Posted by Taking kratom as a wellness supplement is about more than simply considering kratom in and of itself. A user must also think about anything else they eat, drink, or take, because of the risk of cross-interaction.
Since kratom is an opioid, it needs to be treated with all of the effects opioids generally have. Opioids can and do interact with other substances, too. Besides accidentally taking too much, kratom users should also anticipate whether they take other substances, even if they don’t mix them with kratom at the same time.
Kratom is also unique in its chemistry with the brain and body. If you take other substances, here’s what you need to know about how kratom interacts with them and how that can affect you.
Caffeine
Whether it’s coffee, tea, or an energy drink, all of these beverages have caffeine in common. Caffeine is a stimulant and targets adenosine receptors, receptors for the organic compound that controls energy transfer between cells. Adenosine has calming effects, and caffeine blocks those receptors.
You can imagine that if you’re taking low doses of kratom, anything more than a cup of coffee will likely feel too much for you. But if you’re taking higher doses, you may feel you want the lift of caffeine to offset any drowsiness.
That goes for kratom capsules. But if you’re taking kratom shots, you won’t even want caffeine at all.
Food
When taking kratom, it’s usually recommended to take it a half-hour to an hour after taking food. On an empty stomach, it can be especially potent and cause jitteriness or drowsiness depending on the dosage. Only experienced users should try taking kratom on an empty stomach.
If you take kratom with food, the food will slow down its absorption. It will not be as potent as taking kratom after eating. So, give the food some time to digest so the kratom can do its thing without interference.
Prescription Medications
Here is a tricky subject, because many people take prescription medications at some point in their lives. You should always consult a doctor if you’re taking any kind of prescription medication and want to add kratom as a supplement.
The doctor is most knowledgeable about kratom’s unique effects and cross-interactions with drugs. Hence, this is not a complete list. If a doctor gives you the okay for taking kratom while you’re on prescription medications, they will also give you a dosing schedule so you can time them apart from each other.
Psychiatric Medications
Psychotic episodes are a big risk when taking kratom while psychiatric medications are in the body. Since most prescription painkillers are opioids, and kratom is a type of opioid, it’s dangerous to take kratom with other opioids.
Serotonin syndrome is the risk here. It’s a dangerous and even lethal condition where you have too much serotonin, and you’ll feel horrible with a panic attack, like you’re going to die – precisely the opposite of what you were going for.
Other Substances or Supplements
Kratom with marijuana creates more intense experiences, but they’re also unpredictable. Whereas kratom binds to opioid receptors, marijuana binds to endocannabinoid receptors. Many users find that the combination makes them feel spaced-out.
When taken with alcohol, the combination creates amplified effects on the central nervous system. Alcohol is a depressant, and kratom can act as a stimulant or a sedative. Either you will experience even more depressing effects, or your brain will be confused with the combination of depressing and stimulating.
You should never take kratom with other opioids, such as 7-OH. That’s because of the risk of serotonin syndrome.
If you’re taking a binder, such as diatomaceous earth or activated charcoal, it will absorb the kratom and you will experience little to no effects from the kratom. For other supplements, it’s always good to time taking them well apart from kratom.
Enhanced and Contaminated Kratom
With enhanced kratom products, you are getting standard kratom extract with even more mitragynine added into them. They’re even more potent than “normal” kratom products, so cross-interactions will be even greater.
Contaminated kratom happens when the kratom is exposed to mold, bacteria, or heavy metals. There’s a risk of contaminated kratom if you purchase from mystery vendors who aren’t transparent about their practices and testing. They pose a risk to user health and safety, including serious illness.
Trust in the Highest Quality Control with Real Botanicals Kratom
Why should you trust the typical kratom vendor, especially one that doesn’t manufacture the kratom themselves? Most kratom vendors promise quality control but don’t deliver on their promise of comprehensive test results and transparent ingredients. They tend to process kratom in large batches and outsource the work elsewhere, putting the product at risk of contamination.
Do good for yourself by having the best experience of using kratom possible with a reliable vendor of premium supplements. Real Botanicals takes all the guesswork out of dosing kratom and anticipating its effects, so you can be at ease when taking it. Whether you prefer capsules for all-day effects or kratom and kava shots for fast calm and focus, you can’t go wrong.
You might be interested in Real Botanical’s Kratom Alternatives.
Here is a review of Kratom Alternatives.