Safety concerns

Researchers have studied kratom as a potential treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms. But evidence suggests that rather than treating addiction and symptoms of withdrawal, the use of kratom may lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Commercially available kratom products are not "natural." They often have high levels of very addictive substances. And kratom may contain dangerous contaminants, including heavy metals and harmful bacteria.

Over time, people who use kratom may get cravings for it and need the same medicines used to treat opioid addiction, now called opioid use disorder. These medicines include buprenorphine (Brixadi, Sublocade) and buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone, Zubsolv). When kratom is used during pregnancy, the infant may have symptoms of withdrawal after birth.

As with pain medicines and recreational drugs, it is possible to overdose on kratom. But this is rare. The treatment for kratom overdose is like the treatment for opioid overdose. This includes the use of naloxone (Narcan, Kloxxado, others) and getting medical attention right away.

Although people may enjoy the good feelings that kratom can produce, kratom hasn't proved to be an effective treatment for opioid withdrawal. And a small number of people — small compared to deaths from other drugs — have died after taking kratom.