Poison Prevention for Adults | Poison Prevention for Teens | Substance abuse

What is Kratom?

kratom pills and powder with green leaves

The Bottom Line

Kratom is an herbal substance with stimulant- and opioid-like properties. Although not FDA-approved, it is present in many products. It has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including pain and fatigue. Kratom is also used to get high, as an alternative to typical opioids, and for opioid withdrawal. It can cause serious adverse effects both in overdose and routine use.

kratom powder and pills

Need help? Get Help Onlineor

Call 1-800-222-1222

What is kratom? Is it an opioid?

Kratom refers to a compound found in the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which originates in Southeast Asia. It has been used for hundreds of years in Southeast Asia as an herbal remedy for a variety of conditions including pain, fatigue, and psychiatric disorders. It produces both stimulant- and opioid-like effects in the brain. However, while kratom acts on opioid receptors in a similar manner to traditional opioids (e.g., fentanyl, heroin), it is not nearly as potent.

What does kratom do?

Kratom can produce several different effects on the body, depending on the amount taken. Its stimulant effects are more prominent at lower doses, while higher doses produce more of an opioid-like effect. Products are not standardized so it is difficult to know the actual dose received if a person is taking kratom. Stimulant effects can include increased alertness, jitteriness, and elevated heart rate and blood pressure. At higher doses, it might result in drowsiness, feelings of relaxation, and pain relief. For people who are dependent on opioids, kratom can alleviate symptoms of withdrawal.

Is kratom addictive?

While kratom is not well-studied, experts know it works in parts of the brain involved in the development of addiction. There are also several individual factors that determine if a person will become addicted to kratom, including the amount, frequency, and duration of use, as well as a genetic predisposition to addiction. People who regularly use kratom and abruptly stop can develop withdrawal symptoms. However, kratom withdrawal is less severe than withdrawal from other opioid agents.

How long does kratom stay in your system?

The effects of kratom can last for several hours. Generally, the higher the dose, the longer the effects will last. Kratom does not show up on most routine drug screenings.

Is kratom safe?

While kratom products are not illegal, they are also not regulated by the FDA. Consumers therefore do not know how much kratom is present in a product, or if there are additional ingredients or contaminants. Kratom products have been found to be contaminated with lead, while one multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infections has also been linked to kratom products.

We have little information about drug-drug interactions with kratom. Poison Control can help you check for known interactions. Be sure to tell us all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as any herbal supplements you may be taking. Kratom has been reported to produce mild side effects, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, jitteriness, dizziness, and drowsiness. It is not as strong as typical opioids such as fentanyl or heroin.

Can you overdose on kratom?

With higher doses and overdoses of kratom, more severe effects have been reported, including seizures, coma, high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, and liver problems. While some deaths have been linked to kratom use, most of these cases have been associated with the use of multiple drugs.

What should you do if someone overdoses on kratom?

If someone overdoses on kratom, seek medical attention or call 911. If the person is not breathing, administer bystander naloxone. If the person has a seizure, you can place them in a safe position on their side until help arrives. If someone is taking kratom and develops concerning side effects that are not life threatening, or you need more information, call the Poison Center for help.

If you have a question about kratom, help from experts is available by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, PhD
Medical Toxicologist

Poison Control Media Information

Did you find this page helpful? If so, we need your support. Poison Control is in constant competition with misinformation online. Links to www.poison.org or our webPOISONCONTROL triage tool from other websites and blogs help internet searchers quickly find accurate information and Poison Control’s contact information in an emergency. If you use the content from this page, please provide attribution via a link back to this page, www.poison.org, or https://triage.webpoisoncontrol.org/#!/exclusions. By doing so, you could save a life. Thank you!

Click here for Poison Control media contact information.

For More Information

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Kratom | CDC

FDA and Kratom | FDA

References

McCurdy CR, Sharma A, Smith KE, Veltri CA, Weiss ST, White CM, Grundmann O. An update on the clinical pharmacology of kratom: uses, abuse potential, and future considerations. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2024 Jan-Jun;17(2):131-142.

Prozialeck W, Fowler A, Edwards J. Public Health Implications and Possible Sources of Lead (Pb) as a Contaminant of Poorly Regulated Kratom Products in the United States. Toxics. 2022 Jul 19;10(7):398.

Stanciu C, Ahmed S, Gnanasegaram S, Gibson S, Penders T, Grundmann O, McCurdy C. Kratom as an opioid alternative: harm, or harm reduction? A systematic review of literature. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2022 Sep 3;48(5):509-528.

Torrico T, Patel K, Nikolov N, Salam MT, Padhy R, Weinstein D. Presence of kratom in opioid overdose deaths: findings from coroner postmortem toxicological report. Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 10;14:1332999.