Kratom Side Effects: Short and Long-Term

Kratom side effects are a serious concern for all consumers, whether new or experienced. For example, if you’ve been taking this herb for a few weeks, you’re already familiar with its benefits. However, due to everything you’ve read or heard about Kratom in the media, you might develop an underlying fear that the herb is not safe and that, in spite of the positive effects you’ve experienced so far, you might actually be hurting yourself.

Let me start by assuring you that Kratom is not an opioid or artificial drug. The powder is made from the leaves of a tree that is part of the coffee family and, as such, you will never be able to overdose on Kratom like you would on drugs. However, there are good reasons to worry about how you should take Kratom and whether this herb is safe in the long-term. Below, you’ll find all the information you need to enable you to enjoy Kratom without any of the side effects.

Kratom Side Effects in the Short- and Long-Term

There are two major concerns regarding the safety of Kratom: 1) that there isn’t enough research to either support the benefits of the herb or to confirm Kratom side effects in the long term and 2) that in many states, the market is, as of yet, unregulated.

While there is plenty of anecdotal proof that Kratom is harmless and, furthermore, that it can help reduce pain, improve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, and eliminate anxiety, the scientific establishment has been incredibly slow in properly testing these benefits. More importantly, many states throughout the US don’t impose any regulations on the trade of Kratom, which means that it falls entirely onto you – the consumer – to choose your product carefully and avoid adulterated powders.

If you live in one of the few states where the Kratom Consumer Protection Act was passed, you don’t need to worry. This bill effectively ensures that vendors must label their products accurately and that they can only sell pure Kratom powder. If you do not live in such a state, however, you’re better off ordering your Kratom online from a reputable website.

Provided that your Kratom powder is pure, there are still some side effects that you must be aware of before you start taking the herb. Most of them only appear when you take too much Kratom at a time and can be avoided altogether if you consume the herb responsibly.

1. Common Side Effects:

• Nausea and vomiting. Vomiting from taking too much Kratom is described by consumers as one of the worst experiences they’ve ever had. Sometimes, this is referred to as a “Kratom overdose”, but note that the symptoms are not nearly as dangerous as with artificial drugs. So long as you don’t mix Kratom with other substances, taking too much of the herb can be extremely unpleasant, but never life-threatening.

• Dry mouth.
• Sweating.
• Itching.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Drowsiness and fatigue.
• Constipation.

2. Effects on the Nervous System:

• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Irritability.
• Anxiety.
• Insomnia.
• Tremors.
• Suppressed breathing, seizures, and coma. However, these effects have never been linked solely to the consumption of Kratom. Users who experienced such side effects took the herb in combination with artificial drugs such as opioids and it is far more likely that the negative impact resulted from the latter, rather than from Kratom.

3. Long-Term Effects:

• Constipation.
• Insomnia.
• Weight loss and anorexia.
• Addiction.

4. Kratom addiction and withdrawal: While Kratom itself is not an opioid, the herb does contain certain alkaloids that bind with the opioid receptors in the human brain. The alkaloids are mostly responsible for the positive effects of Kratom, but can lead to mild addiction when consumed over extensive periods of time. Some users never experience Kratom withdrawal symptoms even when they stop taking the herb for several days, but others do feel compelled to keep taking it in ever-increasing doses. This discrepancy is likely the result of responsible vs irresponsible use of Kratom.

Things to consider: All of the side effects described above occur only when consumers are not careful with their doses. In addition, if you’ve never taken Kratom before, your body might have a very low tolerance for it and you might experience some of the side effects even when you take the herb in small amounts. To avoid an unpleasant experience, it’s best to start with a minimal dose.

While the word “dose” can be used to describe the amount of Kratom you ingest at a time, it actually often refers to how much of the herb you should take per day. For example, if you read that the maximum dose for White Maeng Da is 12 grams, this means that you should not go over this amount for the course of an entire day.

How to Avoid Kratom Side Effects

Contrary to what you might read or hear in the media, it is entirely possible to take Kratom without experiencing any of the negative side-effects. While more research is still needed to assure the public that the herb is harmless when consumed responsibly, the testimonials of thousands of users have already confirmed this fact.

Not only is Kratom perfectly safe in small doses, but it can have numerous positive effects on the human mind and body. These include:

• A boost of energy.

• Mental clarity and focus.

• Enhanced mood and sociability.

• Pain relief and relaxation.

• Sedative effect.

It’s important to note that, as you take Kratom for longer periods of time, your body will become more accustomed to it and you might feel the need to increase the dose in order to obtain the same benefits as before. So long as you don’t exceed the maximum dose for any specific strain, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

However, once you begin to feel tempted to increase the dose even further, you should take the time to research similar strains to the ones you are currently taking and make a temporary switch. Cycling through different strains of Kratom can help you keep your tolerance and your doses low.

Pro Tip 1: Whenever someone wishes to discredit Kratom, they bring into question the few cases where people who have died from overdose were found to have Kratom in their bloodstream. What they don’t mention is that, in these cases, the victims had taken a cocktail of drugs, including dangerous opioids, in addition to Kratom. While Kratom side-effects are not dangerous, the herb can become harmful when mixed with certain types of medicine or drugs. This is something you should always avoid in order to stay safe.

Pro Tip 2: If you’ve never tried Kratom before, there is no way to know how your body will respond to the herb. Given that your tolerance is likely very low, you might experience some side effects – such as nausea, dizziness, irritability, and anxiety – even with small doses. A good practice is to start with a dose of no more than 0.5 grams so as to give your body the time it needs to adjust to the effects. If you don’t achieve the desired benefits, wait for up to 20 minutes before you increase the dose by another 0.5 grams.

Pro Tip 3: Any experienced user will tell you that, with Kratom, less is always more. Taking only as much of the herb as you need to feel the desired impact can help you avoid short-term side effects, as well as delay the buildup of tolerance. In addition, the lower your daily dose, the less likely it is that you will experience any withdrawal symptoms when you take a break from Kratom or stop taking the herb altogether.

No matter the precautions you take in terms of dosage, you could end up hurting yourself if you take adulterated (impure) Kratom. Since the distribution of this herb is largely unregulated across the United States, there are many vendors – especially local shops – where Kratom powder is cut with dangerous and potentially addictive substances.

Until the Kratom Consumer Protection Act is passed in more states, it is up to you to select the right vendor and the right product. Buying from an online shop is a good place to start because these companies specialize in Kratom, are reviewed by thousands of customers, and depend on a spotless reputation to stay in business.

Enjoy Kratom without the Side Effects

In spite of the herb’s many benefits and even though Kratom side effects are harmless compared to those of pain medication and other drugs, this natural remedy remains controversial throughout the United States. If you want to support the cause and make Kratom more accessible for all those who need it, the best thing you can do is to be a responsible consumer.

Any attempt to buy Kratom in a state where this is illegal, as well as any instances of “Kratom overdose” have a negative effect not just on the person in question, but also on the entire community. To help build credibility for this amazing plant and to enjoy its benefits without any of the side-effects, always consume Kratom in moderation and keep your doses as low as possible.