Here are the most common effects, not everyone necessarily experiences all of them every time they consume the drug and other effects not listed might be felt. The likelihood of experiencing negative effects is far greater at high doses.

At low doses, kratom has stimulant-like effects, similar to those of caffeine. However, when taken in higher doses, kratom has sedative effects.

The effects are (from positive to negative):

At low doses (1-5g)

At high doses (5g+)

References: The Ultimate Guide to Kratom - Experience, Benefits, & Side Effects; Current perspectives on the impact of Kratom use

How? How Much? When? For how Long?

These are important considerations. The way you consume kratom can vastly impact the experience. The same applies to the dose taken, and even then the effects from a given dose of kratom will vary depending on many factors such as your weight, gender, metabolism, and tolerance from previous use. Read our section on dosing for more information.

How you take Kratom matters...

From the least to the most harmful way.

Eating or drinking

Dried leaves can be chewed, but because the texture is dry and tough, the leaves are commonly crushed into a powder for easier ingestion. Kratom has a strong taste, therefore, the powder is mixed with sweet liquids like fruit juice or milk. Alternatively, Kratom powder can be added to foods like yogurt or applesauce.

The ‘toss and wash’ method is also quite popular. More info on this method can be found here.

Infused

Commonly, Kratom is infused in hot water. Many claim that both the euphoric and mood boosting effects of kratom are enhanced with this method in comparison to taking powder. This is because of the rapid digestion and absorption of Kratom alkaloids. However, it is thought that the pain relieving properties of Kratom are reduced.

Capsules

Others prefer to take kratom in the form of pills or capsules, much like other supplements. This is a safer option as dosing is more controlled.

Smoking and snorting

You should avoid snorting or smoking kratom because both methods increase the speed at which the drug reaches your bloodstream, making it more addictive and thus increasing the risk of overdose and death. These methods may also damage your nose, throat and upper respiratory system. Damage can range from a nosebleed to a respiratory tract infection or even blood clots in the lungs.

More information on the various ways to consume kratom can be found on The Kratom's user guide.

Kratom dosage

When it comes to dosing, it is important to note that Kratom has an uncommonly broad range of effects, meaning it acts in different ways depending on how much you take of it.

• 1 to 4 grams can produce subtle, stimulant effects.
• 4 to 6 grams can produce analgesic, stimulant or sedative effects.
• 6 to 8 grams can produce strong analgesic or sedative effects.
• 8 or more grams can produce very strong analgesic and sedative effects, which can be really dangerous and are not recommended.

Kratom extract (oral dosage)

• Threshold: 1g
• Light: 1-2g
• Common: 2-4g
• Strong: 2-6g
• Heavy: 5-8g

Kratom tea (infused)

• Threshold: 1 g
• Light: 3 g
• Common 5 g
• Strong: 10 g
• Heavy: 11+ g

When do the effects of Kratom kick in and for how long?

The START time below is when you will usually begin to feel the effects of kratom from the time when you first take it. DURATION is roughly the length of time you will experience the effects, after which the effects will start to wear off and you might start to feel the comedown effects.

Kratom has a wide range of effects, depending on the dosage. At small doses, it’s a stimulant and at larger doses it acts as a sedative. The stimulatory effects may be shorter than the sedative ones, as the stimulatory effects tend to appear faster and fade earlier.

• START: 10-15 minutes
• DURATION: 2 - 4 hours
• PEAK: 1 - 2 hours
• AFTER EFFECT: 3 - 6 hours

References: The Kratom User's Guide; www.erowid.org

There are certain precautions you should take before doing Kratom. The advice below helps you to be physically and mentally prepared before doing it. Furthermore, we want you to be safe, and just in case you have a bad experience or some of the unwanted side effects associated with Kratom, we have also provided information on how to take care of yourself when you are in full swing. Finally, there are those uncomfortable or undesirable effects after the high have worn out, we will provide you with some practical tips on how to have a better calm down and help you to reduce the harm done to your body and brain.

Dependence, tolerance and withdrawal

Whilst Kratom is not thought to have a strong dependency potential, especially when taken at low doses, when you take something regularly a habitual addiction can form. With a habitual addiction comes an increasing tolerance that demands bigger doses. This is why we recommend that you leave plenty of time between drug-taking experiences - the longer, the better. If you’re struggling with kratom, take a look at this thread.

Tolerance can easily be built after prolonged use, causing the need to take more drug to achieve desired effects. This can also cause withdrawal symptoms when stopping intake. These include: runny nose, slight muscle pains.

Addiction

The DEA states that kratom abuse can lead to addiction, which can lead to developing psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusion, and confusion. Not everyone will experience addiction in the same way, however, there are several hallmark symptoms which include:

• Tolerance, dependence, withdrawal
• Secretiveness, stealing, and/or lying
• Trouble scaling back or stopping drug
• Dropping and losing interest in hobbies, job/school and activities
• Vast amounts of time spent getting, using, and recovering from the drug
• Changes in mood, sleeping patterns, weight, activity levels
• Increased muscle spasms and pain
• Hot flashes, fever, watery eyes, runny nose

Read more about the possible risks of kratom here

Long-term use

Studies of frequent kratom users in Thailand and Malaysia have suggested the existence of long-term side effects associated with the use of high doses of kratom for a prolonged period of time. These include:

• Weight loss
• Insomnia
• Dark spots (hyperpigmentation) on the skin
• Nausea
• Appetite loss
• Frequent urination
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Tremors or shaking
• Seizures
• Psychosis

Read the complete study here.

Sometimes the drugs we think we are buying turn out to be something very different. Knowing the common substitutes and adulterants that dealers swap or add into the drug is an easy way to protect yourself and your friends.

Commercial versions of kratom are usually combined with other drugs and substances. A good example is krypton, which is sold as a stronger version of kratom. This is a very dangerous substitute because it contains both kratom and an additional opiate compound related to tramadol. This drug preparation can cause respiratory failure and lead to death.

Another common substitute of kratom is akuamma. Some report it has similar but stronger effects to kratom, those being relaxing, euphoric and relatively long lasting (4-5 hours). Akuamma, however, has a higher potential to cause dependence as withdrawal symptoms are often stronger.

References: Unintentional fatal intoxications with mitragynine and O-desmethyltramadol from the herbal blend Krypton.

Currently, more research is needed in order to determine kratom’s exact half-life i.e. the time it takes for the drug’s blood concentration to be reduced by half. As with many other drug, how long kratom stays in your system will depend on factors such as:

• Strain of kratom
• Frequency of use
• Age
• Genetics
• Body fat
• Water and food intake
• Metabolic rate

However, based on current research, it is thought that the main alkaloid found in kratom, mitragynine, has a half-life of approximately 23-24 hours.

This means that after you take kratom, it takes a whole day to eliminate 50% of the drug from your system.This implies it should take around five days for kratom to be fully cleared your system.

Does kratom show up in a drug test?

A big reason why some decide to take kratom as opposed to other opioids is because they believe it does not show up in drug tests. While it is true that most standard drug tests such as SAMHSA-5 can not detect kratom, there are some kratom alkaloids that can be detected on certain drug tests, such as urine or blood tests.

Kratom Urine Tests

Some kratom alkaloids may show up on certain urine tests. While research that indicates how long kratom would be detectable in a user’s urine is limited, there could be trace amounts detected in a urine test for over a week. For someone who doesn’t use kratom often or uses low doses, it probably wouldn't be detectable in their urine after a week.

Kratom Blood Tests

A blood test could identify the presence and quantity of Kratom, by showing the concentration levels of the drug. Blood tests can show concentration levels of kratom. In cases of heavy or long-term use, there would likely be metabolites that could show up in blood tests for several days following ingestion, but because blood tests provide a shorter window for substances to be detected, and they’re more invasive, it’s more likely that a urine test would be conducted.

References: The pharmacology and toxicology of kratom: from traditional herb to drug of abuse; Kratom Drug Test: The Complete Guide in 2019

Europe

• UK: Possession is legal, but possession with intent to supply is illegal. The sale, import, and export of kratom is prohibited under the Psychoactive Substances Act since March 2016.
• Germany: Not illegal, but it’s an unapproved medical drug making it illegal to buy, sell, import, or use it.
• France: Legal
• Netherlands: Legal
• Spain: Legal
• Russia: Illegal
• Italy: Illegal to possess, sell, or import.
• Ireland: Schedule 1 illegal drug.

America

• USA: legality varies by state.

- Alabama - Schedule 1

- Arkansas - Controlled Substance

- California - Legal

- Florida - Legal

- Illinois - Legal (age restriction)

- Indiana - Illegal

- New York - Legal

- Rhode Island - Illegal

- Tennessee - Controlled Substance

- Wisconsin - Illegal

• Canada: Selling or possessing kratom is illegal if there is an intention to ingest.
• Mexico: legal without restrictions.

Asia and Australia

• Australia: Illegal
• New Zealand: Illegal
• Singapore: Illegal
• Hong Kong:
• Israel: Illegal
• Thailand: illegal since 1943. In 1979, reclassified as a Type 5 narcotic (the least restrictive and punitive level).

Africa

• South Africa: Legal

References: A Guide to Kratom Legality; Psychoactive Substances Act 2016; The Legal Status Of Kratom In South Africa

Myths

Kratom is a herbal supplement, so it can't be unsafe.

Many people believe that since kratom is a herbal remedy, it's safe. It's important to keep in mind that herbal products aren’t reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they hit the market. As a result, there’s no guarantee that a supplement will contain the ingredients listed on the label (or that those ingredients will appear in the indicated amounts). Adulteration and contamination with other drugs, herbs, and substances are possible.