Feature

Is kratom the answer to the opioid crisis?


 

Oliver Grundmann, PhD, clinical associate professor at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Dr. Oliver Grundmann

Diagnosed with depression, the patient was introduced to kratom by a colleague who told her about kratom’s nonaddictive qualities and who had been using it to treat pain. Over 2 years, the patient became addicted to a liquid extract version of kratom and, during her rehabilitation experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, said Dr. Galbis-Reig, who was not surprised by the patient’s reaction.

“The mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine very clearly have partial opioid agonist activity with kappa antagonist activity, which is very similar to buprenorphine,” said Dr. Galbis-Reig, who is also with American Society of Addiction Medicine.

A major concern that Dr. Galbis-Reig’s case brings up is the use of liquid kratom extract.

“My biggest concern is we just don’t know what the stimulant properties of the drug are,” Dr. Galbis-Reig said. “If it turns out the properties are more in line with an amphetamine, I’m not sure that’s a great drug to use in a clinical setting for many conditions.”

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