Kratom is the latest hotshot herb on the market, used primarily for its benefits against pain. In fact, the herb has been found to be so effective against pain, that many believe it can be a safe substitute for opioids. These days, it’s not uncommon to find people treating opioid withdrawal with kratom, mainly because of its ability to interact with the same receptors that opioids do.
However, despite being a safer alternative to various synthetic medications, kratom isn’t without its own set of risks. Fortunately, you can still leverage its effects without having to worry about the consequences, as long as you fully understand the dangers so you can use the herb responsibly.
Table of Contents
Will Kratom Make You High?
Using kratom induces similar effects to the use of opioids, but that depends mainly on the strength of the dose and the strain that you use. Keep in mind that the sensitivity and tolerance of the user also plays a role in the kind of effects they experience. In general however, kratom is likely to induce some of the following short term effects:
- Lightheadedness
- Euphoria
- Enhanced mood
- Heightened energy levels
- Increased alertness
- Increased sociability
- Pain relief
- Anxiety and stress reduction
- Relaxation
- Sedation
- Stimulation
- Calm
Lower doses of kratom tend to produce more soothing, sedating effects while higher doses are typically associated with increased energy levels and euphoria. In excess, kratom might cause a person to pass out or fall into a deep sleep, awakening after several hours when the concentration of kratom diminishes in their blood stream.
Can You Get Addicted to Kratom?
Notice how a person who drinks coffee regularly and often might not be able to function without a cup in the morning and throughout the day. That’s because with constant exposure to coffee, their body becomes accustomed to the beverage, establishing what resembles a dependence. That is, a person might not feel normal without first having a cup to satiate their body’s need for the drink.
In the same way, your body may develop a dependence on kratom. In more extreme cases, people have been known to manifest withdrawal like symptoms following the cessation of kratom after a long period of use. Fortunately, it’s highly uncommon to develop a dependence on kratom especially if you know how to use the herb responsibly.
Another thing to consider however is tolerance. Unlike dependence, tolerance is defined as your therapeutic threshold which you can reach only after taking a specific dose of kratom. As you take kratom, your body adjusts to the amount of your usual dose. This means that with time, you might not be able to experience the same potent effects with the same low dose.
For most users, the tendency is to simply increase the amount of kratom. But that also means that once your body becomes accustomed to the new dose, you’ll have to increase yet again. The danger here is that with time, you might find yourself having to take megadoses just to experience even mild effects, and as the old adage goes, too much of a good thing is bad.
What Happens When You Take Too Much Kratom?
It’s a common worry among people to assume that they can overdose on kratom. However given that it is a natural remedy, the chances of that are close to impossible. That’s not to say though that you can take whatever dose you want and steer clear of dangers. There are known side effects to using more kratom than your body can handle. And that’s why it’s important to know your therapeutic threshold.
Some of the side effects and reactions to too much kratom may include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Dizziness and headaches
- Clouded cognition
- Anxiety
- Rapid breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Loss of consciousness
While it might seem scary, kratom’s side effects wane with time. So as your body washes out the substance, these unwanted reactions are likely to wane with it. Keep in mind however that individuals who are more sensitive to the substance may experience these side effects at a greater degree, resulting to greater discomfort and distress.
How Do You Safely Wean Off of Kratom?
Individuals using kratom for extended periods might find themselves experiencing withdrawal-like symptoms when they cease the use of the substance. If you suspect that you’ve developed a dependence, then it might be necessary to slowly wean your body off of the herb in order to function independently of the natural remedy.
The best way to do this would be with a technique called tapering. This involves measuring your doses and gradually decreasing the amount you take until you no longer have to take it. This works best for those who might be experiencing more significant dependence after several months or years of consistent use.
In this case, according to golden monk, it’s always best to use different varieties of kratom throughout the tapering process. Switching two or three kratom strains during the tapering process helps to provide the body the compounds its looking for without strengthening the established dependence on a specific kratom strain.
Then of course, there’s the option of cold turkey. If you suspect that your dependence is still in its early stages, then you might be able to quit the kratom completely without any dangers. There will definitely be some unpleasant side effects like shivers, muscle pain, and loss of appetite, but the entire experience should last no more than two days before the need is completely washed out of your system.
Take Your Kratom Responsibly
Today, kratom is recognized as one of the most beneficial natural remedies in the country. But that doesn’t mean that you can use the stuff however you want. Just like any other substance, kratom has been linked with dependence and tolerance, but the chances of these risks are significantly lower compared to synthetic counterparts.
The ideal way to prevent the dangers would be to simply keep an eye on your doses, understand the importance of strain rotations, and use the herb only when it’s absolutely necessary. In being a responsible kratom user, you can experience the full benefits of the herb without having to confront any potential risks.
