Kratom Drug Interaction Concerns: Be Aware Of These Combinations

Kratom has recently risen to huge popularity due to its effectiveness at treating pain and other health conditions. But this has left many people wondering:

Do drug interactions occur with kratom?

Many people like combining different drugs to illustrate their effectiveness. Others think that by doing so, they can hasten the healing process of their bodies. Most of the time, however, this is not usually the case. Combining kratom with other drugs does not have an important physiological effect most of the time. Harmful kratom drug interactions may occur. For safety reasons, the consumer should be aware of these drug interactions. Some of the drug interactions include the following:

Combining kratom with prescription opiates

One might get tempted to combine kratom and the prescription opiates, to increase the pain relief that they feel. However, this should be avoided as it is associated with life-threatening side effects. Kratom has a sedation property just like opiates/opioids. Thus, when the two are combined a synergy occurs causing increased sedation and respiratory depression.

These can cause even death. Other kratom products are sold as adulterated kratom. This means they already contain opiates such as morphine. It is, therefore, advisable that one should purchase kratom products from a reputable company or sellers. One should compare the reviews posted online about the product. Opiates such as morphine and fentanyl are powerful, hence, they should not be combined with kratom.

Kratom and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

These are a class of drugs that metabolize monoamine compounds. They inhibit monoamine oxidases, the enzymes found in the stomach. Therefore, Kratom should not be combined with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors. Herbs and foods containing MAOIs should also not be used together with kratom. Life-threatening adverse effects result with such a combination.

Foods with high content of amino acid tyramine should be avoided. The compound in such foods can act as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor. The following herbs have MAOIs property: sea bean, bay bean, passion flower, Syrian rue, and many others. One should avoid consuming them while on kratom.

Kratom and stimulants

Stimulants include substances such as: coffee, amphetamines, cocaine, herbal products including guarana, yohimbine, and others. Stimulants should not be combined with kratom. These stimulants further increase the level of stimulation provided by the kratom.

This results in the development of potentially severe side effects. Such side effects include the following: anxiety, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and general agitation. More life-threating side effects that may result include: increased blood pressure. The lowering of the seizure threshold may also be observed. A small amount of coffee can be combined with kratom among the experienced consumers. This, however, should be avoided by beginners due to their low tolerance.

Kratom and depressants

The depressants include: alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines, and other forms of tranquilizers. Combining kratom with such depressants is contraindicated. The depressants have the same general effects as opiates. Therefore, combining them with kratom can cause a synergy effect of severe sedation. More sedation and respiratory depression can occur as a result. Caution should also be taken when taking kava as a beverage. Kava has a mild depressant property that can also result in these consequences.

Kratom and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs are a class of drugs used in the treatment of depression. Anti-depressants are their common name. There is no research detailing the effect of combining kratom and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Kratom’s effects are due primarily to its interaction with the mu-receptors in the brain. On the other hand, SSRIs produce their effects by interacting with the serotonin receptors in the brain. It is hypothesized that, since both act on receptors that can sometimes be involved with each other in certain processes, an interaction may or may not occur. However, it is best to always use caution and avoid doing things that have an unknown safety profile.

A lot of people have also reported that certain Kratom strains have “serotonin” effects, according to their experience.

Some of the strains that were reported to do this were from Kona Kratom, which has a lot of Kratom products with a variety of effects.

Kratom and psychedelics

Psychedelic drugs are a class of drugs that cause psychedelic experiences. They achieve this mainly through “serotonin receptor agonism”. They include the following drugs: LSD, mescaline, psilocybin among others. Some individuals suggest that combining kratom with psychedelics is very vital as it promotes calmness during the come-down phase.

This, however, is not the case for many consumers.

The combination can cause many unwanted side effects due to the increased stimulatory properties beyond the threshold. The increased anxiety and mental block are some of the side effects. This, in turn, causes mental distress and peculiar behavior among the users. It is for this reason that combining kratom with psychedelics should be avoided.

Kratom and marijuana

Research shows that combining kratom with marijuana is very effective. A significant synergy occurs. Side effects such as stomach upsets and headache rarely occur. Such combination has been shown to promote relaxation and one’s energy. One, however, should use the combination with caution. Only a small amount of marijuana needs to be combined with the kratom.

Kratom and alcohol

The effect of combining kratom and alcohol produces varying effects among different users. Some individuals suggest that the combination brings about more prolonged and intense effect. Such people, therefore, insist on using alcohol as it makes the kratom to work effectively in their bodies. On the other hand, others suggest that they experience side effects when they combine kratom and alcohol. Such harmful side effects include: nausea, headache, and hangover.

The kratom and alcohol combination is affected by one’s physiological factors, henc the different effects among users. It is, therefore, advisable not to use large amounts of alcohol while on kratom. Alcohol and kratom alter one’s mood. Alcohol is a depressant, while kratom stimulates or slows down the central nervous system. When combined with alcohol, the depressant effect of kratom can persist. This, in turn, leads to harmful side effects. In general, alcohol should not be combined with kratom.

Take away

It is evident that kratom is very prone to drug interactions. On the kratom combinations so far discussed, very few are safe. The majority are associated with unpleasant side effects. Some such as one resulting from combining kratom and opiates are life-threatening. Over-sedation and respiratory depression can occur among the users. Combining kratom with other drugs have shown to promote synergy in most of the cases. Therefore, one is recommended not to combine kratom with other medications. If it is a mandatory that one must use other drugs, it is advisable first to seek medical advice. One can opt to use ginger to settle the stomach upsets. Ginger does not interact with kratom: hence one is not susceptible to harmful side effects. For synergy purposes, one can opt to use ginger powder, black tea or sugar instead of prescribed opiates.