Kratom is a plant that comes from Southeast Asia. Some people use it to help improve their mood or to help with pain. However, kratom can also cause problems with the liver. In this study, the authors looked at two people who had liver
problems after using kratom.
The first person was a 27-year-old man who had been taking kratom for a few weeks to help with pain in his foot. He developed stomach pain, fever, and nausea. Tests showed that his liver was not working properly. The doctors told him to stop taking kratom, and his liver got better.
The second person was a 36-year-old woman who had been using kratom for several years to help with her addiction to opioid drugs. She developed jaundice (yellow skin) and other symptoms. Tests showed that her liver was severely damaged. The doctors told her to stop using kratom, but her liver did not get better, and she needed to be transferred to a hospital that could give her a liver transplant.
Key takeaways:
- Kratom use can cause serious liver injury, including acute liver failure.
- Patients with suspected drug-induced liver injury should be thoroughly questioned about their use of herbal supplements like kratom.
- More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and risk factors for kratom-induced liver injury.
- Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential for kratom to cause liver problems, especially as its use becomes more widespread.
For further reading:
Full Citation:
Botejue, M., Walia, G., Shahin, O., Sharma, J., & Zackria, R. (2021). Kratom-Induced
Liver Injury: A Case Series and Clinical Implications. Cureus, 13(4),
e14679. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.14679
