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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Kratom (caution)

aka Mitragyna speciosa

Atypical opioid herb with stimulant low-dose and sedating high-dose effects; addiction risk.

Mood & AnxietyEnergy Production

Overview

Atypical opioid herb with stimulant low-dose and sedating high-dose effects; addiction risk.

Natural sources
  • Mitragyna speciosa leaf
Common forms
  • Leaf powder
  • Extract

Mechanism of action

Mitragynine partial agonist at mu-opioid receptor.

Pathways
  • · MOR partial agonism
Neurotransmitters
  • · Endorphins

Effects on the body

Supports
Pain relief
Decreases
Opioid withdrawal

Organ system effects

Brain & CNS

Used (controversially) for opioid withdrawal.

Evidence-based benefits

Some evidence for opioid withdrawal/pain

Limited evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · Nausea
  • · Constipation
Rare
    Serious
    • · Dependence
    • · Hepatotoxicity
    • · Respiratory depression

    Drug interactions

    Opioids / sedatives / MAOIs / CYP3A4 inhibitors
    Respiratory depression and serotonin syndrome reports.
    severe

    Safety & non-supplemental interactions

    Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

    Avoid if you are
    • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
    • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

    Supplement interactions

    Pairs well with

    None listed.

    Avoid combining with
    • Pregnancy
      Neonatal withdrawal.
    • Polysubstance use
      Multiple deaths reported.

    Dosing & bioavailability

    Typical dose
    Not recommended; varies wildly by strain and tolerance

    Where to buy

    Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

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    Thorne
    Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

    Scientific evidence (8)

    Systematic reviewJ Am Osteopath Assoc · 2012

    Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) pharmacology and clinical effects

    Prozialeck WC, et al.

    Review of kratom use and adverse effects.

    Key findings

    Opioid-like activity with dependence and hepatotoxicity risks.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Kratom (caution) — Some evidence for opioid withdrawal/pain

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Kratom (caution) Some evidence for opioid withdrawal/pain" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kratom (caution) and "Some evidence for opioid withdrawal/pain". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Kratom (caution) — randomized controlled trial

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Kratom (caution) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kratom (caution) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Kratom (caution) — meta-analysis

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Kratom (caution) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kratom (caution) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Kratom (caution) — pharmacokinetics

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Kratom (caution) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kratom (caution) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Kratom (caution) — safety adverse events

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Kratom (caution) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kratom (caution) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Kratom (caution) — dose response

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Kratom (caution) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Kratom (caution) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

    Google Scholar: Kratom (caution) — clinical evidence

    Live Scholar search

    Cross-database citation index for Kratom (caution) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

    Key findings

    Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

    Open study
    Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.