Kratom relieves pain and can make you feel alert or confused.
It comes from a tree. The leaves contain mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
Kratom can come as leaves or extracts that people:
- smoke
- chew
- drink in a tea
- swallow in tablets or capsules
Drug category: stimulant
Stimulants speed up messages between the brain and body. They can make you feel alert or energetic. But they can also cause anxiety, paranoia and heart problems.
Other names for kratom
Other names include: 7-hydroxymitragynine, krypton, mitragyna speciosa, mitragynine, xscape
Effects of kratom
The effects of kratom can vary depending on:
- your size, weight and sex
- if you have any health conditions or mental health difficulties
- how you take the drug
- the strength of the drug
- how much you take
- if you take alcohol, medicines or other drugs at the same time
- where you take the drug and how you feel before you take it
- if you have taken the drug before and how often
The effects of kratom start within 5 to 10 minutes.
There are not as many studies on kratom as other drugs. We are still learning about the effects of kratom and how long they last.
How you may feel or behave
You may feel:
- alert or energetic
- talkative
- confused
- calm
- intense wellbeing or happiness (euphoria)
Effects on your brain and body
Kratom can cause:
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (getting sick)
- sweating
- itchiness
- aches and pains
- dry mouth
- constipation
- increased need to pee
- increased heart rate
- drowsiness
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- problems sleeping
- hallucinations - you may see, hear or feel things that are not there
Kratom and mental health
Regular use of kratom may cause mental health difficulties or make existing difficulties worse.
Mental health difficulties linked with kratom include:
- anxiety
- low mood or depression
- thoughts of suicide
- psychosis - you have confused thoughts, feelings and behaviour and you do not know what is real or not real
Kratom and dependency
Regular use of kratom can cause:
- tolerance - when you need to take more of the drug to get the same effects
- dependency
Signs of dependency can include:
- cravings for a drug
- withdrawal symptoms
- continuing to use a drug even when it causes you harm
Withdrawal symptoms
If you stop taking kratom after regular use, you may get withdrawal symptoms.
It is not safe to use kratom to cope with opioid dependency.
If you are worried about withdrawal from kratom or opioids, you can get support. There are treatments and medicines that are safe and effective.
How long does kratom stay in your system?
It can be hard to know how long kratom stays in your system.
There are tests to detect mitragynine. But different types of tests have different detection times.
Things that affect how long a drug stays in your system
The time it takes for a drug to leave your system depends on many things.
For example:
- how much you took
- how often you take the drug
- how strong the drug was
- your age, sex and metabolism
- your general health
Reducing risks from kratom
It’s always safest not to take drugs. The strength of drugs sold as kratom can vary.
There are ways to reduce the risk of harm if you use kratom. Select a piece of advice to find out more.
Consider if there is extra risk for you - such as health conditions or how you feel.
There are always risks if you use drugs. But some people may be more at risk than others.
If you or someone in your family has any health conditions or mental health difficulties, you may be more at risk of a drug emergency.
For example, if you have heart problems.
It can be hard to know your level of risk. Some people have health conditions and do not know it.
If you feel low, anxious or stressed, you are more at risk of a negative or challenging experience.
Be with people you trust and look out for each other - do not use alone.
Pick a meeting point and know what to do in case of an emergency.
Start with a small amount and wait 2 hours before you take more.
This is to reduce the risk of an overdose or drug emergency.
The contents or strength of drugs can vary, even in the same batch.
If you start with a small amount, you can:
- see how you react
- stop if you get an effect you did not expect or do not want
It can take up to 2 hours for some effects to happen. If you take too much too soon, it increases your risk.
Know what to do in case of a drug emergency.
If you take any kind of drug, it is important to know:
- signs of a drug emergency, including signs related to mental health
- what to do in case of overdose or other emergencies
An overdose can be a life-threatening condition. It happens when someone has too much of a drug or another substance in their system.
Getting help can prevent serious damage or death. Your wellbeing is the main priority.
Mixing kratom with alcohol or other drugs
Using kratom with alcohol, medicines or other drugs can have unpredictable and negative effects.
There is a higher risk if you mix kratom with substances that slow down messages between your brain and body.
For example:
It increases the risk of breathing problems and overdose.
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 if
you or someone else has taken kratom and has:
- problems breathing
- blue or grey lips or fingertips
- chest pain
- a fast heartbeat
Stay with the person until help arrives.
Tell the medics everything you know about the drug and give them any leftover drug if possible. It will help them decide the right treatment.
If you are worried about kratom use
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s use, you can get support. This can be when kratom use affects your health, relationships, work or other areas of your life.
Getting help can prevent overdose.
Non-urgent advice: Drugs and alcohol helpline
You can contact the helpline for support, information or advice on treatment and support options.
Freephone: 1800 459 459
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
Email: helpline@hse.ie