Contributor: Nick Hatch, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Kratom is derived from the evergreen tree sharing the same name, found in Southeast Asia
• Kratom is legal is most regions
• Adverse effects of this substance are increasing in prevalence as its use becomes more widespread
• At lower doses kratom has a stimulatory effect
• Higher doses of kratom can cause opioid-like and psychotropic effects
• Documented instances of more severe acute liver toxicity do exist

References

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012–. Kratom. 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 31643556.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD