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 exists
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
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