Kratom

[LurkerNoMore]

Ok, I know this has been brought up before on here.  But who uses this stuff currently?

The reason I ask is last night I read an article about how addictive and destructive it was.  It was compared to drinkable heroin.  One lady was up to 15 cans per day.  And had 8 credit cards jacked to the hilt from purchasing.  One man lost his home, job, and savings from it.

I have never used it, nor even paid much attention to it - but I seem to recall it was marketed as fitness enhancements years ago?

[bigbychoices]

  I use it and I have for years. I tried all strains. I use the red bali fpr pain . It does help.  About like taking tramadol at a NORMAL dosage.  I toss and wash it. I use 1 tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day ( or less) Ii have gone weeks without "needing" it. But these idiots that are taking so much are the same idiots downing dozens of benadry too.   Some strains do give energy ( slightly) and alertness ( slightly)   No reason to fear it I have blood work done every 6 months and I have had ZERO negative effects .

[wes]

I don`t know jackshit about the stuff but  if it`s touted to be like "drinkable heroin",I`ll pass.

[JK]

I've been taking it on and off for several years. I take 2 grams once or twice a day before training, usually for 6-8 months before I take a break. I've never felt addicted, even when I stopped taking it overnight after 8 months of daily use because... I got bored

[CalorieKing]

  I use it and I have for years. I tried all strains. I use the red bali fpr pain . It does help.  About like taking tramadol at a NORMAL dosage.  I toss and wash it. I use 1 tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day ( or less) Ii have gone weeks without "needing" it. But these idiots that are taking so much are the same idiots downing dozens of benadry too.   Some strains do give energy ( slightly) and alertness ( slightly)   No reason to fear it I have blood work done every 6 months and I have had ZERO negative effects .

tramadol isnt an opiate according to the now departed expert 

[wes]

I've been taking it on and off for several years. I take 2 grams once or twice a day before training, usually for 6-8 months before I take a break. I've never felt addicted, even when I stopped taking it overnight after 8 months of daily use because... I got bored

Does it get you high in any way when training?

I would think if it`s at like heroin it might be a bitch if you nodded out while squatting 405.

Serious question.^

[wes]

tramadol isnt an opiate according to the now departed expert 

WE ALL KNOW THAT.   

[JK]

Does it get you high in any way when training?

I would think if it`s at like heroin it might be a bitch if you nodded out while squatting 405.

Serious question.^

I don't know why people compare it to heroin. For me, it's stimulating, puts me in a good mood, has a lot of energy, and gives me the will to do anything.

[wes]

I don't know why people compare it to heroin. For me, it's stimulating, puts me in a good mood, has a lot of energy, and gives me the will to do anything.

Thanks JK.............I`ll still pass though.

[Humble Narcissist]

  I use it and I have for years. I tried all strains. I use the red bali fpr pain . It does help.  About like taking tramadol at a NORMAL dosage.  I toss and wash it. I use 1 tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day ( or less) Ii have gone weeks without "needing" it. But these idiots that are taking so much are the same idiots downing dozens of benadry too.   Some strains do give energy ( slightly) and alertness ( slightly)   No reason to fear it I have blood work done every 6 months and I have had ZERO negative effects .

How long have you gone off of it before?

[LurkerNoMore]

  I use it and I have for years. I tried all strains. I use the red bali fpr pain . It does help.  About like taking tramadol at a NORMAL dosage.  I toss and wash it. I use 1 tablespoon 3 or 4 times a day ( or less) Ii have gone weeks without "needing" it. But these idiots that are taking so much are the same idiots downing dozens of benadry too.   Some strains do give energy ( slightly) and alertness ( slightly)   No reason to fear it I have blood work done every 6 months and I have had ZERO negative effects .

If you have been using it for years and take it multiple times per day (at some points), do you think it is addictive?

To be honest, I don't know anything about the strains or whatever.  But from what I read the article made it sound like it came in a energy drink type product.

[LurkerNoMore]

Ok, I understand that it isn't an opioid by the definition that it doesn't "fit the shape" of an opioid.  But many argue that it is still one because of the opioid like effect it has.

I see a lot of smoke shops have this advertised.  I never go in any of those, but I assume it is like CBD and comes in a variety of forms other than liquid?

[JK]

Ironically, when I occasionally give up coffee to take a break from caffeine, I get headaches for the first two or three days. After stopping kratom, I don't experience any negative effects the next day—I immediately forget I was taking it.

[joswift]

i have some powdered

Its just a mild relaxant... you would need spoonfulls of the stuff to really feel anything major

[Lartinos]

It’s pretty good stuff, but I don’t take it often.

You can be an idiot with most any drugs TBH.

[joswift]

Ironically, when I occasionally give up coffee to take a break from caffeine, I get headaches for the first two or three days. After stopping kratom, I don't experience any negative effects the next day—I immediately forget I was taking it.

that may be a side effect...

[JK]

that may be a side effect...

What I meant was rather that you don't feel like you miss him at all.

[SF1900]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kratom-death-over-the-counter-supplement-rfk-jr-b2803291.html

A family in Washington is warning about the dangers of kratom — a supplement that can be bought in some gas stations — after they say their son died from using the substance.

On the day Jordan McKibban, 37, died in 2022, he reportedly mixed kratom with his lemonade, according to his mother, Pam Mauldin, who spoke to the New York Post.

Kratom is marketed as an "all-natural" supplement that can help reduce pain, anxiety, and depression, among other ailments. For some individuals who are wary of typical pharmaceutical medicines — as McKibban reportedly was — kratom can be an attractive alternative.

[IroNat]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kratom-death-over-the-counter-supplement-rfk-jr-b2803291.html

A family in Washington is warning about the dangers of kratom — a supplement that can be bought in some gas stations — after they say their son died from using the substance.

On the day Jordan McKibban, 37, died in 2022, he reportedly mixed kratom with his lemonade, according to his mother, Pam Mauldin, who spoke to the New York Post.

Kratom is marketed as an "all-natural" supplement that can help reduce pain, anxiety, and depression, among other ailments. For some individuals who are wary of typical pharmaceutical medicines — as McKibban reportedly was — kratom can be an attractive alternative.

Just don't mix it with lemonade.  That turns it into fentanyl.

[beakdoctor]

Ok, I know this has been brought up before on here.  But who uses this stuff currently?

The reason I ask is last night I read an article about how addictive and destructive it was.  It was compared to drinkable heroin.  One lady was up to 15 cans per day.  And had 8 credit cards jacked to the hilt from purchasing.  One man lost his home, job, and savings from it.

I have never used it, nor even paid much attention to it - but I seem to recall it was marketed as fitness enhancements years ago?

Ive used it off and on for 10 years.

It's really versatile. It can be used as a pick me up at low doses or a sedative at high doses.

The low dose effects are great for reducing minor aches and pains and give you quite a bit of pep. The problem is thinking that more = better. And soon you're upping the dose which has a much different effect. A pretty strong sedative, great for sleep and pain. But the higher the dose the more negatives such as slowing of motility,  lack of motivation, difficulty articulating thoughts and struggling with word recall.  It slows your body and mind down and completely kills libido at higher doses.

The fear mongering is totally exaggerated.  Yes you can become addicted.  And if you do, quitting cold-turkey sucks, sense of pain is heightened, uneasiness and anxiety are heightened, your bowels turn to mush and you get an odd kind of restless leg/arm syndrome for about a week or two. Its very uncomfortable but in no way shape or form does it compare to heroine.

If you use it, keep doses low. No more than 2 grams at a time. You may not notice anything at first on that dose but eventually you will have a "realization" of its effects and it is a great pre-workout at 2 grams. I personally never go above 4 grams.

Once you start getting to the 6 to 10 gram dose you begin to flirt with addiction and negative side effects. Some users do 20 to 40 or even 60 grams daily. Its addictive for sure but its greatly exaggerated in the media.

No matter the dose, tapering off of it is quite easy and simple to do.

All the years I used it my bloodwork was totally fine. No liver enzymes, no other markers, and despite popular rumor- it will not cause a 'false positive' for opioids- that is of course if you're getting a pure product. While using kratom I was subject to drug testing- including steroids and heroin- and never a positive.

I could go on but thats a good overview.

[LurkerNoMore]

Ive used it off and on for 10 years.

It's really versatile. It can be used as a pick me up at low doses or a sedative at high doses.

The low dose effects are great for reducing minor aches and pains and give you quite a bit of pep. The problem is thinking that more = better. And soon you're upping the dose which has a much different effect. A pretty strong sedative, great for sleep and pain. But the higher the dose the more negatives such as slowing of motility,  lack of motivation, difficulty articulating thoughts and struggling with word recall.  It slows your body and mind down and completely kills libido at higher doses.

The fear mongering is totally exaggerated.  Yes you can become addicted.  And if you do, quitting cold-turkey sucks, sense of pain is heightened, uneasiness and anxiety are heightened, your bowels turn to mush and you get an odd kind of restless leg/arm syndrome for about a week or two. Its very uncomfortable but in no way shape or form does it compare to heroine.

If you use it, keep doses low. No more than 2 grams at a time. You may not notice anything at first on that dose but eventually you will have a "realization" of its effects and it is a great pre-workout at 2 grams. I personally never go above 4 grams.

Once you start getting to the 6 to 10 gram dose you begin to flirt with addiction and negative side effects. Some users do 20 to 40 or even 60 grams daily. Its addictive for sure but its greatly exaggerated in the media.

No matter the dose, tapering off of it is quite easy and simple to do.

All the years I used it my bloodwork was totally fine. No liver enzymes, no other markers, and despite popular rumor- it will not cause a 'false positive' for opioids- that is of course if you're getting a pure product. While using kratom I was subject to drug testing- including steroids and heroin- and never a positive.

I could go on but thats a good overview.

The pick me up part, how does it compare to like a full can of Monster or Bang energy drink?

[joswift]

Just don't mix it with lemonade.  That turns it into fentanyl.

 

[beakdoctor]

Oh and a lot of people who use it are trying to quit harder drugs like fentanyl,  heroin, oxygen etc... the people who overdose simply relapse on the hard stuff. No one wants to admit their son died of a heroin OD so they blame kratom, same for failed drug tests. Many start with kratom because they're weening off heroin. When they fail a drug test they blame kratom. Lol. Sure, you mean you don't have a history of heroin addiction.

This is no different than athletes blaming creatine for steroid results.

[Irongrip400]

I took it for a week or so when I got out of the hospital with a back issue about 8 years ago. I don’t remember it doing much of anything, but I was taking a few other things so I stopped taking it. It was red fiber kratom. Not sure if it makes a difference but my brother gave it to me because he said it was for pain and he took it every once in a while when his back hurt.


Now, a year or two before all that, my sister in laws husband was overseas and was smoking weed and taking a shit ton of that stuff and ended up killing himself. He had no hard drugs in his system but had been drinking and what not. Probably not all kratom fault but they did say something about it. My wife didn’t want me taking it because of that.

[Van_Bilderass]

The problem, if there is one, is that thr "shots" and "strong extracts are synthetic mitragynine, it's not plant material. FDA just warned a ton of companies, it's illegal. The plant is fairly innocuous- for me personally. About 13-15 grams can be felt, but it's not comparable to synthetics IMO. I've used up to 40 grams a day. Kills libido and orgasms, when quitting cold turkey you get a rebound, hair trigger orgasms.

Be careful!