This article is about a man who was taking a lot of kratom, as well as two other medications, venlafaxine and quetiapine. Kratom is a plant that can have effects similar to some opioid drugs. The man began experiencing significant negative side effects, like feeling dizzy and having a fast heartbeat. He went to the emergency room, and the doctors found that he had a condition called serotonin syndrome and an abnormal heart rhythm.
The doctors think that the kratom he was taking may have interacted with the other two medications he was using, causing these problems. When the man stopped taking the venlafaxine and quetiapine, his symptoms went away. The doctors then helped the man stop using kratom by having him take a medication called buprenorphine/naloxone, which is used to treat addiction to opioid drugs. This case shows that kratom can interact with other medications and cause problems, and that buprenorphine/naloxone can be used to help people stop using kratom.
Key takeaways:
- Kratom can interact with other medications, like venlafaxine and quetiapine, and cause serious side effects.
- Buprenorphine/naloxone can be used to help people stop using kratom.
- Doctors should ask patients about their kratom use and consider medication treatment if they want to stop using it.
- More research is needed on the potential interactions between kratom and other medication.
For further reading:
Full Citation:
Brogdon, H. D., McPhee, M. M., Paine, M. F., Cox, E. J., & Burns, A. G. (2022). A Case of Potential Pharmacokinetic Kratom-drug Interactions Resulting in Toxicity and Subsequent Treatment of Kratom Use Disorder With Buprenorphine/Naloxone. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 16(5), 606-609.
