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Kratom Research Paper

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Kratom Effects at Low and High Doses
The main uses of kratom for why people have chosen this lesser potent option over opiate medications consist of analgesic pain relief, mild stimulant, anti-diarrhea properties, and opiate addiction treatment. With the abundant alkaloid content of kratom, the most significant psychoactive ingredients are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The former being an opioid agonist acts similarly with true opiates like heroin among others. The difference between the mitragynine compound and opiates is that the latter is attracted more to the mu-opioid receptors in the brain, while mitragynine prefers the delta-opioid receptors. The ingredients that attach to each specific type of receptors present opposite effects. …show more content…

Kratom shows markedly different side effects when taken in high doses. A kratom user will feel less sensitive to both physical and emotional pain, not to mention a general feeling of calmness and comfortable pleasure. Also included among its dose-dependent side effects as enumerated by the DEA are: itching, sweating, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, increased urination and appetite loss.

Besides the common side effects, habitual use of kratom leads to long-term effects such as lack of sexual desire, aggressive use and constant craving for kratom, dark pigmentations on the skin, and extreme weight loss. These long-term effects aren’t different with those produced by opioid medications used for minimizing pain, which can eventually lead to psychological symptoms and addiction. The duration of the abovementioned effects usually lasts for five to six hours. For kratom capsules, the onset is a little delayed because of the time it takes for the dissolution of the capsule. Allow 30 to 40 minutes time after ingestion on an empty stomach before effects are felt, while it takes 60 to 90 minutes of absorption time when taken with

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