could cause an overdose. When reading this, it is important to remember that these numbers are regarding pure alkaloids and not the plant matter itself. 800 milligrams of alkaloids is relatively close to 65 grams of plant matter, depending on the potency. Also remember, an overdose does not particularly mean death, it's a range in which there are significantly higher risks of life threatening problems. There have been no documented cases of overdose.

[top] Side effects


Consumption of Kratom does have possible side effects such as nausea, constipation, sleep problems, and temporary erectile dysfunction. Extensive use can cause some problems such as insomnia, anorexia, weight loss, darkening of skin, and dry mouth.
There are reports of a small number of Kratom users in South-East Asia experiencing more severe problems from they're extensive consumption of the plant. Problems such as hallucinations, delusional behavior, aggression and schizophrenia seemed to plague some users. Some of these users were also using drugs such as alcohol, opiates and amphetamines as well. Any one of these drugs could have caused these severe symptoms, so it would be questionable to assume that Kratom caused these problems. Some of the people who did not use other drugs did display symptoms, but these were long time users, some as much as 40 years of daily heavy consumption. It seems unlikely that users outside South-East Asia face the same risks, as most recreational users don't consume anywhere near the same amount of Kratom as people from South-East Asia. It is recommended that new Kratom users start with smaller doses to avoid potential negative effects. Avoid driving and operating heavy machinery. Use caution when mixing psychoactive substances with Kratom. There appears to be no information regarding Kratom use and interactions with MAOI’s and SSRI’s, but if you take MAOI’s, do not use Kratom. People taking SSRI’s are advised to use caution when taking Kratom. Most people taking SSRI’s report no problems with Kratom.

[top] Addiction


As far as addiction, almost any psychoactive substance can be habit forming, and Kratom is no exception. Unlike opiates, however, Kratom does not produce a strong addiction, especially at doses generally taken outside South-East Asia. Though a tolerance can easily be built, the body does not seem to crave Kratom, or any of its active alkaloids. After prolonged use, some minor withdrawal symptoms can be noticed such as runny nose, aggression and slight muscle pains.

from the df wiki, but its quite complete

outriderx added 1 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...

the redding of the skin can be realted to a changed blood-flow, but it is certainly not the "brownish" skin-pigmentation that longtime users talk about

Kratom's pharmacology shares some elements of the activity of other substances including opiates and yohimbine. The comparison to opiates is valid at doses high enough to produce these effects. Kratom has the ability to alleviate withdrawal in people dependent on opiates owing to the mu receptor agonism of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Kratom may cause constipation at these doses. It produces analgesia similar to weaker opiates such as codeine. Kratom also has a yohimbe-like stimulant activity, and uncaria-like immunostimulant activity. Kratom's effects are reported to be relatively short-lived, typically fading after a few hours. Some experience nausea after drinking kratom tea similar to that caused by opiates. Kratom's extremely bitter taste also probably contributes to the nausea, which can be remedied with large amounts of sugar, honey, or artificial sweeteners.

[edit] Addiction and habituation

Kratom use is potentially habit-forming, and people who use it continuously may experience withdrawals upon cessation. Ethnological researchers conducting a survey of long-time kratom users in Southeast Asia reported a belief that users may develop dark patches of skin discoloration on their cheeks; however, there seems no actual documentation of this occurring. No long term human studies have been done, so any assessment of long term consequences of kratom must be extrapolated from animal studies, anecdotes, and the few reports from anthropologists.
Typical powdered commercial kratom
Typical powdered commercial kratom

The potential addictiveness of kratom's primary active component, 7-hydroxymitragynine, has been demonstrated in a study by Matsumoto et al.[1] In an animal model, this study demonstrated tolerance, cross-tolerance with morphine, and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal from 7-hydroxymitragynine. The withdrawal symptoms were nearly identical to those from morphine, indicating that the drug might produce dependence in humans similar to opiates. Anecdotal evidence (see next paragraph) would seem to lend credence to this theory; however, no human research has been done and many of those people reporting addiction are using kratom either as a home remedy for opiate addiction or in conjunction with an ongoing opiate dependence, which makes scientifically definitive claims difficult at this time.

Anecdotal evidence of kratom helping with opiate withdrawal is widespread on the Internet, most often found in various chat forums that are either dedicated to kratom or recreational drug use in general. However, some people claim that the kratom withdrawal syndrome resembles that of opiates, only milder and shorter-lasting. Some people have mentioned mild depression following cessation of physical symptoms, and have noted that this makes quitting kratom use very difficult. The physical withdrawal symptoms most often noted are fatigue and agitation. Other opiate-like withdrawal symptoms have been mentioned (e.g. sweating, chills, diarrhea) but are apparently much milder and less common than those caused by withdrawal from opiates, if in fact they appear at all. Physical symptoms of kratom withdrawal seem to last up to four or five days, then cease completely. Other than the aforementioned depression, protracted withdrawal episodes are rarely mentioned.

from wikipedia

What are the risks? How safe is it?
When kratom is taken by itself (without mixing it with other drugs), the greatest risk is falling asleep while engaged in hazardous activities. NEVER drive while under the influence of kratom, even if you feel stimulated, rather than sleepy, for sleepiness may come on you without warning. Use common sense. Do not use power tools or climb ladders while under the influence of kratom. Be careful not to leave a pot on a lit stove and then fall asleep.
Pregnant women should not take any drug or medication except on medical advice. Since there have been no studies of the risks of kratom use by pregnant women, it is not known whether it could cause birth defects or fetal death. We strongly recommend that any woman who could possibly be pregnant NOT use kratom.
Is kratom habit forming?
Although a small number of people have become dependent on kratom (primarily in Thailand), kratom is not habit forming when it is used responsibly. If used occasionally as a recreational drug, rather than daily, there is virtually no risk of becoming dependent on it. But it is very important not to get into the habit of using it every day. For kratom, like many drugs [e.g. alcohol, coffee, tobacco, etc.] if used on a daily basis for a prolonged period of time, could become a habit hard to break. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO USE KRATOM EVERY DAY. Before starting to experiment with it set yourself usage guidelines. If you EVER find it is hard to stay within your usage guidelines immediately quit using kratom.
What are safe usage guidelines?
It is best to err on the side of caution. Therefore, we recommend that people not use Kratom more than once a week. Preferably, no more than once or twice a month. This will insure that Kratom does not become a habit. In other words, kratom should be reserved as a special, but OCCASIONAL treat. By using it infrequently, you will avoid habituation and get more pleasure from it.
Are there any reported health problems?
Health problems are unlikely unless one is consuming large quantities of kratom every day. In Thailand, where there are some people who use kratom every day, those dependent on it can develop weight loss, dark pigmentation of the face, and have physical withdrawal symptoms if they quit abruptly. The withdrawal symptoms may include muscle aches, irritability, crying, runny nose, diarrhea, and muscle jerking. Health problems are unlikely to occur in occasional kratom users. Like any drug or medicine, people's reactions vary and some people could possibly have an allergic or other unusual reaction to kratom, even if they used it responsibly.

another source

Long term addicts become thin, their skin darkens, particularly in the face on both cheeks which gives an appearance similar to a hepatic face. Dryness in the mouth is common as well as frequent micturition and often constipation. Some mention that the faeces are black and tend to be small in shape similar to goat faeces (Norakarnphadung, 196. Withdrawal symptoms include, for example, hostility, aggression, flow of tears, wet nose, inability to work, aching in the muscles and bones, jerky movement of the limbs. These are all typical symptoms of kratom addicts [And puppies - lol]

There can be additional problems with todays kratom users, due to the fact that the majority of them consume large amounts of leaf while the users in that study chewed on fresh leaves. It includes digestive problems, hard and large stool (sounds unpleasant, doesn't it?), and for people who use the toss-n-wash method of throwing powder in their mouth and sipping it down, powder can build up in the lungs.

[TabuIsMe]

and puppies? lol