The paper looks at information collected by the Wisconsin Poison Center about people who had bad reactions after using kratom. Kratom is a plant that can have effects like stimulants or opioids, depending on the dose. The study found that calls about kratom exposures to the poison center went up significantly between 2016-2020. Many of the calls reported that the person had also used other substances like alcohol or drugs. The most common symptoms were agitation, fast heartbeat, and confusion. Some people even needed to be admitted to the hospital, especially if they had also used other substances. The authors say that more research is needed to fully understand the risks and benefits of kratom, and that people who use it should be careful and avoid using it with other substances.

Key takeaways:

• Kratom exposure calls to the Wisconsin Poison Center increased significantly from 2016- 2020.
• Many calls involved use of kratom along with other substances like alcohol or drugs.
• Common symptoms included agitation, fast heartbeat, and confusion.
• Some people required critical care, especially if they had used other substances.
• More research is needed on the risks and benefits of kratom.
• People who use kratom should be careful and avoid using it with other substance.

For further reading:

Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10052723/

Full Citation:

DeJonge, P., Gummin, D., Titelbaum, N., & Meiman, J. (2023). Description of Kratom Exposure Events in Wisconsin as Reported to the Wisconsin Poison Center, January 1, 2010 to September 1, 2022. WMJ, 122(3), 187-190