A comparative analysis of kratom exposure cases in Thailand and the United States from 2010-2017

Demographic and behavioral factors associated with kratom use among U.S. college students

Objective: Kratom use represents a growing risk for public health. The present study examined demographic and behavioral factors linked with kratom use. Participants: Participants were college students in the United States who participated in the 2019-2020 Healthy Minds Study. Methods: Participants completed survey-based assessment of kratom use and related demographic, behavioral, and mental health variables. Results: Kratom use was linked with being White, male or transgender/gender nonconforming, identifying as a sexual minority, use of alcohol or marijuana, and depressive symptoms. Kratom use was not uniquely linked to exercise or anxiety. Conclusions: The results of the present study can be used to inform initial targeting of efforts to reduce kratom use among college students.

Cardiovascular health in kratom users; a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Kratom, also known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a plant that originates in Southeast Asia and possesses unique pharmacological characteristics. It is commonly consumed in the form of tea made by boiling the leaves or using the leaves to create the powder. According to its pain-relieving effects, the prevalence of kratom use around the world has increased, which has various implications for healthcare providers. Mitragynine is a well-known active compound in kratom.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the cardiovascular effects of mitragynine and its potential cardiotoxicity through the literature.

METHOD

Authors searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using appropriate search strategies for each database. After the screening, all relevant studies were included.

RESULTS

Although kratom may have the potential for therapeutic benefits, it has been associated with multi-organ damage and cardiac toxicity in some cases. According to the available data, tachycardia and hypertension are the most common adverse effects. Other possible cardiovascular effects include atherosclerosis, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, dose-dependent prolonged QTc interval, myocarditis, cardiomegaly, and cardiopulmonary arrest.

CONCLUSION

While prior research has indicated the possible negative effects of mitragynine overdose on the cardiovascular system, there are no definitive conclusions, and additional investigations are needed.

A Preliminary Inventory of Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa) Products and Vendors on the Darknet and Cryptomarkets

In recent years, the online sale of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a Southeast Asian plant with both medicinal and psychoactive properties, has raised health concerns mainly due to the uncontrolled diffusion of adulterated kratom-related products. This exploratory study provides, for the first time, a snapshot of the availability of kratom products on the darknet which has been further validated by data searches on the surface web. A total of 231 listings of kratom across 23 darknet marketplaces were identified between March 2020 and October 2021. Among these, 40 were found actively sold across five markets by thirteen vendors. Listed items were mainly advertised as "safe" substitutes for medicinal products for the self-management of pain and other health conditions and offered in various forms (e.g., dry leaf powder, pills, capsules). Purchases were made using cryptocurrencies, with some vendors offering Pretty Good Privacy, and were shipped from Europe, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Goods sold by the same sellers also included illicit drugs and fraud-related products. Our study discovered a previously unknown diffusion of kratom products on the darknet mainly for self-treating a variety of medical conditions, suggesting the need for further research and immediate interventions to safeguard the well-being and health of kratom consumers.

Kratom safety and toxicology in the public health context: research needs to better inform regulation

Although kratom use has been part of life for centuries in Southeast Asia, the availability and use of kratom in the United States (US) increased substantially since the early 2000s when there was little information on kratom pharmacology, use patterns, and effects, all critical to guiding regulation and policy. Here we provide a synthesis of research with several hundred English-language papers published in the past 5 years drawing from basic research, epidemiological and surveillance data, and recent clinical research. This review of available literature aims to provide an integrated update regarding our current understanding of kratom's benefits, risks, pharmacology, and epidemiology, which may inform United States-based kratom regulation. Recent surveillance indicates there are likely several million past-year kratom consumers, though estimates vary widely. Even without precise prevalence data, kratom use is no longer a niche, with millions of United States adults using it for myriad reasons. Despite its botanical origins in the coffee tree family and its polypharmacy, kratom is popularly characterized as an opioid with presumed opioid-system-based risks for addiction or overdose. Neuropharmacology, toxicology, and epidemiology studies show that kratom is more accurately characterized as a substance with diverse and complex pharmacology. Taken together the work reviewed here provides a foundation for future scientific studies, as well as a guide for ongoing efforts to regulate kratom. This work also informs much-needed federal oversight, including by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We conclude with recommendations for kratom regulation and research priorities needed to address current policy and knowledge gaps around this increasingly used botanical product.

[Kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa): a Psychoactive Plant with Opportunities and Risks]

Kratom is an evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia. Its leafs are traditionally used as a stimulant, a remedy for various health problems and for religious purposes. Especially in the US (in a lesser extent also in Europe) kratom use is significantly prevalent. In Western countries, kratom is used predominantly as an analgesic and stimulant, for the treatment of opioid use disorders, and for improving mental health (e. g., in depression, anxiety disorders). Main molecular constituents of kratom are alkaloids of which mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine appear to be most important. Pharmacodynamics and -kinetics of kratom are complex and insufficiently studied. It is known that mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are partial agonist at human μ-opioid receptors and antagonists at κ- and δ-opioid receptors with additional effects at other central receptors. Tolerability of kratom is presumably better than that of classical opioids; this is probably due to missing effects of kratom on β-arrestin and discussed as a starting point for the development of opioids with improved tolerability. Some alkaloids of kratom are inhibitors of CYP26 and to a somewhat lesser degree of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. The addictive potential of kratom appears to be lower than that of classical opioids; however, corresponding data is limited and kratom use disorders appear to occur primarily in Western countries. Several cases of severe health-related problems and deaths are known in the US; in these cases, however, polysubstance use was usually present. Kratom use is likely associated with hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Kratom-associated mortality and morbidity in Western countries are quantitatively significantly different from Southeast Asia, where kratom use is no public health problem. The reasons for this may be the combined use of substances (which is more prevalent in Western countries), higher dosages of consumed kratom, adulterations and contaminations of commercially available kratom in Western countries, pharmacokinetic interactions, and higher concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine in dried kratom leafs (that are typically consumed in Western countries) in comparison to fresh leafs (that are typically consumed in Southeast Asia).

Kratom's Emergence and Persistence Within the US Polydrug Epidemic

Purpose of Review

Use of "kratom" products, derived from the bioactive botanical Mitragyna speciosa have increased amidst US polydrug use epidemics. Kratom alkaloids interact with opioid, serotonergic, adrenergic, and other receptors and regular users have described experiencing a wide range of effects. Some with polydrug use histories have reported using kratom as a substitute for other drugs or to nonmedically self-manage substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms. Data describing this remain scare and come from self-report. We review this literature describing kratom use as a drug substitute, or as a nonmedical "self-treatment" for attenuating dependence or SUD symptoms.

Recent Findings

Kratom products have been documented as being used as a licit and illicit opioid substitute. Use to reduce alcohol or stimulant consumption is less well documented. Although prior and current polydrug use appear common among a some kratom users, it is unclear if co-use is contemporaneous or concomitant. Temporal order of use initiation is typically undocumented. Use for energy and recreation are also increasingly reported.

Summary

Data on kratom consumption come primarily from self-report with significant limitations. Until controlled human laboratory studies have been conducted, we can presently only describe what is known about human kratom use based on self-report. Such data describe real-world kratom use, leaving unaddressed human abuse liability or therapeutic potential of kratom alkaloids. Clinicians should be mindful of use motivations among people with SUD histories, sensitively assessing use. The paucity of data highlights the urgent need to increase funding and research for understanding kratom's effects in humans.

Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) poisoning: Findings from ten cases

Kratom is a mixture of compounds that are present in the leaves of the tropical tree Mitragyna speciosa. It is used as a psychoactive agent with both opiate and stimulant-like effects. In this case series we describe the signs, symptoms, and the management of kratom overdose in the prehospital setting and in intensive care. We retrospectively searched for cases in the Czech Republic. Over 36 months we found 10 cases of kratom poisoning, which healthcare records were analyzed and reported as per CARE guidelines. The dominant symptoms in our series were neurological and included quantitative (n = 9) or qualitative (n = 4) disorder of consciousness. Signs and symptoms of vegetative instability [hypertension (n = 3) and tachycardia (n = 3) vs. bradycardia/cardiac arrest (n = 2), mydriasis (n = 2) vs. miosis (n = 3)] were noticed. Prompt response to naloxone in two cases and lack of response in one patient were observed. All patients survived and the effect of intoxication wore off within two days. Kratom overdose toxidrome is variable and, in keeping with its receptor physiology, consists of signs and symptoms of opioid-like overdose, sympathetic overactivation and serotonin-like syndrome. Naloxone can help to avoid intubation in some cases.

Natural Products for the Treatment of Drug Addiction: Narrative Review

Drug addiction is considered a chronic disorder affecting the individual's life, his/her family and society. Up till now the treatment of drug addiction is considered a problematic issue. Synthetic drugs available for the treatment of drug addiction are few, of limited efficacy and associated with serious side effects. Therefore, there is a continuous search for better therapeutic agents for drug addiction. Natural products represent a promising source for drug addiction treatment. This review summaries drug addiction definition, its mechanism of action, its types, its diagnosis, factors affecting its development and different available approaches for its treatment especially the use of natural products. Six plants were discussed thoroughly in this review, including, Tabernanthe iboga Baill., Mitragyna speciosa Korth., Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep, Hypericum perforatum L., Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., and Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.

Associations of Lifetime Nonmedical Opioid, Methamphetamine, and Kratom Use within a Nationally Representative US Sample

Co-use of non-medical opioids (NMO) and methamphetamine is increasing. So too is the use of the psychoactive botanical "kratom," including among people with NMO and methamphetamine use histories. We assessed characteristics associated with respondent groups who reported lifetime methamphetamine and/or kratom use within a nationally representative US sample using 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data from respondents reporting lifetime NMO use (diverted prescription opioids, heroin). Weighted prevalence estimates for demographic, mental health, and substance use outcomes were determined. Logistic regression examined associations between group membership and outcomes. Among this sample of respondents with lifetime NMO use, 67.6% (95% CI = 65.6-69.4%) reported only NMO use; 4.6% (3.9-5.4%) reported NMO+Kratom; 24.7% (22.7-26.7%) reported NMO+Methamphetamine; and 3.2% (2.5-3.9%) reported NMO+Methamphetamine+Kratom. Compared to those in the NMO-only group, the NMO+Kratom group was more likely to report past-year serious mental illness (SMI; OR = 2.27), suicidality (OR = 1.89), and past-month psychological distress (OR = 1.88). The NMO+Methamphetamine+Kratom group was more likely to report past-year SMI (OR = 2.65), past-month psychological distress (OR = 2.06), and unmet mental health needs (OR = 2.03); increased odds for drug injection, opioid withdrawal, and perceived treatment need also emerged. Risk factors were observed for all groups but were greatest among those reporting use of all three substances.

Kratom as an opioid alternative: harm, or harm reduction? A systematic review of literature

Background: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) products are increasingly endorsed for self-management of multiple ailments, including as opioid substitution. The FDA has expressed that there is no evidence to indicate that this botanical is safe or effective for any medical use.Objective: We systematically review the current state of the literature concerning the impact of kratom and its alkaloids in all paradigms that involve opioids.Methods: A keyword search of online literature databases identified 16 preclinical studies, 25 case reports, and 10 observational studies meeting our pre-selected criteria.Results: All rodent models support alkaloids' action on opioid receptors, translating in their ability to mitigate opioid withdrawal. Some studies found mitragynine (MG) to have less reinforcing properties than morphine, and possessing tolerance-sparing properties when coadministered with morphine. Two studies that assessed 7-hydroxymitragynine (7OHMG) found it to substitute for morphine with potential for tolerance and dependence. Aside from addiction development, case reports outline a variety of confounding toxicities. Ten surveys of users, some conducted with assistance from pro-kratom lobbying organizations, find a high self-reported efficacy as an opioid substitute, with minimal reported adverse effects.Conclusion: With no reported controlled human clinical trials, in the light of rising concerns surrounding kratom's liabilities, there is insufficient evidence to allow any conclusions to be drawn. Case reports and observational studies carry significant bias toward harm and efficacy, respectively. Existing animal studies are heterogeneous in methodology and ultimately findings, with concern for interspecies variability and human translatability. Further research should investigate the safety and efficacy of using kratom alkaloids as opioid substitutes.

Kratom: Substance of Abuse or Therapeutic Plant?

Kratom is the common term for Mitragyna speciosa and its products. Its major active compounds are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. An estimated 2.1 million US residents used kratom in 2020, as a "legal high" and self-medication for pain, opioid withdrawal, and other conditions. Up to 20% of US kratom users report symptoms consistent with kratom use disorder. Kratom use is associated with medical toxicity and death. Causality is difficult to prove as almost all cases involve other psychoactive substances. Daily, high-dose use may result in kratom use disorder and opioid-like withdrawal on cessation of use. These are best treated with buprenorphine.

Public Health Implications and Possible Sources of Lead (Pb) as a Contaminant of Poorly Regulated Kratom Products in the United States

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaf products have been used in traditional folk medicine for their unique combination of stimulant and opioid-like effects. Kratom is being increasingly used in the West for its reputed benefits in the treatment of pain, depression, and opioid use disorder (OUD). Recent studies from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA) and our laboratory have shown that many kratom products being sold in the United States are contaminated with potentially hazardous levels of lead (Pb). In this commentary, we discuss the public health implications of the presence of Pb in kratom products, particularly as they relate to the predicted levels of Pb exposure among kratom users. We also considered the specific toxic effects of Pb and how they might relate to the known physiologic and toxicologic effects of kratom. Finally, we consider the possible sources of Pb in kratom products and suggest several areas for research on this issue.

Reports of Adverse Events Associated with Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances, 2017-2020: A Review

An important role of modern forensic and clinical toxicologists is to monitor the adverse events of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Following a prior review from 2013 to 2016, this critical literature review analyzes and evaluates published case reports for NPS from January 2017 through December 2020. The primary objective of this study is to assist in the assessment and interpretation of these cases as well as provide references for confirmation methods. Chemistry, pharmacology, adverse events and user profiles (e.g., polypharmacy) for NPS are provided including case history, clinical symptoms, autopsy findings and analytical results. Literature reviews were performed in PubMed and Google Scholar for publications using search terms such as NPS specific names, general terms (e.g., 'designer drugs' and 'novel psychoactive substances'), drug classes (e.g., 'designer stimulants') and outcome-based terms (e.g., 'overdose' and 'death'). Government and website drug surveillance databases and abstracts published by professional forensic science organizations were also searched. Toxicological data and detailed case information were extracted, tabulated, analyzed and organized by drug category. Case reports included overdose fatalities (378 cases), clinical treatment and hospitalization (771 cases) and driving under the influence of drugs (170 cases) for a total of 1,319 cases providing details of adverse events associated with NPS. Confirmed adverse events with associated toxidromes of more than 60 NPS were reported including synthetic cannabinoid, NPS stimulant, NPS hallucinogen, NPS benzodiazepine and NPS opioid cases. Fifty of these NPS were reported for the first time in January 2017 through December 2020 as compared to the previous 4 years surveyed. This study provides insight and context of case findings described in the literature and in digital government surveillance databases and websites during a recent 4-year period. This review will increase the awareness of adverse events associated with NPS use to better characterize international emerging drug threats.

Kratom: History, pharmacology, current user trends, adverse health effects and potential benefits

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) is a tree native to Southeast Asia with dose-dependent stimulant and opioid-like effects. Dried, powdered leaf material is among the kratom products most commonly consumed in the US and Europe, but other formulations also exist including enriched extracts, resins, tinctures, and edibles. Its prevalence in the US remains debated and the use pattern includes self-treatment of mood disorders, pain, and substance use disorders. Most of the adverse effects of kratom and its alkaloid mitragynine have been reported in the literature as case reports or part of surveys necessitating confirmation by clinical trials. Toxicities associated with kratom consumption have focused on hepatic, cardiac, and CNS effects with the potential to cause fatalities primarily as part of polydrug exposures. Kratom may also present with drug-drug interactions primarily through CYP 3A4 and 2D6 inhibition, although the clinical significance remains unknown to date. The variability in composition of commercially available kratom products complicates generalization of findings and requires further investigation by employing clinical trials. Healthcare professionals should remain cautious in counseling patients on the use of kratom in a therapeutic setting.

Assessment of Kratom Use Disorder and Withdrawal Among an Online Convenience Sample of US Adults

INTRODUCTION

Since 2007, kratom use in the United States has increased, centered around nonmedical self-treatment of pain, psychiatric, and substance use disorder symptoms. Reports of kratom withdrawal have emerged amidst description of therapeutic effects, yet we know little about disordered use. Our objective was to assess Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 substance use disorder for kratom ("kratom use disorder," KUD) and examine kratom withdrawal symptoms among those who ever used regularly. We also sought to identify clinical characteristics of respondents who qualified for current, remitted, or never KUD.

METHODS

Between April and May 2021, we re-recruited online respondents who reported lifetime kratom use on an unrelated survey into our cross-sectional kratom survey study, permitting a diverse sample of current and former kratom-using persons.

RESULTS

A total of 129/289 (44.6%) evaluable surveys were obtained. Over half (52.7%) of respondents never met KUD diagnostic criteria; 17.8% were assessed remitted, and 29.5% met current (past-year) KUD threshold. For past-year KUD, severity was: 14.0% mild, 7.0% moderate, and 8.5% severe. Pain, psychiatric symptoms, and polydrug use were found across all groups. KUD symptoms reflected increased use, tolerance, withdrawal, unsuccessful quit attempts, and craving; 9.3% reported decreases in important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of use. Withdrawal symptoms were moderate and included gastrointestinal upset, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, fatigue/low energy, and craving.

CONCLUSIONS

As assessed here, tolerance and withdrawal are primary KUD features rather than psychosocial impairments. As kratomis often used among persons with a myriad of health conditions, clinicians should be aware of and assess for kratom use and withdrawal.

The Adverse Cardiovascular Effects and Cardiotoxicity of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.): A Comprehensive Review

Background: Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) has received overwhelming attention recently due to its alleged pain-relieving effects. Despite its potential therapeutic value, kratom use has been linked to many occurrences of multiorgan toxicity and cardiotoxicity. Accordingly, the current narrative review aimed to provide a detailed account of kratom's adverse cardiovascular effects and cardiotoxicity risk, based on in vitro studies, poison center reports, coroner and autopsy reports, clinical case reports, and clinical studies. Methods: An electronic search was conducted to identify all research articles published in English from 1950 to 2021 using the major research databases, such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Mendeley, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Medline. We then analyzed the literature's discussion of adverse cardiovascular effects, toxicity, and mortality related to kratom use. Results: Our findings revealed that, although in vitro studies have found kratom preparations' most abundant alkaloid-mitragynine-to cause a prolonged QTc interval and an increased risk of torsades de pointes, a clinical study examining humans' regular consumption of kratom did not report such a risk. However, this latter study did show that regular kratom use could induce an increased QTc interval in a dose-dependent manner. A few case reports also highlighted that kratom consumption is associated with ventricular arrhythmia and cardiopulmonary arrest, but this association could have ensued when kratom was co-administered with another substance. Similarly, analyses of national poison data showed that kratom's most common adverse acute cardiovascular effects include tachycardia and hypertension. Meanwhile, coroner and autopsy reports indicated that kratom's cardiovascular sequelae encompass coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, focal band necrosis in the myocardium, and myocarditis. Given the available data, we deduced that all cardiac eventualities reported in the literature could have been compounded by polysubstance use and unresolved underlying medical illnesses. Conclusion: Although kratom use has been associated with death and cardiotoxicity, especially at higher doses and when associated with other psychoactive drugs, the dearth of data and methodological limitations reported in existing studies do not allow a definitive conclusion, and further studies are still necessary to address this issue.

Kratom Use Within the Context of the Evolving Opioid Crisis and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa, Korth.) is an evergreen tree that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. When ingested, kratom leaves or decoctions from the leaves have been reported to produce complex stimulant and opioid-like effects. For generations, native populations in Southeast Asia have used kratom products to stave off fatigue, improve mood, alleviate pain and manage symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Despite the long history of kratom use in Asia, it is only within the past 10-20 years that kratom has emerged as an important herbal agent in the United States, where it is being used for the self-treatment of pain, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and mood disorders. The increase in the use of kratom in the United States has coincided with the serious epidemic of opioid abuse and dependence. Since 2015, efforts to restrict access to prescription opioids have resulted in a marked increase in the use of "street" opioids such as heroin and illicit fentanyl. At the same time, many patients with chronic pain conditions or opioid use disorder have been denied access to appropriate medical help. The lack of access to care for patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorder has been magnified by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we highlight how these converging factors have led to a surge in interest in kratom as a potential harm reduction agent in the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder.

Case Report: Treatment of Kratom Use Disorder With a Classical Tricyclic Antidepressant

Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) is an evergreen tree of the coffee family native to South-East Asia and Australasia. It is used by locals recreationally to induce stimulant and sedative effects and medically to soothe pain and opiate withdrawal. Its leaves are smoked, chewed, or infused, or ground to yield powders or extracts for use as liquids. It contains more than 40 alkaloids; among these, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are endowed with variable mu, delta, and kappa opioid stimulating properties (with 7-hydroxymitragynine having a more balanced affinity), rhynchophylline, which is a non-competitive NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, but is present in negligible quantities, and raubasine, which inhibits α₁-adrenceptors preferentially over α₂-adrenceptors, while the latter are bound by 7-hydroxymitragynine, while mitragynine counters 5-HT_2A receptors. This complexity of neurochemical mechanisms may account for kratom's sedative-analgesic and stimulant effects. It is commonly held that kratom at low doses is stimulant and at higher doses sedative, but no cut-off has been possible to define. Long-term use of kratom may produce physical and psychological effects that are very similar to its withdrawal syndrome, that is, anxiety, irritability, mood, eating, and sleep disorders, other than physical symptoms resembling opiate withdrawal. Kratom's regulatory status varies across countries; in Italy, both mitragynine and the entire tree and its parts are included among regulated substances. We describe the case of a patient who developed anxiety and dysphoric mood and insomnia while using kratom, with these symptoms persisting after withdrawal. He did not respond to a variety of antidepressant combinations and tramadol for various months, and responded after 1 month of clomipramine. Well-being persisted after discontinuing tramadol.