Expanded Summary (6th grade reading level):
Kratom is a plant that grows in parts of Asia. Some people use kratom to treat pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal. However, kratom has also been linked to some bad side effects. In this study, the researchers looked at reports of bad side effects from kratom that were sent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The researchers found that the people who reported bad side effects from kratom were usually young, with an average age of 35 years old. More men reported bad side effects than women. Most of the reports of bad side effects were made since 2018. The most common bad side effects were death, being sick from various substances, and drug addiction or withdrawal. The researchers also found that the number of reports of accidental deaths linked to kratom was 63 times higher than expected.
This study was done by looking at real-world reports of bad side effects from kratom, not in a laboratory. The reports came from people who had used kratom, as well as healthcare providers.
Key takeaways:
- Kratom users who reported bad side effects tended to be young, with more men than women
- Most reports of bad side effects from kratom were made since 2018
- The most common bad side effects were death, being sick from various substances, and drug addiction or withdrawal
- The number of accidental deaths linked to kratom was much higher than expected.
For further reading:
Link: https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cts.13505
Full Citation:
Li X, Ndungu P, Taneja SB, Chapin MR, Egbert SB, Akenapalli K, Paine MF, Kane-Gill SL, Boyce RD. An evaluation of adverse drug reactions and outcomes attributed to kratom in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System from January 2004 through September 2021. Clin Transl Sci. 2023;16:1002 1011.
