Although Kratom may be a new drug in some parts of the globe, it is actually an old drug. The use of the herb can be traced to early inhabitants of South East Asia where it was primarily used for its potent stimulating effects among day laborers and farmers. Today, people are showing interest in the drug for a variety of reasons, including treatment of pain, cough, fatigue, and diarrhea among others.
Importing the plant from its areas of origin (like Indonesia) is costly, making Kratom powder to be a bit more expensive than other herbs. As a result, many people are opting to get the most out of the plant by mixing it with other medicines, herbs, and potentiators. But does Kratom interact with these medications and herbs?
The short answer is YES. Kratom acts on the nervous system’s opioid receptors to produce stimulating, euphoric, energetic, and analgesic effects. Accordingly, its use with other herbs, medications, potentiators, and other drugs may cause interactions—which in some cases might be unsafe. That’s why it is always critical to know how Kratom interacts with particular substances to use it safely.
Without further ado, here are the most common Kratom interactions:
- Kratom Interactions With Opiates
Although Kratom is not an opiate, it has potent sedative effects. Therefore, Kratom is highly likely to interact with opiates in hazardous ways. For instance, combining opiates with Kratom may cause respiratory depression and oversedation. What’s more, considering that opiates are powerful in themselves, it is a bit difficult to establish a safe dose that would avoid the hazardous effects of Kratom-opiate interactions.
- Kratom Interaction With Alcohol and Other Depressants
Central nervous system depressants like alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, and benzodiazepines can cause the same hazardous effects as an opiate combination. While Kratom is believed to have a ceiling that seems to limit the extent of sedation it can cause, combining it with depressants may result in additive oversedation, which often exacerbates the risk of respiratory depression.
- Kratom interactions with stimulants
Although it is safe to use Kratom with foods, you should be careful when combining it with stimulants. Combining Kratom with stimulants—whether they are synthetic stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamine or herbal products like yohimbine, guarana, or large amounts of coffee—may cause unpleasant effects like palpitations, anxiety, agitations, and sweating. It may also cause more serious effects such as lowered seizure threshold and increased blood pressure.
Pro Tip: More experienced users can combine Kratom with controlled amounts of coffee without any harmful effects, especially after figuring out how Kratom interacts with their bodies.
- Kratom interaction with psychedelics
Although the effects of Kratom tend to manifest more as sedating or stimulating, the plant is structurally similar to certain psychedelic alkaloids. People who have tried to combine Kratom and psychedelics have reported unpleasant results like mental thought loops, increased anxiety, and other harmful behaviors. However, some people have also reported positive results when using the plant as a calmative, particularly during the come-down phases of their psychedelic sessions.
- Kratom interactions with SSRIs
For starters, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (commonly abbreviated as SSRIs) are a class of anti-depressants that include Prozac. While Kratom interacts with mu-opioid receptors of the brain, SSRIs are known to interact with the serotonin receptors. Accordingly, it is a bit difficult to tell the effects of Kratom interactions with SSRIs. There isn’t a lot of data on this type of combination either and what is available is mostly anecdotal. The best thing to do is probably to take extra care with Kratom when you are taking SSRIs.
Final Thoughts
Does Kratom interact with any medications? Yes, the herb t interacts with a lot of medications and based on the combinations highlighted above, most interactions are associated with unpleasant side effects. The only substances that users have proved to synergize with Kratom well are ginger powder, a little sugar, and black tea (both of which tend to lessen the bitter taste of Kratom). In particular, most users love ginger because it is great in settling stomach in case you experience nausea when taking Kratom.
As a general guide, before combining Kratom with any medicines or other substances, try to establish whether or not they have the same effects as Kratom. Steer clear of substances with similar effects to Kratom. And if you have never used Kratom, it is recommended to first work with the herb to figure out how it reacts with your body.
Disclaimer: Content from the ConsciousLifeNews.com website and blog is not intended to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this website is intended for general consumer understanding, and is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. As health and nutrition research continuously evolves, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information presented on this website.
