Top 5 Long-Term Kratom Effects

Not many people know what kratom effects are because most people aren’t aware of what kratom actually is. Unless you’re tuned into either the realm of addiction treatment or the world of drug use, you most likely haven’t heard of the drug yet.

Drugs such as prescription painkillers, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin see much more use in the United States. The rates of use among these drugs like these see no signs of stopping. However, despite its lack of mainstream popularity stateside, people have used kratom for hundreds of years in Southeast Asia as a pain reliever and anti-diarrheal medication.

Did you find out that you know someone who uses kratom? Are you curious about kratom effects for your own personal use? Regardless of how you arrived here, continue reading to learn more about the side effects of kratom and the potential long-term consequences.

In order to fully understand the effects of kratom, first you need to know what the drug actually is. Kratom is actually a tropical tree native to the southeastern parts of Asia and the drug comes from its leaves. Sometimes people use the leaves in their raw form but they’re more often dried out first.

Once harvested and dried, kratom leaves are usually crushed and ground into a fine powder. Then people can choose how to consume the powder, whether they brew it into a tea or other liquid form, or put the powder into capsules or tablets.

In the limited studies conducted on mice by researchers, kratom seems to target the same areas of the brain that codeine, morphine, and fentanyl do. Strangely enough, kratom actually provides stimulant-like effects when taken in small doses, similar to caffeine. In larger doses, though, it acts as a sedative drug like other painkillers do.

This means kratom effects include pain relief, relaxed muscles, an overall sense of calm, and euphoria. It’s easy to purchase online, making it an alternative to opioids that are harder to come by.

The Drug Enforcement Administration attempted to classify kratom as a Schedule I drug. This would classify it with drugs such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. It also would have made it much more difficult for medical professionals to conduct research if they followed through with their proposal.

They removed the substance from their most recent annual report, the National Drug Threat Assessment, at the end of 2018. This means kratom continues to be legal for purchase and use in most places throughout the United States.

Again, kratom produces effects similar to opioids like prescription painkillers, morphine, fentanyl, and heroin. This means it causes many of the same reactions that these drugs do. Common kratom effects include:

The biggest difference noticed between kratom effects and those of other opioids is that it doesn’t seem to slow breathing. This is one of the most dangerous side effects of opioids which might lead to coma or death. If more research continues proving this true, kratom may see wider use in the future to help manage opiate withdrawals.

Since there is little research about kratom effects, the long-term impact of use is still not widely understood. Although severely toxic results seem rare, kratom causes a number of reactions that may cause their own problems.

Similar to opioids, kratom effects include constipation. This might not seem like more than a minor inconvenience but it can cause problems with long-term use. Extreme constipation comes with its own set of side effects such as hemorrhoids, torn rectal skin, or fecal impaction. Long-term use of kratom may inadvertently cause effects like these.

Kratom causes a lack or complete loss of appetite with long-term use. Sometimes this results in an even more serious condition: anorexia. Anorexia creates another issue entirely and often requires treatment to help people address the underlying causes. If kratom might lead to a condition like anorexia, the legal opioid alternative isn’t worth recreational use.

The impact on your appetite caused by kratom effects leads to extreme weight loss. It only makes sense that you’ll lose weight if you aren’t eating. Weight loss isn’t appealing under these conditions, though. Sudden and severe weight loss causes a number of other problems like dehydration, malnutrition, exhaustion, and other uncomfortable reactions.

Everyone understands the benefits of getting enough sleep at night. One of the effects produced by kratom use may lead to sleeplessness or general insomnia. If you have enough nights where kratom affects your ability to sleep, you may face some long-term challenges as a result.

One study conducted by Susruta Majumdar revealed that kratom does not appear to cause physical dependence. Physical dependence is one thing but psychological dependence and addiction are something else entirely. Your brain adapts over time to the substances you regularly use. You might notice anxiety, frustration, irritation, or other similar effects when you quit long-term use of kratom.

If you’re considering kratom to help relieve opiate withdrawals, attending detox or addiction treatment is a safer option. Medical professionals treat your symptoms with medications that are regulated and approved to do so. You’ll also find support from your peers looking to quit using drugs, too.

To find out more about addiction treatment options available to you, call 877-721-3556 today!